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Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
by
Writing in the tradition of W. E. B. Du Bois, Cornel West, and others who confronted the "color line" of the twentieth century, journalist, scholar, and activist Frank H. Wu offers a unique perspective on how changing ideas of racial identity will affect race relations in the twenty-first century. Wu examines affirmative action, globalization, immigration, and other contro
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Paperback, 416 pages
Published
March 27th 2003
by Basic Books
(first published March 2001)
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Start your review of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
It's a little concerning how long it took me to read this book. Warning: This is not a book you can read with your mind on your dinner.
Despite the fact that this book is not so easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wu's description of anti-Asian sentiments in America is compelling and interesting, going pretty in-depth into the origins of these stereotypes, and then gently bashing them to pieces. I particularly enjoyed his sections on "The Perpetual Foreigner" and the model minority. Wu ...more
Despite the fact that this book is not so easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wu's description of anti-Asian sentiments in America is compelling and interesting, going pretty in-depth into the origins of these stereotypes, and then gently bashing them to pieces. I particularly enjoyed his sections on "The Perpetual Foreigner" and the model minority. Wu ...more
Finally, a book that breaks away from the racial dichotomy and explores what it means to Asian in America. Wu discusses both the old and new cultural stereotypes that Asian Americans face and how that kind of biased thinking disadvantages both Asian Americans and those who believe the stereotypes. Recognizing the rise of mixed marriages, Wu includes a chapter discussing how the concept of race is slowly becoming even less of a black and white issue and that any discussion must acknowledge and in
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I got to page 190, when I decided life is too short to read a book that I just kinda hate.
Here is the thing with this book: I'm not the right audience. This is a common problem in my life, I'm often "not the right audience" for a book. AKA a nice of way of saying I fucking hated it, but in good conscience can't quite say was a "bad" book. Many readers said they disliked this book because it was too "academic" or too "boring". It was neither of these things. I just hate the author and his belief ...more
Here is the thing with this book: I'm not the right audience. This is a common problem in my life, I'm often "not the right audience" for a book. AKA a nice of way of saying I fucking hated it, but in good conscience can't quite say was a "bad" book. Many readers said they disliked this book because it was too "academic" or too "boring". It was neither of these things. I just hate the author and his belief ...more
Via Google search, sought-out Brian Lamb's Book TV interview with Frank Wu, as part of self-education prior to an adoption in 2005. Was instantly sold on this author. Frank Wu - a professor at Howard University in Washington - who was born in Michigan in the mid-sixties, and is approximately the same age as myself. However, his life experiences have been profoundly impacted by his Chinese ethnicity. This book opened my eyes and informed my voting decision in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
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See my original review post here: https://gamingforjustice.com/2016/09/...
I have read Yellow over the course of the past year. I did not read it consistently, but mainly used it to talk with students I work with and to provide them excerpts I thought might be useful in their own identity development. Last month, I decided to pick it back up, reread a couple of chapters, and finish the book. I do not think I can aptly provide a comprehensive review of Frank Wu’s Yellow without dedicating the next ...more
I have read Yellow over the course of the past year. I did not read it consistently, but mainly used it to talk with students I work with and to provide them excerpts I thought might be useful in their own identity development. Last month, I decided to pick it back up, reread a couple of chapters, and finish the book. I do not think I can aptly provide a comprehensive review of Frank Wu’s Yellow without dedicating the next ...more
Oct 25, 2020
Linz
added it
DNF @ pg 57. So I think the thing to take into account is that I believe this book came out in 2002, and how we look and talk about race is ever evolving. And admittedly, there isn't that much research to pull from for Asian Americans (my brother earned a masters in Asian American studies and 2007 and confirmed). That being said, I think I struggled because Asian in this book is really defined as East Asian American, and doesn't pull in South Asian Americans (which would be fine if the author di
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This is a thick book for a reason: it's very thorough, touching on hotbutton race issues that show up frequently in media as simplified issues of Black and white, and using Asian-American experiences as a tool for complexity and depth to both dismantle the racism that makes them hotbutton issues and to suggest anti-racist challenges to those issues. It's definitely written by a lawyer, which can make it a slow read, and that in some ways leaves me really torn: as it covers that broad range of ho
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Wu's book starts out amazingly -- he takes us through a journey of racism experienced by Asian Americans from forms of racism we, non-asians, are familiar with (e.g. stereotypes of Asians as intellectually gifted math nerds) to more invidious form of discrimination that are looked over or perhaps outdated but still relevant (e.g. societal belief that Asians and Asian Americans are more loyal to their native Asian countries than the US). I was absolutely riveted by the first three chapters of the
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Sep 07, 2007
Joy
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
race-studies,
asian-american-studies
I don't know why it took me five years to finally get around to reading this book. Wu touches on the model minority myth, the perpetual foreigner trope, affirmative action, immigration, intermarriage, coalition building and more. I especially liked how it wasn't only a call for non-APAs to think about race "beyond black and white"; it also challenged APAs to take more ownership and leadership in making that happen.
