May
10
Narrating the Vietnamese American Experience
Filed Under 2009
Narrating the Vietnamese American Experience*
* A version of this article will appear in the Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore (Greenwood Publication)
The starting point of Vietnamese American experience is often linked to the mass refugee exodus following the Fall of Saigon on April 30th, 1975. However, to be sure, there was a pre-1975 Vietnamese immigrant experience. This immigrant group consisted largely of Vietnamese who came to the United States as students, professionals, and war brides. According to the U.S. census, from 1951 to 1975, this group totaled a little more than twenty thousand.
A study by academic Pham Vu utilizing oral interviews and printed materials found that some of the pre-1975 immigrants, particularly those who were students, acted as agents of change. These students promoted a better understanding of Vietnam as a country rather than merely as a war, and expressed a range of views from criticizing American policy in Vietnam, which had uprooted a large numbers of Vietnamese villagers, to espousing American support for Republic of South Vietnam against communist rule in the north.
One of those students was Nguyen Dinh Hoa, who memorized his life experience into two time periods, pre-1948 and post-1948, signifying the year he came as a student through the U.S. consulate in Hanoi to obtain a Ph.D. in English education. After receiving his doctoral degree, Hoa returned to Vietnam in 1957 to serve as chairman of the English Department at the University of Saigon. In 1965, he came back to, and remained in, the U.S. to develop one of the first Vietnamese Studies programs, promoting the Vietnamese language and literature. He also published English textbooks for Vietnamese speakers, which were in high demand among the post-1975 Vietnamese refugees. According to Hoa’s memoir of his cultural odyssey, by the time it was possible to provisionally return home, his memories of Vietnam were so strong they compelled him to return in 1994, which was very meaningful because he found he had not outgrown his past.
Another student was Nguyen Long, who attended Berkeley from 1968 to 1973, completing his Ph.D. work in Political Science. Prior to 1968, Long, as a student activist championing progressive politics, led protests against the Ngo Dinh Diem government (1955-1963) and the Nguyen Van Thieu government (1967-1975). He continued his activism in the U.S., participating in anti-war demonstrations. Long returned to Vietnam in 1973 and saw no reason to become a refugee in 1975, believing that patriotism and nationalism, as espoused by the Communist Party, would allow for a coalition government to rebuild a better Vietnam. Instead, he discovered life under communist rule was a nightmare and the conditions were near-slavery. Thus, Long was now willing to risk death and escaped successful by boat in 1979. Initially, he believed that the U.S. should withdraw its forces to allow Vietnamese to negotiate for peace on their own. However, in his memoir of daily life under the Vietnamese Communists, Long came to realize that such an approach was too simplistic.
Cultural and Intellectual History of Vietnamese Americans
The above experiences, on the one hand, as shared by a number of the pre-1975 immigrants, clearly antedate the narratives of the Vietnamese refugees following the Vietnam War. However, on the other hand, such experiences were neither necessarily unique only to the pre-1975 Vietnamese Americans, nor were they disconnected to the refugee exodus after the fall of Saigon. Rather, the pre-1975 experiences open possibilities of memorializing and/or archiving them as anchors to the Vietnamese American cultural and intellectual history. That is, the “birth” of Vietnamese American experience is related to American involvement in Vietnam. Moreover, its cultural and intellectual history is about assertions and negotiations of the right to “place-making” and for “memory work” in order to bring about desired change and to revise distorted histories, both in the U. S. and in Vietnam.
In fact, there has been an imagination, where Vietnam should seek diplomatic relations with the U.S. so as to achieve independence, dating back to Bui Vien’s mission in 1873. According to a well-known biography which was first published in Saigon in 1945, Bui Vien, an official of the Tu Duc’s court (1848-1883), was believed to have been sent to the U.S. to request an intervention by the Grant Administration against French intrusion in Vietnam. However, due to political circumstances, the U.S. government was not in a position at the time to assist. Although there is no historical documentation to support that such visit actually took place, this fable has had the power to explain the events that came after it, according to academic Wynn Wilcox.
