Blending into your Landscape

So here's a comment that caught my eye at the Single Asian Man blog:

For the most part, all AA’s are the same. And most just strive for what everyone else wants – nice house, 2 car garage, 2 kids, yard, decent job that pays the bills, middle class, go to church maybe, not break any laws and pay your taxes, and be a good nice citizen/neighbor. All AA’s care about is what’s inside their little bubble – anything beyond that or outside of that, it’s irrelevant and unimportant. If it doesn’t have anything to do with us directly, we don’t care.

That’s pretty much it. None of us strive to be some CEO of a fortune 500 company, none of us date supermodels, or become rock stars, and none of us travel the world and see the 8 natural wonders of the world. All we want to do is live in our little bubble, commute to work, eat out sometimes, hang with friends, play poker, drink at a bar, and come home, hope to get some sex from the wife, and go to sleep. And the entire cycle repeats next morning.

Most move to the suburbs after marriage and kids, to be able to inject the kids to a good school district. We like to buy electronic toys from time to time to keep up with technology and with the Jones, or in this case, the Kims or Wongs.

What else is there? That’s it. It’s the simple things in life. We don’t care what happens in Iraq or Afghanistan, we don’t care who is leading our country, we don’t care about politics or what shapes the world, and we don’t even probably vote. We don’t care about social injustices happening to other AA’s in the U.S., as long as the AA is safe and still in his/her own bubble.


I'd have to agree with this statement. Nothing wrong with enjoying the simple things in life. Nothing wrong with wanting to have a stable life of contentment. But I'd have to agree: Asian Americans like to keep to themselves and are not actively engaged in their communities.

Our greatest strength is self-reliance, but it is also our greatest weakness. Asians are expected to be self-reliant and not to complain about hardship, because our mentality is this: we take care of our shit. Everyone is expected to carry their own weight, so your personal shit shouldn't be affecting other people.

While this is normally a good thing, it makes things difficult when there is a call for unity within the Asian American communities. We'd rather not get involved. We operate individually and independently despite our numbers and our potential for solidarity.






Every so often, however, an event galvanizes us into action. It's usually something pretty serious like Vincent Chin. But short of that, it's tough getting Asian Americans out of their shells. Asian Americans don't pop up on the social, political or economic landscape, because we've blended so well into the landscape. Alvin Lin of Asians Not Brainwashed by the Media wrote this intriguing observation:

For magazines I've interviewed some AA entertainers trying to make it in their respective industries. You know what is sad, and what is supported by the above data? Many Asian Americans basically chase what is already considered trendy or cool, which is essentially what is pushed through mainstream media.

However, all the AA artists who make it mainstream have to first pander to mostly White/Black audiences, because they aren't getting any major grassroots support from Asian American consumers. Asian Americans aren't supporting 'their own', the same way Blacks helped created and nurture grassroots jazz, hip hop, or rap before it became mainstream.

What is sad is that you have AA artists who recognize this, and their strategy is that they know AA's will support them only AFTER they've received approval/prestige from other sources first.







It's like the story of the Little Red Hen: nobody gives you support until you find success. Sometimes I don't even bother asking for support or collaboration on a project, because I've been disappointed too many times by flakes and dead weight. I usually just go ahead and do whatever the hell I want, and people start to come around when my project starts taking off. This is what I've done with my blogs, my books and my articles. Keep doing honest work, and people will recognize it and buy it.

But I have to say, there's a big difference between my Asian readers and my non-Asian readers. I run a bodybuilding blog which has half the traffic of this blog. The readers of this bodybuilding blog are mostly white. And yet the ratio of book sales to traffic hit is 1:2 every month, which means half of my traffic translates into sales of my books. It's not as simple as that, of course, but you get the picture.

On the other hand, the Alpha Asian blog has twice the amount of traffic, but sales of The Alpha Asian Mindset are ABYSMAL. In fact, they're virtually non-existent. 





I knew the book was for a very niche market, but I thought giving the profits to an Asian American cause would motivate people to buy. I guess I was wrong.