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Frank H. Wu's Yellow is an excellent analysis of the absence of an Asian perspective in America's racial debate and what it's like to be an Asian-American as a result. Throughout the book, I found myself thinking "That's happened to me!" with an alarming frequency. Yellow also has the added benefit of explaining the dense analysis of a related subject in Edward W. Said's Orientalism in a way that is concise and easily understood.
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I've been reading a lot lately about the complicated issues of Asian American culture, but this defeated me. It's really interesting stuff, but a bit heavy. My brother has a copy, so I'll return to it someday. In the meantime, I'll stick with Adrian Tomine and Derek Kirk Kim, and Mariko Tamaki, et al.
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A good introduction to Asian America. I will say however, that Frank H. Wu's background is in law, which definitely shows throughout the book (a particularly long list of stereotyped caricatures of Asians in media sticks out in my mind). A bit dense to read at times (from what I recall as an undermotivated undergrad), but recommended reading.
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Could not relate to it in places, still a well put together writing exercise and very passionate author...
Having had life experiences since reading the book, it might be a more appropriate now than when I read it.
Best part
Coming to a realization that there are issues being, in Kayne West's words, a single black female in the USA today ...more
Having had life experiences since reading the book, it might be a more appropriate now than when I read it.
Best part
Coming to a realization that there are issues being, in Kayne West's words, a single black female in the USA today ...more
Dense but very interesting. Throwing all the countries Westerners consider Asian (close to 50) and lumping them into "Asian-American" doesn't allow for all the variances in language, beliefs, and cultures. Model minorities and other stereotypes associated with this population limits our understanding of the vastness of experiences Asian immigrants bring to the U.S.
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Written by the first Asian American law professor at Howard, this book finally brings Asians to the table. Bravo!
Love Frank Wu, his writing is snappy, he indulges the reader with his personal experience and then goes on to discuss the world as it is
Feb 18, 2020
Howie Le
added it
Title: Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: 2002
One may be puzzled when seeing this books unusually bright color to where they pick it up to see what it's about. With a first glance at the "Yellow" title of this book, they may still wonder what it is about as it doesn't give out many clues. But the last part of the title helps with that as it literally tells you that the topic of this book is race in America. Frank Wu dives into this ...more
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: 2002
One may be puzzled when seeing this books unusually bright color to where they pick it up to see what it's about. With a first glance at the "Yellow" title of this book, they may still wonder what it is about as it doesn't give out many clues. But the last part of the title helps with that as it literally tells you that the topic of this book is race in America. Frank Wu dives into this ...more
" Right from the first chapter, Professor Wu lays out the dilemma of being Asian in America in terms that are spare but evocative: 'I remain not only a stranger in a familiar land, but also a sojourner through my own life....I alternate between being conspicuous and vanishing, being stared at or looked through. Although the conditions may seem contradictory, they have in common the loss of control. I am who others perceive me to be rather than how I perceive myself to be.' "
Such a powerful openi ...more
Such a powerful openi ...more
Title: Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: January 15,2002
Issues this book addresses occurred in the 20th century to early 21st century in America. In this Novel, Frank Wu addresses both black and white prejudices against Asians in America. The books is split into different sections, the first one being about personal stories of life growing up as a Chinese-American while also demonstrating the Model Minority Myth (populations perceiv ...more
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: January 15,2002
Issues this book addresses occurred in the 20th century to early 21st century in America. In this Novel, Frank Wu addresses both black and white prejudices against Asians in America. The books is split into different sections, the first one being about personal stories of life growing up as a Chinese-American while also demonstrating the Model Minority Myth (populations perceiv ...more
I appreciate this book tackling issues that have been touched on in discussions of race, but with more depth. Not only does Wu discuss Affirmative Action at length, but the Model Minority & Perpetual Foreigner dual myths, "diversity", and intermarriage and people of mixed race. As others have mentioned, the writing can be a bit dense at times, and I would get distracted by some of the tangents. Wu is also much more of an idealist than I am... not exactly a problem, but makes some of the ending h
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Wu provides a detailed discussion of the issues facing Asian-Americans. much of the historical discrimination was new to me and goes far beyond the Japanese internment camps off World War II. Wu tackles obvious issues, such as the downside of being the "model minority," but then goes on to discuss the complications of affirmative action, and the odd way that Asian-Americans are misunderstood by both White and Black Americans. Wu is a law professor at Howard University and his writing its detaile
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As an Asian-American who's lived in the American South for much of her life, it's very gratifying to hear thoughts about the dynamic Asian-Americans add to the reductionist Black-White binary that oftentimes surrounds racial relations. However, since this book was published in 2002, I'd encourage readers to supplement this reading with newer, additional texts regarding Asian-American identity politics because so much has shifted in America's racial environment within the past decade.
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I wasn't sure what I'd get from this book given that it's written by a law professor, but the arguments and analysis of race in the US are pretty solid. It's important in that there is a focus on East Asians and Asian Americans, who are commonly left out of this kind of dialogue, but also spends a fair amount of time addressing issues as they relate to other racialized groups. Sometimes the writing felt a little dense and/or disorganized, which slowed me down a bit.