That is, in 1950 the United States had granted the recognition of the Associated State of Vietnam in which a year earlier, the non-communist government of Bao Dai was able to negotiate for independence for the whole Vietnam within the French Union. When the Geneva Accord of 1954 partitioned the country into two ideological halves, the U.S. singularly allied with non-communist Vietnamese leaders to secure the survival of the Republic of South Vietnam. Thus, the historical vision of a political relationship between the two countries was finally inaugurated. By 1967, when the alliance was at a crossroad, President Lyndon B. Johnson invoked Bui Vien’s mission to reiterate that: “[W]e know our destination. We established it years ago…together, with courage and unflagging devotion to the duty we share, we will make it.” With the communist takeover in 1975, the US and South Vietnam once again shared the same destiny, that is, as losers of the Vietnam War.
While the U.S. began to study the lessons of and going beyond the Vietnam War, the initial wave of refugees – about 130,000, of which many were members of the former South Vietnamese government and military armed forces – began to reconstruct their new home as “Little Saigon.”
The use of “Little Saigon” not only suggests an explicit cultural and ideological reference point but also a community-driven, bottom-up approach which expresses needs and desires that were quite different from U.S. resettlement policy. Initially, the objective of U.S. resettlement policy was to “assimilate” Vietnamese refugees to only take on an American identity and to discourage them from forming their own ethnic communities. As such, Vietnamese refugees were systematically dispersed across the states to avoid burdening local governments’ budgets and to prevent Vietnamese from clustering into large geographically ethnic enclaves.
However, many of the first wave refugees saw the dispersion as a major obstacle in adjusting because it prevented ethnic support and a sense of belonging. In fact, after a few years, government-created diasporas were reversing, as Vietnamese themselves sought for the presence of a Vietnamese community in order to cope with being physically, psychologically, culturally, economically, and intellectually displaced. In many respects, Vietnamese secondary migration, including those of the latter waves of refugees, were driven by “geographical mobility,” moving to places that had public assistance benefit levels, lenient public assistance eligibility requirements, low unemployment rates, or ethnic communities with dense cultural and social networks.
Gradually, Vietnamese refugees have been able to put back the “place” into displacement – although not always having a defined plan of action, never “silent” or merely “surviving.” Contrary to the initial prediction by some American scholars that Vietnamese refugees were psychologically unprepared to start life anew, the refugees’ experiences of traumas from war and escape have in many ways instilled a sense of invulnerability and the attitude of “nowhere to go but up,” which encourages Vietnamese refugees to take risks and become innovators in their respective occupations.
An empirical study by Paul Starr and Alden Roberts in 1982 found that many Vietnamese refugees saw past personal difficulties as having ‘inoculated” them against the negative, and instilled the attitude “that which does kill me, strengthens me.” Other studies found that many Vietnamese refugees possessed a great degree of optimism, expecting their lives to improve markedly within five years, including occupational advancement, income, and overall quality of life.
Also contrary to assimilationist perspective, the robust social mobility of the first generation of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants has been correlated to the cohort’s ability to retain aspects of Vietnamese culture. That is, in making places for themselves, many Vietnamese refugees and immigrants have retained Vietnamese cultural ideals of the family such as “hieu” (filial piety) and of the community such as “nghia” (the obligation to participate rather than withdraw from societal affairs).
For example, empirical studies by Minh Zhou and Carl Bankston have found that younger generations of Vietnamese Americans in marginal socio-economic environments who have strong adherence to traditional family values, strong commitment to work ethic, high level of Vietnamese literacy, and a high degree of personal involvement in the ethnic community tend to disproportionately have high grades, to have definite college plans, and to score high on academic orientation. Importantly, these Vietnamese cultural ideals co-existed with views that the American way of life was modern, scientific, and progressive.
Consequently, the bicultural patterns have caused observers to describe the first generation of Vietnamese Americans in various ways, including eclectic, adaptable, resourceful, practical, passive, indirect, and resilient.
The above characteristics have assisted, to a considerable degree, with the adjustment of the subsequent waves of Vietnamese refugees and immigrants, who, relative to the first wave, possessed a lesser degree of “anticipatory socialization of American life.” Subsequent waves include “boat people,” who began their journey in the late 1970s as a result of the new government’s discriminative policy toward the “corrupted, westernized” culture of southern Vietnam, including abolition of “bourgeois trade,” creation of new economic zones, and military draft of young men. However, such journeys were subjected to violent acts by pirates, such as rapes, murders, and pillaging. Thus, the acronym “RMP” was stamped on many refugees’ files. It has been estimated that the death rate was about 15 percent of the total number of people arriving at the refugee camps in Southeast Asia, or rougly 220,000 deaths.