So here's my suggestion to you all: if you don't know already, the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund is filing a federal civil rights complaint against the Philadelphia School District for violating the equal protection rights of its Asian students. If helping these students feel safe matters to you, then I suggest you vote for AALDEF on the Alpha Asian Challenge poll and buy the book. Profits from The Alpha Asian Mindset go to the winner of the poll.

Or if you hate my writings and think I'm a moron, then donate directly to the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. Either way works for me. Just don't stay in your shell and blend into the landscape.

Comments

anna123 said…
Great post. Look at Minority Militants Project X, same story there, or the BigWowo Sam Yoon Campaign, its a struggle to raise money from the AA internet community that can translate into real world action.


What do you guys think the reasoning the reasoning behind this trend?


If youre Alpha Asian, dont be shy!, share your opinions below on why you think it is and how it can be improved!!!
Anonymous said…
The comment you posted regarding AA support for AA talent is sooooo true that its shameful! I am a victim of it myself!

I've noticed when I see AA's in media, I'm oddly compelled to judge them furiously and pick out why this Asian person was chosen to do this and "boy could they have picked a MORE Asiany person than this person?", thoughts like these, reactions like these must permeate for other Asians as well, and I wonder -- why am I like this? Why the sharp judgment on my part?

I think deep down, I know they're pandering to whites and blacks and I am ashamed at how we're portrayed because, to some degree, it makes me feel bad about myself because I know I should be better than this.... it's like standing between two cracked mirrors, man.
J said…
When it comes down to it, I think Asians have higher standards when other Asians make it into the limelight. i'm guilty of this myself. We all feel like the guy or gal is representing us in some way, so we're harder on them.

BTW, I although my readership at the other blog is primarily white, I do have a significant number of Asian readers and readers of other ethnicities. i think many of them gravitated towards me not only because they have an interest in bodybuilding and strength training, but because they could relate to my race and ethnicity.

I'd be curious how many readers of the Alpha Asian blog are not Asian.
Larry said…
Speaking of Asian American artists, here is an interview with Jennifer Thym, director of the LUMINA web series.

http://asianamericanmovement.wordpress.com/2009/12/15/interview-with-jen-thym-creator-of-lumina/
Anonymous said…
It's hearsay, but what I've heard that conceptual stuff and soft skills are a lot harder to sell than things that will bring immediate benefit, say how to be an alpha asian versus how to make money in real estate. The former has rather subjective and unsure ways of measuring success while the latter is more straitghforwards. :s
J said…
...conceptual stuff and soft skills are a lot harder to sell than things that will bring immediate benefit, say how to be an alpha Asian versus how to make money in real estate. The former has rather subjective and unsure ways of measuring success while the latter is more straightforward. :s

Well I'm finding that out right now! I knew it was going to be harder to sell a book on soft skills, which is why I made it non-profit. I was hoping this would appeal to some people to donate and receive a gift in return. But it looks like it's still a tough sell.

You've explained part of the reason why there's a huge difference between sales of my bodybuilding books (hard knowledge which would have measureable benefits) and the Alpha Asian book (psychology which is a soft skill).
anna123 said…
Yep thats what i was thinking but i was waiting to see others opinions on this subject....

Soft skills and hard skills are two different things.


Plus humans generally are often pretty selfish, we dont really see an immediate payoff for helping other asian people, but if we buy a book for ourselves we immediately help ourselves.

Why give money to your neighbour when you can spend the money on yourself?

Then when you think about reasons for this mentality, it becomes about not having a shared identity, that is , we see ourselves as individuals and the concept of community "Äsian" isnt that very strong. Instead we rely more on social identities which many asians dont see as connected to their broader ""Asian"" identity. I mean most "Asians" see themselves as human/gender/social group first, not race first,eg we are male hipsters who happen to be asian, or female hiphoppers who happen to be asian, wealthy investment bankers who happen to be asian, police officers with a son who just happens to be asian, rep.sen politician who just happens to be asian.....



So then it becomes about how to combat this, how to build up a concept of shared narrative, of shared community, so people will feel they have a stake in giving money to their neighbour.

My solution: AA/Azn Pop Culture.

