From Fang Chun:
In the poem, "When I was Growing Up," what are the reasons that make Nellie Wong want to be white?
From Erick Tran:
How would you feel if after reading these sets of poems, you found out that the building that held these poems on the walls, on Angel Island was destroyed? What would that tell you about American culture/government?
For the poem, I believe that Nellie Wong wanted to be white so she can fit in with everybody else, and not be different. She also wanted to be like all of the white girls with their pretty dresses, and she wanted a man that was worthy.
ReplyDeleteFang Chun
ReplyDeleteBeauty
Fame
Protection
Wealth
Blending in rather than sticking out
To be accepted
Erick Tran
American society holds many secrets but thats nothing new to the rest of society
RE Fang Chun:
ReplyDeleteThe reason why Nellie Wong wanted to be white was because America has always been seen as a country of wealth and beauty, and America has always been put on a pedastal for being the land of opportunity. Because of this very positive vew of Americans millions of people have dreamed of coming to America and living the "American Dream". With Nellie Wong, when she gets the chance to live in American she feels like that she has to BECOME white so she can truly live this lifestyle that was thought to be full of wealth, status and happiness. The global notion of America made America and Americans desired and Envied.
RE Erick Tran:
Hhhmmmm. I dont really know how I'd feel honestly. Though that sort of action from the government I know would stir up a lot of hatred from many Chinese Americans and Americans in general. That wall is sort of a monument now and is a portal to the history of this country, a history that maybe some may not want to remember but it is still history. If that were to happen we could infer that the American government doesnt care much about the history of OTHER american immigrants and cares only about the American born citizens history.
On Nellie Wong's poem, When I Was Growing Up, the reason why she desired to be white was due to the fact that she lived in America, and she was the minority. Being a minority is always tough, and Nellie Wong longed to be like the white girls who were 'beautiful' and 'wanted by men'.
ReplyDeleteNellie Wong's Poem:
ReplyDeleteI think the question is an above the surface question. You can read, see, and pinpoint why she wants to be white. But to read in between the lines of it there are benefits that white people do have than other do not. In reading an excerpt from the book, Race, Class, and Gender, a writer describes the benefits of being white in America as having a weightless knapsack of priveleges. Maybe for Nellie Wong, she wishes to have these priveleges of beauty, wealth, and etc.
In the poem, she finally feels accepted and appreciated when a whtie man takes interest in her. Here we see something different, she gets noticed because she is Asian, not white. Because she is noticed, she feels exotic, a different type of want that she hasn't encountered before. This man is attracted to her for being an exotic Asian women, seen as submissive and obedient. When Wong was growing up, she didn't want to be seen as a dark Asian lady, until a white man had noticed her.
Question #2
If writings on the wall were the only stories that we could see and learn, then I'd find them precious. It shows that the walls were their only substitution of a paper and pen. This is their diaries of stories, journal of daily life, their outlet of being heard. To have these walls taken down and destroyed by the American government shows lack of consideration for the significance of these writings. It shows ignorance and cold heartedness for the people who wrote these writings. Perhaps the American government took these walls and destroyed them so that society and citizens wouldn't see and feel for the people who were detained there because then, they may find retribution for those people.
Having these walls destroyed is like erasing a culture's history. This is were they have kept these people, but the American government wants to erase that history so that people don't have to remember the bad things the government has done.
Destroying those walls makes me feel like a loss of history and people's stories. A loss that has no way of being replaced, but only remembered.
Skin tone
ReplyDeleteFacial Structure
Clothing
Style
Speech
Hair Color
Height
Weight
Class
Culture
Food
Q#1: Skin color, Money, Beauty and to be desired by someone
ReplyDeleteQ#2: Honestly i would be horrified by the action that the american government has done. The poems on Angel island are a part of asian american history. It would represent how much the american government cares about our asian citizens. They would be destroying memories of people imprisoned on that island and the stories they would not be able to tell anymore.
In the majority, the white point of view, beauty or good is bright. Skin color is not a issue of good or bad, but it became the division like angel or devil. Yep, every colored people doesn't want to become a white, but every colored people wants to be a good person.
ReplyDeleteQ1:The reason why I think Nellie Wong writes about being white is because of all the certainty and things white people were known for. White people as I've believed all my life held most of the power on this world that no other race started off with in their life.
ReplyDeleteQ2:The poems and the writing on the Angel Island walls held a history of one of the stressful events occurring to immigrants. If they were to be destroyed then definitely I'd find America and the Government to be hateful and evil. In fact those poems should reflect their actions and more importantly their self beings. How could anyone be that selfless and pretend that no one lived that harsh life time experience. I'd be very disappointed in America.
Q1: To be like the others girls and to fit in. The other girls had light skin, she wanted light skin. The other girls had cashmere sweaters, she wanted one. She looks up to the girls, because they are pretty in her eyes.
ReplyDeleteQ2: I definitely agree with Linda. If the poems on the Angel Island wall were one day destroyed, it shows the the government doesn't give a crap or care about the harsh times others been through. The poems are important to us and everybody else because it is history.
Question1:She wanted to be white because she didn't want to feel like an outsider, and she was already foreign as it was. She also the thought that being white meant being pretty, rich, and an American.
ReplyDeleteShe wanted to be white because she doesnt want to feel like an outcast. Her family members dont treat her as an equal to her siblings because she is not as white. Therefore, she thinks that being white is a sign of purity and people value pale skin more than dark skin.
ReplyDeleteThe Angel Island station has played an important role in the history of the United States, particularly California. It would be disrespectful for the government to demolish the building. These first-hand accounts are rare, strikingly descriptive, and beautifully written, so it would be a great shame for future generations to miss out on the opportunity to see them.
ReplyDeleteAs an Asian-American, I would feel disrespected if the buildings were taken down. History is an important part of any culture and to demolish such valuable architecture would be like a slap in the face to the Asian-American community.
ReplyDeleteNellie Wong wanted to be white because she was surrounded by so many successful and probably attractive white people.
ReplyDeleteIt would be very disappointing. Those buildings and poems are very important to American history. It would be like taking down the White House, Statue of Liberty, or Lincoln Memorial. Those buildings should be preserved for future generations to come.
ReplyDeleteIf the building containing all those stories were destroyed, I think that it would be very unfortunate. That building is a landmark and is an important place to many people who had written on those walls. It would be as if the government is trying to get rid of a part of history that they are not proud of.
ReplyDelete