Post 299: Why I became interested in Ethnic Studies

Post 299: Why I became interested in Ethnic Studies

I became interested in Ethnic Studies because Ethnic Studies talks about the role minorities had in shaping American history. Most American history books are written from the European American point of view--the Eurocentric view where only white people play major roles in history and are the heroes of the story. I never got to see what people who look like me did to shape the events of American history.

When I was growing up, I never studied about the history of Asian Americans until I hit college. All I knew about Asian Americans were that the Chinese came during the Gold Rush and that the Chinese built the Intercontinental Railroad. 

When I grew up in an African American neighborhood, I remember studying about slavery and the heroism and bravery of Harriet Tubman, of how General Sherman marched his tanks across Atlanta. I even remember the gleam of victory and pleasure in my African American teacher's voice as she said, "The General then burned Atlanta." It was as if Atlanta was being punished for its sins of slavery.

Then when I moved to a Jewish neighborhood, we studied about the Holocaust and World War II. We read about the horrors of the Holocaust through books like The Diary of Anne Frank. 


When I went to college, I was finally able to study the history and influence of Asian Americans in classes that addressed Asian American history, Multicultural Education, Cultural Diversity classes, Ethnic Literature classes and Ethnic Studies class.

After I graduated college, the class I enjoyed teaching the most when I was with American Military University was the Asian American Literature class because I got to teach what it is like to be Asian and American to my non-Asian students.I loved teaching the differences between Eastern and Western cultures to my non-Asian students.

I love Ethnic Studies because it teaches ethnic kids the role of ethnic minorities in shaping American history and it empowered me knowing that my Chinese American ancestors were not simply just coolies, or railroad workers, but were regular people who overcame the odds to make it in America. I learned that European Americans are not the only heroes in American culture and that America is more like a salad of different ethnicities that all play a role in shaping this great country.

In future blog posts, I will talk about a book I am reading currently called Introduction to Ethnic Studies by Tim  Messer Kluse that talks about the role of racism in American history.