If every AA learns, believes in an AA culture that is shaped, and formed by AA themselves then this creates a shared identity, a shared narrative. Since it is AA centric, it is a culture that empowers AA identity, making AA the norm, the middle, the centre.
Plus pop culture is a great way of propagating values, and socialising people.

I mean just look at how this situation against Asians is being framed. If it were Black versus White, if would be a Human problem, a ""social"" issue or a "
school admin failure""but instead since the power of Asian pop culture is small, its framed as a minority issue, specifically an Asian fob one-and no one outside of a small group of AAs really cares!

We can talk about the psychology of discrimination, the statistics of discrimination, how its bad and stuff but if we arent offering an positive alternative, then we havent got anything to offer to the majority of our people in the Anglosphere who are hiphoppers,hipsters, rockers etc who just happen to be asian.....
MojoRider said…
I'm busy with work and with holidays coming up, but wanted to quickly throw my two cents in.

First, this stuff will give you a headache if you think or dwell on these social dynamics too much. It's given me one because the problems seem so complex and huge.

Second, this is what makes me wary of whether or not there can ever truly be any movement. I sometimes wonder if it's just a small band of us who are conscious of these conditions, yet we wind up just talking amongst ourselves.

James is to be commended for wanting to move us past the talking-to-ourselves stage and mobilizing into something else. But this shit is hard when you're trying to change a mindset and culturally ingrained propoganda and what not. I don't understand it nor do I have the energy to combat against this mindset. It's like trying to convince Asian business owners and victims of Chinatown gangs and all to come forward as witnesses and help the police.

It makes me think we are far too fractured to ever be a unified community with a common purpose. apathy seems to dominate the mindset, that if it doesn't affect me, why should i bother?
J said…
My solution: AA/Azn Pop Culture.

If every AA learns, believes in an AA culture that is shaped, and formed by AA themselves then this creates a shared identity, a shared narrative. Since it is AA centric, it is a culture that empowers AA identity, making AA the norm, the middle, the centre.
Plus pop culture is a great way of propagating values, and socialising people.


This is kind of what I've doing with the Alpha Asian blog, which is to showcase positive examples of Asians going out and doing their thing. But every so often you have address attacks on your community. You have to defend yourself when you are attacked, because you cannot count on others to do the right thing. There has to be a balance between enjoying your life and fulfilling your potential and duty to your community and humanity as a whole.

Celtic posted something very eloquent on the 108 Spirits site with regards to balance. I hope she doesn't mind me reposting it here:

Yes - on balance - I believe I was telling Rogue a while back that something was lost for both sites after the split. I was greatly saddened while watching all of it take place. There always needs to be a bit of the light with the heavy. There is a time for the seriousness of weighty subjects - but people will fall to the wayside if they try to carry the load without the occasional lighthearted fireside camp in a clearing.

Humans need healthy levity to prevent themselves from becoming too stiff and grim.

But the endless party without purpose just leads to waste and dissatisfaction and dullness of mind.
J said…
I sometimes wonder if it's just a small band of us who are conscious of these conditions, yet we wind up just talking amongst ourselves...

.... But this shit is hard when you're trying to change a mindset and culturally ingrained propaganda and what not. I don't understand it nor do I have the energy to combat against this mindset. It's like trying to convince Asian business owners and victims of Chinatown gangs and all to come forward as witnesses and help the police.


I hear ya brother, I hear ya. It's tough getting people to come out of their shells, so much so that it's rather frustrating.

I know that everybody is busy and not everybody has the finances to contribute all the F-ing time. hell, I hate charity and non-profit. If everybody made a profit, then everybody could take care of themselves.

So I gave up waiting for people to act quite some time ago. I usually have a bright idea or a stupid idea, tell it to people and ask if they'd like to join in making the idea happen.

Whether or not they'd join, I'd make the idea happen anyway. in a way, you have to say, "Fuck 'em. I'm doing this whether you're with me or not."
Anonymous said…
I kind of agree with the SAM post but it should be pointed out that what he is describing is true of most people regardless of their race or background. People get comfortable in their routines, or they live the life that has been pre-determined for them by family, society, or their class status.

