UPDATED:  July 25, 2010 11:57 PM
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‘Asian American Studies’ in U.S. Curriculum Urged

WASHINGTON–Chang Yoonmee, assistant professor of English and cultural studies at the George Mason University, has proposed that Asian American studies be made “an integral part of the liberal arts curriculum, but not just for the Asian Pacific American students.”

“We should make it a part and parcel of the mainstream,” she stressed, adding, “Why?...Because we are an equal part of the (nation’s) social fabric and imagination.”

Prof. Yoonmee, who is writing a book about post-racialism and Asian Americans and their literature, urged this in her lecture at a July 2 panel discussion at the Smithsonian Folklore Festival in this capital.

Currently, Asian American studies are limited to some colleges in California and locally, at the University of Maryland College Park. The local university has been offering courses on Asian American Studies Program since 1991.

In 2000, it formally launched the program and appointed a director and part-time instructors. It hired two full-time teachers a year later, noting the increase in enrolment. In 2006, the university hired Dr. Larry Shinagawa as its first full-time director.

At the Festival Talkstory, or panel discussion, Prof. Yoonmee was paired with Dr. Joanne Yamauchi. She is the author of “The Solve Communication Method, Working out of the Bamboo Box with Asian Pacific Americans & African, European, Hispanic and Native Americans.”

Dr. Yamauchi listened to Prof. Yoonmee’s message, and in her lecture, noted that people should think out of the box and be open-minded.

As if to make her point that a new way of thinking is important to progress, she added, “I’m not used to just sitting down when speaking.” Taking the microphone from its stand, she rose from her seat and moved around the stage.

Another panel was moderated by Mencie Y. Hairston, co-founder of Mabuhay Inc., a Filipino American organization based in Maryland. Mabuhay (literally, “long live”) is a catch-all greeting like Aloha. The group started in 1985 as summer school to introduce children born and raised here to their roots. The panel delved on American families and their children adopted from the Philippines.

 

Mainstream

That Asian Americans, now estimated at 16 million, are very much a part of Mainstream America, was the essence of the Festival. They also stressed their major contributions to the nation’s history, economy and culture. Festival speakers, panelists and other participants were saying: “We’re proud to be Asians–and proud to be Americans, too.”

With clean environment as a top global concern, Surya Raj Jain, 11, proudly told the audience about Tata Nano, the electric car made in India. “It’s coming to the U.S. next year,” he said, adding it would cost $2,900.

Smithsonian Folklore Festival Curator Phil Nash said the goal was to reach a wide audience, and to make the APA component a learning as well as fun experience. He mentioned the panel discussions, cultural shows and cooking demonstrations.

“We’re estimating a million drawn to the Festival at the National Mall, and that would include visitors during the Fourth of July weekend,” he said. He noted the additional Internet visitors in the website (the rest of Mainstream America and the global audience).

“A 15-minute discussion of the Hindi culture and language–that’s not enough,” he said, sitting at the back of the Talkstory panels on July 2. “But those who come here will have learned something, and that includes the Asian Americans themselves, and people can also visit the website.”

The Festival showcased Asian Americans, Mexico and the Smithsonian. It was held June 24-28 and July 1-5. Program Specialist Gina Inocencio of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Program and staff Krista Aniel were the presenters at the Talkstory panels.

The population of Asian Pacific Islander and American ancestry is composed of Chinese and Filipinos, who are among the fastest-growing groups, as well as Bruneis, Burmese, Indonesians, Japanese, Laotians, Malaysians, Singaporeans, Thais and Vietnamese, among others.

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