“Boat people” were more likely to be Viet Hoa (Chinese Vietnamese or Vietnamese Chinese), males, Buddhists, less affluent, less proficient in the English language, and less educated. Still, this group was relatively young and had been urban workers in Vietnam. They were able to maintain strong family ties and kinship networks, and, while they did not necessarily assimilate as quickly as many of their first-wave cohorts, they showed a rather gradual improvement on a number of socio-economic indicators. The adjustment of many was exacerbated because they were sponsored by the first wave refugees. Moreover, when confronted with language barriers and lack of employable skills in the mainstream, a great number turned to family-run businesses, marketing themselves to the growing Vietnamese communities across the states. As a result, Vietnamese Americans have had one of the highest growth rates in small businesses among Asian Americans, which helped to solidify the many “Little Saigons” across the U.S. as vibrant ethnic enclave economies.
Another wave consisted of individuals who came through government sponsored programs, namely the Orderly Departure Program (ODP), Humanitarian Operation Program (HO), and U.S. Homecoming program. Individuals who came via ODP, which began in 1984, were those permitted to enter via sponsorship of relatives in the U.S. Like “boat people,” earlier ODP immigrants over time have improved their socio-economic situations.
By contrast, later ODP immigrants and those under HO – who were former South Vietnamese political prisoners for whom the U.S. government negotiated with Vietnam for their emigration to the U.S. starting in 1989 – have been struggling to climb out of the poverty line. This group relative to other waves was older and had a different adjustment difficulty because they were survivors of torture. Unlike earlier groups and younger cohorts, this group did not perceive positive overall well being that could buffer against psychological distress.
Another group that faced serious adjustment difficulties has been that of Amerasians – individuals fathered by a U.S. citizen in Vietnam during the war – who came under the Homecoming Act implemented in 1989. These individuals differ drastically from other Vietnamese refugees and immigrants on measures of alcohol use, number of hospitalizations, years of education, childhood trauma, and perceived effects of trauma.
From 1975 to 2002, a totaled of 759,482 Vietnamese arrived as refugees, while 412,449 arrived as immigrants from 1951 to 2002, according to the U.S. census. Today, Vietnamese immigrants, particularly through the family unification program, make up the vast majority of foreign born Vietnamese entering the U.S. According to 2008 census numbers, there are 1.6 million Vietnamese Americans and – despite the different migration vintages – they are making considerable progress.
Studies using the data from census have shown that Vietnamese foreign born entering the U.S. in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000-2005 have seen an increase in terms English proficiency, proportion of college graduates, the number of owner occupied housing, family median income, naturalization, and voting; in addition, Vietnamese have seen a decrease in public assistance and poverty rate. However, relative to other non-refugee Asian foreign born who enter the U.S. in the same time period, Vietnamese Americans are more likely to be in poverty, to be uninsured, to be institutionalized, and to reside in the poorer inner-city neighborhoods.
Notwithstanding, given the expectation that Vietnamese refugees and immigrants were to experience downward assimilation or segmented assimilation because of the “hour-glass economy,” Vietnamese Americans have been able to achieve a considerable degree of “place-making” in the American mosaic.
No less important, Vietnamese Americans have been able to make cultural statements through “memory work,” signifying their identity to themselves and others. For example, Vietnamese Americans are attempting to be the first Asian American group to establish a million dollar endowment at the Smithsonian Institution. Thus far, an exhibit, “Exit Saigon, Enter Little Saigon,” which was opened at the Smithsonian in January 2007, has plans to travel to fifteen cities. The overall mission of the Vietnamese Heritage Project at the Smithsonian is to tell “the story of challenge, sacrifice and change – an ongoing journey that is changing the face of America.” However, the project has created discussions and inroads of inquiry. That is, whether or not marketing the Vietnamese American Experience as a part of American Heritage would continue to marginalize the “missing” voices and narratives of the former South Republic Vietnam. This is evident in the teaching of the Vietnam War on college campuses, where there is still a dominant emphasis on the American perspectives about the lessons learned.