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I quit after 130 pages. I just didn't feel like I was getting much out of this book. He highlights some of the many ways racism affects Asian Americans, but his observations are really short on analysis. Almost all of the stereotypes and injustices he lists I'm already familiar with. But even if that weren't the case, it just felt like a bunch of lists. I want synthesis, interpretations, new insights. Maybe that comes later in the book, but I'm not sticking around any longer to find out.
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Very clearly written by a law professor, the book is a bit dense with academic jargon and windy logical arguments. But he did provide some new perspectives that broadened how I think about race. The author also does a nice job blending in Asian American history (and general American history) along with his arguments about various racial issues.
This book has a lot of information. So much so, that I found it unbearable to read. I wanted less 50 page examples on the same topic. I wanted to get to the end and feel I could make a difference or that I could come out of this with a new mindset.
This book is so informative and the subject matter is really important but it was SO dense that it felt like a chore to read through it. I’m glad I read it but the author made it a less enjoyable process.
This is a very important book that is very badly written. Just painful.
Nov 19, 2019
Jonah Jones
marked it as to-read
I need to read this book for class and its very imporant
Good but dense. Slow reading. Informative
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“As I became older, I was given many masks to wear. I could be a laborer laying railroad tracks across the continent, with long hair in a queue to be pulled by pranksters; a gardener trimming the shrubs while secretly planting a bomb; a saboteur before the day of infamy at Pearl Harbor, signaling the Imperial Fleet; a kamikaze pilot donning his headband somberly, screaming 'Banzai' on my way to my death; a peasant with a broad-brimmed straw hat in a rice paddy on the other side of the world, stooped over to toil in the water; an obedient servant in the parlor, a houseboy too dignified for my own good; a washerman in the basement laundry, removing stains using an ancient secret; a tyrant intent on imposing my despotism on the democratic world, opposed by the free and the brave; a party cadre alongside many others, all of us clad in coordinated Mao jackets; a sniper camouflaged in the trees of the jungle, training my gunsights on G.I. Joe; a child running with a body burning from napalm, captured in an unforgettable photo; an enemy shot in the head or slaughtered by the villageful; one of the grooms in a mass wedding of couples, having met my mate the day before through our cult leader; an orphan in the last airlift out of a collapsed capital, ready to be adopted into the good life; a black belt martial artist breaking cinderblocks with his head, in an advertisement for Ginsu brand knives with the slogan 'but wait--there's more' as the commercial segued to show another free gift; a chef serving up dog stew, a trick on the unsuspecting diner; a bad driver swerving into the next lane, exactly as could be expected; a horny exchange student here for a year, eager to date the blonde cheerleader; a tourist visiting, clicking away with his camera, posing my family in front of the monuments and statues; a ping pong champion, wearing white tube socks pulled up too high and batting the ball with a wicked spin; a violin prodigy impressing the audience at Carnegie Hall, before taking a polite bow; a teen computer scientist, ready to make millions on an initial public offering before the company stock crashes; a gangster in sunglasses and a tight suit, embroiled in a turf war with the Sicilian mob; an urban greengrocer selling lunch by the pound, rudely returning change over the counter to the black patrons; a businessman with a briefcase of cash bribing a congressman, a corrupting influence on the electoral process; a salaryman on my way to work, crammed into the commuter train and loyal to the company; a shady doctor, trained in a foreign tradition with anatomical diagrams of the human body mapping the flow of life energy through a multitude of colored points; a calculus graduate student with thick glasses and a bad haircut, serving as a teaching assistant with an incomprehensible accent, scribbling on the chalkboard; an automobile enthusiast who customizes an imported car with a supercharged engine and Japanese decals in the rear window, cruising the boulevard looking for a drag race; a illegal alien crowded into the cargo hold of a smuggler's ship, defying death only to crowd into a New York City tenement and work as a slave in a sweatshop.
My mother and my girl cousins were Madame Butterfly from the mail order bride catalog, dying in their service to the masculinity of the West, and the dragon lady in a kimono, taking vengeance for her sisters. They became the television newscaster, look-alikes with their flawlessly permed hair.
Through these indelible images, I grew up. But when I looked in the mirror, I could not believe my own reflection because it was not like what I saw around me. Over the years, the world opened up. It has become a dizzying kaleidoscope of cultural fragments, arranged and rearranged without plan or order.”
—
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More quotes…
My mother and my girl cousins were Madame Butterfly from the mail order bride catalog, dying in their service to the masculinity of the West, and the dragon lady in a kimono, taking vengeance for her sisters. They became the television newscaster, look-alikes with their flawlessly permed hair.
Through these indelible images, I grew up. But when I looked in the mirror, I could not believe my own reflection because it was not like what I saw around me. Over the years, the world opened up. It has become a dizzying kaleidoscope of cultural fragments, arranged and rearranged without plan or order.”