But it does have to be said that Asians do seem to be put off by the idea of swimming against the current. Asians don't embrace the role of the deliberate, self-empowered outsider very well.

G-E
J said…
Hey G-E, thanks for posting! Yeah the SAM observation is something that applies to most people, not just AA's. but dude is it frustrating!
anna123 said…
James, youre right. Its important to have balance, Celtic said it so insightfully.
MojoRider said…
James,

good bit of wisdom about balance from Celtic.

like i said before, if you get too deep into this stuff, it gives you a headache, and for me, I have to step away from these issues and just live my life and attend to the good things that make you happy. You have to, otherwise, you'll flame out.

I don't know if AAs will ever be completely unified and be one voice in protesting our displeasures about the way we're disrespected every day (the Toby Keith crap is just the latest). But I guess you just have to keep chipping away until there is a shift in people's consciousness. Change doesn't happen over night, but it's built on the groundwork and foundations put down by those who came before us.

Still, I don't understand the apathy on the part of AA's, that they wouldn't get behind a cause that also benefits them. Are we too compartmentalized? Japanese Americans only are interested in things that affect them? Or Filipinos? etc...we shouldn't care about that because we of the same race, despite our ethnic differences. The mindset needs to be that an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

i don't know how we get there though, but like you said, James: f*ck it, and grab the bull by the horns. Just keep doing what you're doing.
Larry said…
I think Anna's comments are right on the mark:

"Then when you think about reasons for this mentality, it becomes about not having a shared identity, that is , we see ourselves as individuals and the concept of community "Äsian" isnt that very strong. Instead we rely more on social identities which many asians dont see as connected to their broader ""Asian"" identity. I mean most "Asians" see themselves as human/gender/social group first, not race first,eg we are male hipsters who happen to be asian, or female hiphoppers who happen to be asian, wealthy investment bankers who happen to be asian, police officers with a son who just happens to be asian, rep.sen politician who just happens to be asian....."

The problem with many Asians in the Anglosphere is that they *don't* think of themselves as Asians to begin with.

These people are the "I just so happen to be Asian" Asians.

The solution of course is to offer a positive sense of Asian identity and community:

"So then it becomes about how to combat this, how to build up a concept of shared narrative, of shared community, so people will feel they have a stake in giving money to their neighbour.

My solution: AA/Azn Pop Culture.

If every AA learns, believes in an AA culture that is shaped, and formed by AA themselves then this creates a shared identity, a shared narrative. Since it is AA centric, it is a culture that empowers AA identity, making AA the norm, the middle, the centre. Plus pop culture is a great way of propagating values, and socialising people."


While I agree that pop culture is a powerful tool to create this Asian community, I would suggest that one needs to promote an *alternative value system* from the Mainstream as well.
Anonymous said…
I agree. I really want to support AA movement, but I am cheap and I hate the fact that I don't know where my money is going. I rather buy AsianA music or art, but I just can't send my money to an organization I knew little about.

I care about the movement, I need to get my shit first.
J said…
I rather buy AsianA music or art, but I just can't send my money to an organization I knew little about.

This is the reason I've chosen to push AALDEF to win this poll, because they've stepped up to the plate and fight for the kids in South Philly High. At least they've shown something that will benefit the AA community.

So if you haven't voted yet on the poll, vote for AALDEF
Anonymous said…
Larry....

"While I agree that pop culture is a powerful tool to create this Asian community, I would suggest that one needs to promote an *alternative value system* from the Mainstream as well."

That's a good distinction. By definition any distinct Asian-American culture has to be counter-cultural and can't really be defined as "popular" as such.

Why? Because our issues and needs as dictated by our experiences of discrimination have put us to a substantial degree at odds with the mainstream. If we are honest about our experiences then non-Asian America will be extremely uncomfortable with what our counter culture would have to say.

G-A
almighty said…
have you considered offering an E-book version of "the alpha asian mindset" for $5?

$15 is kinda pricey for me cuz im not too sure what it's about.
J said…
I might consider ebook, actually. But only if I could cut the cost to the consumer but still maintain a high profit. I'll look into that.
J said…
The Alpha Asian Mindset available on Kindle

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