Within the community there has been an effort to rewrite the Vietnam War, extracting the lessons of the past in order to build a better future along with the need to maintain an impartial objectivity. Moreover, there has been an ongoing documentation of Vietnamese American achievement called Ve Vang Dan Viet (or The Pride of the Vietnamese), which currently has a five volume edition. The “Ve Vang Dan Viet” is now being utilized by Vietnamese American newspapers, organizations, and bloggers. In many respects, “Ve Vang Dan Viet” is an ideological statement, declaring the superiority of a democratic way of life which has allowed Vietnamese refugees and immigrants to fulfill their full potential. Meanwhile, life under communist tutelage has not released the full potential of the Vietnamese people in Vietnam.
Myers, Jessica. 2006. “
Pho and Apple Pie: Eden Center as a Representation of Vietnamese Ethnic Identity in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area, 1975-2005.” Race/Ethnicity: Multidisciplinary Global Contexts 1 (2): 279-311.
- Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
- Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of
Collet, Christian. 2008. “
The Viability of ‘Going it Alone’: Vietnamese Americans and the Coalition Experience of a Transnational Community.” Race/Ethnicity: Multidisciplinary Global Contexts 1 (2): 279-311.
- Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
- Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
- Kelly,
- Nguyen, Hoa Dinh. From the City Inside the Red River: A Cultural Memoir of Mid-Century
- Wilcox, Wynn. “The Myth of Bui Vien.” The paper was presented at the Association for Asian Studies Conference on March 31- April 3, 2005 in
Comments
26 Responses to “Narrating the Vietnamese American Experience”
Leave a Reply
Online Reading
1. After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Vietnamese was forced to leave their home country and become refugee in the United States. The Vietnamese was able to form a small community that replicates Vietnamese City in Washington DC. Eden Center is the largest Vietnamese commercial center on the East Coast of America, it has many shops that own by Vietnamese such as Pho which is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, and many more. The Vietnamese community also represents the South Vietnam by putting up that flag, which stands for non-Communist, and democracy. In Washington DC, the Vietnamese Americans speak the same language, and share a similar culture. The Eden Center is the place that gathers most of the Vietnamese heritage such as language, traditional cultural, anti-Communist and traditional foods.
2. There are three different waves of Vietnamese immigration that followed the fall of Saigon in 1975. The first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese, who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas. These refugees found themselves in a different and difficult situation, because they did not have any skills or experiences compare to their predecessors. The first wave of Vietnamese refugees could come to the Little Saigon to display their heritage, but it’s still two different worlds.
The second wave of Vietnamese refugees began in 1978, so called the “boat people” because they travelled by fishing boats to different countries such as Thailand, Malaysia. Within the second wave of refugees, people were less educated, spoke little English, and considered Buddist. The second wave refugees were struggled to learn the language and adapted to the Western culture, but they considered themselves as hard-working, and they started to open businesses elsewhere to market to other Vietnamese community. The second wave influenced the move of businesses to the Eden Center.
The third wave of Vietnamese refugees began in 1989 through the government sponsored programs, such as the Orderly Departure Program and the Humanitarian Operations Program. When the third wave came to US, they were suffered from mental and physical torture due to Communist re-educational camp. However, during the 1990s, the US economic was going down which made it harder for the third wave to immerse in the mainstream society. These waves of newcomer have shaped the Eden Center culturally, and continued its growth.
3. their stories at café or Pho restaurant. Various of Vietnamese organizations hold their meetings at Eden Center.
The Eden Center is not just for social services, it’s also a cultural place where the Vietnamese host their TET, commemorate the fall of Saigon on April 30 every year, and on June 21 the celebration that honors soldiers who fought for South Vietnam. There are also different kinds of religious that hold in the center of the community. At the Eden Center, people do not have to speak English, since Vietnamese is the only language that people speak.
At the Eden Center, the Vietnamese do not believe in Communism, their political views are anti-Communist. Vietnamese Americans also found places in Washington DC government, some became Congressmen. The Vietnamese also fought to put up the former flag of South Vietnam along with the US flag instead of the North Vietnam’s flag.
Extra Credit
1. The Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy because the Vietnamese Americans want their voice to be heard in the State, and national. The “going it alone” strategy that Vietnamese Americans are more prone in selecting because they want someone to represent the Vietnamese community in California, just for the Vietnamese not for other racial. They do not want to deal with cross-racial coalition, and they want their representation to help the community and create benefits for the Vietnamese.
