What I've learned is that America is about money, and if you can make your culture commodifiable, then you're relevant," [Eddie Huang of BaoHaus] says. "I don't believe anybody agrees with what I say or supports what I do because they truly want to love Asian people. They like my fucking porn buns, and I don't get it twisted."
The article is written by Wesley Yang, "a child of Asian immigrants born into the suburbs of New Jersey and educated at Rutgers... who move[d] into a decaying mansion in Jersey City" and uses a James Baldwin line to describe what he "sought as a writer - a power which outlasts kingdoms."
While I did not go to Rutgers, my brother did. While I don't live in a mansion in Jersey City, I have still lived in this city for a minute now, less than 15 miles from the house I grew up in, where my parents live, and even closer to the hospital where I was born. And James Baldwin, really? Just on Sunday, some random stranger on the subway asked to see the tattoo.
All of this is creepy, right? It should be. We don't have everything in common though - I am only 27, but have worked at the same company for five years in some capacity, lived in the same apartment for four years and committed myself to working at a relationship for almost five - all proudly by my choice. I did not and am not planning on spending my 20's turning away from Adulthood, or what I like to think comes with becoming/being an adult and growing up. Stability. I wanted it, worked hard at fucking getting it, and have it. I could have more money, more stuff, a bigger apartment, but this is what is what I wanted. This life.
And I still like to think that I exhibit some sort of defiance from what is expected of me, as a female and as a Korean American, make some noise, seduced men (RIP), made mistakes (still do) and dare to be interesting. I sure as hell did not pursue 'paper emblems attesting to my worthiness' and have been lucky enough to make these life choices on my own terms without ever sacrificing my dignity or integrity, neither of which have any monetary worth to me, both of which have been tested and priced. You cannot buy this.
As Yang said, Fuck all y'all. Relevant. I got deficiencies, I can admit them, but I don't try and live my life in a box that anyone designed for me. I had choices or forced myself into being able to choose, and that's what this is about, right?
Regardless, the article really spoke to me and I came into work feeling invigorated and kicked in the ass. The Asian Playboy though? So, one of the ways my men of color can alter and break the "perceptions of Asian Men" is by paying, trying and learning how to fuck white women/reinforcing the white standard of beauty? Ill. And not like Nas' Illmatic.
p.s. Eddie Huang's blog is fucking HILARIOUS. While he may hate Top Chef, as a chef himself, I still love it, and I love even more that Suvir Saran commented on one of his posts, about his recapping Top Chef Masters.
All of this is creepy, right? It should be. We don't have everything in common though - I am only 27, but have worked at the same company for five years in some capacity, lived in the same apartment for four years and committed myself to working at a relationship for almost five - all proudly by my choice. I did not and am not planning on spending my 20's turning away from Adulthood, or what I like to think comes with becoming/being an adult and growing up. Stability. I wanted it, worked hard at fucking getting it, and have it. I could have more money, more stuff, a bigger apartment, but this is what is what I wanted. This life.
And I still like to think that I exhibit some sort of defiance from what is expected of me, as a female and as a Korean American, make some noise, seduced men (RIP), made mistakes (still do) and dare to be interesting. I sure as hell did not pursue 'paper emblems attesting to my worthiness' and have been lucky enough to make these life choices on my own terms without ever sacrificing my dignity or integrity, neither of which have any monetary worth to me, both of which have been tested and priced. You cannot buy this.
As Yang said, Fuck all y'all. Relevant. I got deficiencies, I can admit them, but I don't try and live my life in a box that anyone designed for me. I had choices or forced myself into being able to choose, and that's what this is about, right?
Regardless, the article really spoke to me and I came into work feeling invigorated and kicked in the ass. The Asian Playboy though? So, one of the ways my men of color can alter and break the "perceptions of Asian Men" is by paying, trying and learning how to fuck white women/reinforcing the white standard of beauty? Ill. And not like Nas' Illmatic.
p.s. Eddie Huang's blog is fucking HILARIOUS. While he may hate Top Chef, as a chef himself, I still love it, and I love even more that Suvir Saran commented on one of his posts, about his recapping Top Chef Masters.
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| The more boring original: http://kimsunee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Suvirinapron.jpg |
