The writing by Elizabeth Wong called “The Struggle to be an All-American Girl” describes one girl’s struggle with her own natural heritage. The girl’s mother wants her to learn the Chinese language while she, the young girl, would rather be playing on the playground with the rest of the students in public school. The issue, however, is not that she wants to play instead of learn; it is more that she is almost ashamed of the Chinese culture and language and doesn’t want to learn it. Although it may have been unnecessary for the mother to force the 10 year old to learn the difficult Chinese language, the girl should not be ashamed of her own heritage.
Whether the girl likes it or not, she is Chinese. It is good for her to learn more about where she originated from and the culture of her ancestors. I am not saying that she has to like her culture over the American culture, but she should not be ashamed of it. That is who she really is. She should be proud of who she was made to be. Although at the time she would rather be playing with other American children than learning the Chinese language, I think that it is very important for her to learn the language. I think that as she grows older, the girl will realize that it was a good decision to sacrifice some playing time in order to learn more about the culture she originates from. There could end up being a situation in the future where she has to communicate or connect with an ancestor of hers and her previous knowledge of the culture and language would help her do so. Also, the fact that she is Chinese by blood means that it is very important for her to know more about who she really is. There are many people today who do not know anything about whom their ancestors are or where they come from. Elizabeth actually has an awesome opportunity in front of her to be knowledgeable about her own culture where many people are not. I think in the long run, Elizabeth will be grateful that she took the classes about the Chinese language and culture.
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The phrase "her natural culture" is curious. Is it unnatural for her to be American? Do ethnicity and race intertwine to make a person fit in some natural way with a certain culture?
ReplyDeleteI do agree that knowing about her family's heritage would make sense, but I see how much kids want to seem "normal." I don't know many kids who embrace obvious differences that are thrust on them (which is different than ones they choose: lots of tattoos, for instance).
I agree with you when you said, "It is good for her to learn more about where she originated from and the culture of her ancestors". But, while I agreed with this statement, I found another one to be...confusing. When you said, "If she was born here it makes sense that she wouldn’t care about her own culture because it’s almost like it is not her culture.", do you mean that just because she was born Chinese, she should strictly care about her American culture? I am curious because if that were the case, and all multicultural Americans had that same mentality, where would we get our cultural diversity from? If everyone simply abandoned their ancestors culture because they don't believe it is their own, then how would America remain such a diverse nation?
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree with your approach to this story. Elizabeth was so afraid of being nourished in her cultural beliefs. She wanted freedom more than anything, and when she finally got it she didnt know what to do with it
ReplyDelete"She would be considered American because she was born and raised here even though on the outside she appears to be Chinese." This a very accurate statement, because she was raised in America she is "American". Like you also mentioned though, she didnt have a good reason to deny her ancestors culture.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your beliefs that the author shouldn't be ashamed of her heritage or reject her culture but noticed you didn't really mention why this is so important. You voice your opinions very clearly and also looked at the situation from the writer's perspective but I didn't really hear you share why the author shouldn't be ashamed or reject her culture. I think adding this would've given more strength behind your argument, however, you did articulate your points clearly and precisely which is great.
ReplyDeleteI like where you discuss that she is probably so used to being known as an American becasue she was born here and thats what she beleives her culture is. It makes sense and on the outside she is chinese,there for making her confused. Here is where i think her mother should have sat her down as a young girl and taught her about her background so she was not so new to everything at once.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of her mother sitting her down is a good one, but is it possible that the mother so totally identifies as Chinese that she can't imagine why her daughter would be conflicted?
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