2. The “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns that combine ethnicity with careful cross-racial appeals. They want to target out-group such as whites, Latino. The campaign is to create unity among other races beside Vietnamese, so they can support the Vietnamese representation. A large number of Vietnamese radio stations, newspapers, websites, and blogs are the crucial vehicles for deploying the “toggling” strategy.
3. The Vietnamese Americans should more actively engage in cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because they can interchange ideas, beliefs, and strategies for future campaigns. By engaging in cross-racial coalitions, the Vietnamese Americans can work with different races to solve the problems between the group, and they can help each other to achieve their goals.
1/ Vietnamese community in Washington DC represents their ethnic identity by constructing the Eden Center. It’s a socialize place which gathers Vietnamese peoples for any particular event, or on economic aspect, it’s where Vietnamese peoples start their business. On the general, it represents more than 30 years of how Vietnamese created and build up their community within Washington DC. AS now they are living in the America, they wish to claim themselves as Vietnamese American who fully adapted to American society but still keep their old traditions of Vietnam.
2/ There are 3 different waves of Vietnamese immigration. First was a group of educated peoples or people with high status in society. They was westernized and easily to adapted to American life after arrival to the states. The second group was the group who could be considered refugees as they left Vietnam from boat to find a way to America. The last group was who came to the US by some government program or by sponsored by their family relatives or marrying to American citizen . Each group with each distinct characteristics and point of view, have analysis and develop the Eden center in their own ways.
3/ The Eden center seems represent the Vietnamese community in the Eastern of the US, just as Phuoc Loc Tho center does for the Western. On the social aspect, it is where Vietnamese people gather and meet up with each other. The Eden center is where peoples socialize, update on news, or gossip about whatever story in the community. Culturally, the Eden center would be the place where Vietnamese peoples in Washington DC head to in any special holiday such as New Years etc. On the Political aspect, it is where peoples with the same interest in political as anti communist would pick as their meeting place.
Ex Credit:
1/ I’m not quite sure but I guess because simply Vietnamese community is kind of new within the diverse of ethnic groups in America. Compare to other groups, Vietnamese community only happen for more than 30 years. So as first step up to get in deep to the political field, Vietnamese politicians did the safest way as representing their community only, without connect and link to other groups of ethnic. On the second hand, most of Vietnamese people at first just want their Vietnamese political figure represent and only for Vietnamese group
2/ Opposite to “Going it alone”, the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns are not only address on Vietnamese community, but now expand and seek cooperation from other ethnic group as well. Beside the poster in Vietnamese languages which mainly serve in interest for Vietnamese community, the Vietnamese political candidates also develop other poster aimed at other groups such as Latinos, Whites. By addressing the problems which is not only the Vietnamese community is facing, but the whole community, Vietnamese politician is trying to cooperate the Vietnamese community with others. By that, they can improve the power of the community.
3/ Vietnamese should be more active and practice in cross-racial coalitions with other ethnic groups within the society. By seeking the same problems which other groups are facing, Vietnamese and others can find the same voice and addressing the problems more aggressive to the government. By learning and getting to know more about other groups, it can cost less the fighting in discrimination and learn how to share the economic opportunities.
Eden Center Article
• Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim? The Vietnamese community in Washington, DC have become active forces in society and have not assimilated or disappeared as many scholars predicted. They become a broader part of the population by retaining a sense of their Vietnamese heritage. Although they consider themselves Vietnamese, they also take on American features. Most Vietnamese in the area share a common language and culture, but many of the second generation do not know the language. DC area Vietnamese community also shapes itself around a strong anti-communist sentiment to thwart potential adversity by Americans, creating an identity in relation to its interaction of mainstream society.
• Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
Prior to the fall of SaiGon, there were already Vietnamese residents in the DC area. These immigrants consisted of students, professionals, and diplomats. This group is considered the most elite and exclusive of the four immigrant groups. This early, fledgling community did not have a strong identity as seen by attempts to organize a Tet gathering. The first substantial wave of Vietnamese refugees came when North Vietnam took over SaiGon. They considered themselves as refugees compared to the original wave that did not. This group was thrusted into a foreign environment with little resources, but helped establish a a distinct Vietnamese community. The second wave arrived between 1978 to 1985. This group of immigrants were “boat people” and had low levels of education/wealth. There were tensions with this group and the existing community as this new group were primarily Buddhist. They found it difficult to learn the language, understand Western culture, and find work. However, their arrival influenced a flourish and expansion in Vietnamese businesses at the Eden Center. The final wave began in 1985 and still continues to today. Many of these were South Vietnamese officers who were forced to re-education camps. This group was largely ignored by the DC Vietnamese community. In all, the first wave distinguished themselves as westernized in addition to the second wave to a lesser degree. The third and fourth waves included people from various social and economic backgrounds. Only small levels of tensions exist between the different waves now.
• Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
The Eden Center is a multigenerational meeting place for Vietnamese and establishes a sense of commmunity amongst its visitors. Every year, the Vietnamese community around the DC area convene at Eden Center and celebrate several Vietnamese holidays such as Tet, the fall of Saigon, and children’s festivals. They also celebrate political events such as separate from the Communist government of Vietnam, reinforcing the characterization of anti-Communism. English is not necessary to shop at the complex. Oftentimes, Vietnamese is more useful at the Eden Center. There is also a fusion of Vietnamese and Chinese culture as many ethnically Chinese Vietnamese also occupy the Center. Tensions between the two groups remain low due to their background of refugees fleeing from persecution. Many Vietnamese accept ethnically Chinese as legitimate Vietnamese Americans at the Eden Center. The center also has Vietnamese newspapers which reinforces the importance of a Vietnamese community that still reads Vietnamese. First generation Vietnamese feel much more attached to the center compared to second generation Vietnamese as the second generation has already integrated into mainstream American society and does not need to rely on such centers. The Eden Center is also a political hub where anti-communist sentiments are fostered as evident of the April 30 and June 21 ceremonies. Many organizations pushing for democracy in Vietnam also convene at the Center. The Vietnamese community in DC defines itself by what it is not: Communist. Any kind of political action by the Vietnamese community often takes place at the Eden Center.
1) The Vietnamese community wants to let people know that even though they are living in America, they still want to spread their heritage and expand it to society instead of letting it disappear. The Eden Center can be said as where their “Vietnam” is located. They claim themselves as Vietnamese who have adapted their lives to the American way of living, while still being able to keep all of Vietnam’s tradition.
2) The first wave of Vietnamese consistd of well educated and Westernized Vietnamese who were sponsored over by families or agencies. They created a “Little Saigon” as a need for familiarity. It became the central place for all Vietnamese to come together.
The second wave of Vietnamese were called as “the boat people” because many of them fled Vietnam on homemade fishing boats. This group have less educated people who had a harder time learning the language and finding jobs compare to the wave that came around 1975. Because it was harder for them to adapt and make money, they had to find a way to market themselves to the growing Vietnamese population by opening small businesses. Due to increasing rate of rent at the Little Saigon center, these people relocated to the Plaza Seven Shopping center which determined the founding of Eden Center in 1984.
The third wave consisted of a smaller amount of people who were considered as Amerasians. The previous waves did not like the third wave due to the reason that these people are not fully Vietnamese. However, things changed and they have brought diversity to the community.
3. Eden Center serves as a place for Vietnamese people to socially and culturally interact with each other. There, people can reunite with long lost friends, men sit at the cafe shop for hours talking about the old days, young people hanging out, meeting new people, and a place for Vietnamese organizations to hold meetings at. Vietnamese communities comes to Eden Center several times a year to celebrate events such as Vietnamese New Year and Lunar New Year.
Eden Center is a place that the Vietnamese people created as a reminder of the home away from home for the thousands of immigrants. There, no one believes in communism. The center functions as a cultural meeting place for people to politically voice themselves.
EXTRA CREDIT
Vietnamese Americans selected the “going it alone” strategy because they do not want to get involved with other ethnics and only want to represent the Vietnamese community.
The toggling strategy involves campaining around other races and targeting their interest so that they will support the Vietnamese.
I think Vietnamese Americans should engage in cross-racial coalitions to address their problems, because the more people we have concerning an issue, the more attention they will get and gain more benefits from it.
Extra Credit
• Why are Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy?
Vietnamese Americans are more prone to GIA due to numerous factors. Vietnamese Americans tend to be outsiders within the greater Asian American populations due to their distinctive colonial history and their pursuance of policy issues that differ greatly from established Chinese and Japanese American populations. These Vietnamese also cluster into distinct enclaves and interact primarily with their own in contrast with other Asian populations. Specifically with Vietnamese Californians, their enclaves exist in suburbans and the majority identify with the Republican party. As a result, they align ideologically more with whites and less with minority populations that tend to identify Democrat, which makes coalition building difficult. Thus, the GIA strategy is one of the few that is available to Vietnamese Americans as coalition building and the Vietnamese spirit of independence makes it difficult to use other strategies.
• Describe the “toggling” strategy in
Vietnamese American campaigns.
Toggling is a campaign tactic that carefully balances ethnic mobilization with “crossover”communications targeted toward the outgroup (usually whites). In a recent campaign, a Vietnamese press release featured a pledge to stop illegal immigration, appealing to white Americans and distancing the candidate from the Latino community.
• Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
With the Vietnamese community in America in its relative infancy, a go-it-alone approach may perhaps be a good strategy and a good first step in entering the political process to address issues that matter to Vietnamese Americans. However, this type of approach is most likely not viable in the long run as past immigrant populations found it necessary to coalition-build in order to push for certain policies. Without coalition building, Vietnamese Americans may not have a political base strong enough to elect their own into office or push their agenda.
• The Vietnamese community in Washington DC contstruct their ethnic identity with the Eden Center. In this center there are Vietnamese supermarkets, hair salons, café shops, video and music stores, and other stores that would resemble stores that are in Saigon. The Eden center claims Vietnamese to recreate their identity as Vietnamese Americans as their flag is hung next to the US flag.
• The first wave of Vietnamese immigrants were well educated and westernized Vietnamese who felt like refugees and was thrown into a unfamiliar environment. This affected the development by developing the first shopping complex for the Vietnamese in which they could gather with other Vietnamese people and display their heritage. The second wave of Vietnemse immigrants were known as “boat people” cause they came on fishing boats with approximately 75000 people. These people were less educated, found it very difficult to adjust to the American culture, and it was hard for them to find work and learn English. The 2nd wave of immigrants brought the growth of small Vietnamese businesses and eventually to the Eden Center. The 3rd wave of immigrants came through government sponsored programs or were the last of the boat people and were considered less significant.
• The owner wanted to redesign the center so that it would look like a tourist attraction so that it would show the significance of the center as a Vietnamese cultural center. The social dynamics of the Eden Center is that people from all over come to visit this center. People often find themselves reuniting with relatives or friends that they have not seen in awhile. Cultural dynamics of the center is that many Vietnamese come to the center every year to celebrate meaningful events together. People come together to celebrate Tet or commemorate the fall of Saigon or pay tribute to the deceased. All these celebrations and gatherings tie the Vietnamese community to its culture. Political dynamics of the center distinctly identify it as Anti-Communist. The flag of former South Vietnam’s government is hung in the parking lot next to the American flag. Also it is written of its anti-communist zeal.
EXTRA CREDIT
• They are more prone to selecting the “going it alone” strategy because they see themselves as equals to the Chinese and Indian Americans on the non white substructure but they are seen as grouped with the Latinos and African Americans on the social hierarchy. They want someone of their own ethnicity to represent them in California to show that they are equals.
• The “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns is the tactic of combining ethnicity with careful, and cross-racial appeals that are targeted to the outgroup.
• I think that the Vietnamese Americans should actively engage in more inpanethnic and cross racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because it is such a big problem. With only a small number of voices being heard, if they combined with a bigger force of people who are sharing the same problems then maybe they will be heard louder and clearer and a change can take place.
Pho And Apple Pie
1. The Vietnamese community in Washington DC successfully constructed their ethnic identity by the Eden Center. The center houses over 120 stores, this ranges from numerous Pho shops, restaurants, jewelry boutiques, bakeries, delis, music & video stores to travel agencies. The Vietnamese community shaped Eden’s image to demonstrate that Vietnamese Americans do not simply disappear into mainstream society. The aspects of their Vietnamese heritage that they wish to claim are language, cultural norms, traditional food, and the strong anti-communist sentiment.
2. In order to have a better understanding of the three waves and how the vietnamese arrival patterns shape the development of a community, one must begin with the arrival of the first Vietnamese in Washington DC. As stated in the text, the “first Vietnamese” included students on scholarship, diplomats, or other government officials who came as individuals rather then as members of a group. At the time there were only two Vietnamese restaurants: Saigon Market, run by a secretary from the Vietnamese embassy, and Vietnam Center, headed by the Vietnamese wife of a CIA agent. The first wave consisted of well educated and Westernized Vietnamese, who practiced Roman Catholism and came from urban areas. The center in Clarendon evolved into the first shopping complex specifically for Vietnamese in the area and became the central place to visit for Vietnamese from Pittsburg to Florida. The second great wave of refugees, generally were less educated, spoke little English, and considered themselves Buddhist. The arrival of the second wave influenced the move of businesses to Eden Center. The center continued to expand as the third large wave of immigrants started making its appearance in 1989. These waves of newcomers have shaped Eden Center and continue to affect its growth.
3. While numerous Vietnamese organizations hold lunch meetings at Eden Center, its strength lies not only in social services but more in cultural significance. The Vietnamese community comes to Eden Center several times a year for important events that are meaningful to Vietnamese Americans. It also serves as a Political Hub. “Nobody at Eden Center believes in Communism”. The Political aspect of the April 30 and July 21 ceremonies underlined the strong anti-communist solidarity.
• Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
They decorate the city with gold statues , large flag poles and very decorative art work. The Vietnamese want to capture the their lifestyles back home. They are doing this by having specialty grocery stores and markets to offer local Vietnamese foods not offered in traditional American stores, coffee shops, flags flying and naming shops after cities in Vietnam.
• Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
There were three different waves that came after the fall of Saigon. The first group came through before the fall of Saigon. This group is considered to be the most elite or exclusive of the waves. This group was also a small group and was not able to make too big of a change without the people. They had two Vietnamese stores. The first wave to come over formed Little Saigon because they needed something familiar. The majority were Catholic. Most were refugees that did not have time to prepare for the move and did not have much once they arrived in DC. The first wave laid the foundation for a Vietnamese community to form. The second wave also known as the boat people came over in 1978-1985. This wave was mostly Buddhist and brought these traditions to DC with them. This group brought more small business’s to the area and decided to move to the Eden Center. The third wave was usually more educated than the previous two waves and are over here with government sponsor. This is the wave that started to lessen the tension between the waves.
• Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
The Eden center is a place where the Vietnamese are able to feel comfortable. The shops are all designed like they would be in Vietnam but with an American touch. It is a place where all generations are able to get together in an American city and feel like they are back home. There is no talk of communism here.
Eden Center:
1. The Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity through the Eden Center. The Eden Center represents the Vietnamese community’s entrepeneurship, political stance, and culture. The community here claims certain aspects such as their food, their culture, and they even hang the flag of South Vietnam next to the American flag. They want to show that while many of them have assimilated themselves into the western culture, they still have their Vietnamese culture and community through the Eden Center.
2. There were 3 main waves of Vietnamese immigration to the DC area. Although prior to the main waves of immigration there wer already some Vietnamese in the DC area. Ther first wave of Vietnamese were well educated, westernized, Catholic, and came from urban areas. They considered themselves refugees. The effect they had on the community was that they were they ones who first came together because of their hardships with assimilating and created “Little Saigon”. The second wave was a little different because they came over a little differently compared to the first wave. The second wave was dubbed “boat people” because they fled Vietnam on boats. They were less educated than the first wave and were mainly Buddhist. They had a little more trouble assimilating. The effect they had on the community was the small businessness they opened, and they moved Little Saigon to teh Plaza Seven Shopping Center and made it into the Eden Center. The 3rd wave also differed in the way they came to America compared to the others. The 3rd wave came mainly through government sponosred programs. They were mainly refugees who were survivors of torture and re-education camps. They added to the community and made it larger. Helping to make the Eden Center more diverse yet unified.
3. The social aspect of the Eden Center is it provides a place for Vietnamese people in America to be Vietnamese. They come here to eat, socialize, shop, and be around their culture. Culturally, the Eden Center has events such as Tet and on April 30th and June 21st to remember their past and tehir separation from the Communists. Politically, the Eden Center portrays itself as Anti Communist and friend to Americans. This is shown through the South Vietnam Flag flying next to the American flag at the Eden Center.
Extra Credit
1. Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy because of the dense population of Vietnamese Americans in California there are a lot of votes to be had. Also, there are many problems within the Vietnamese American community that they could use help with such as domestic problems, economic problems, and assimilation problems that they could accomplish by focusing on.
2. The “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese campaigning is a tactic that is suppose to reach out to different ethnic groups, not just Vietnamese. Usually a message that is sent through this strategy is that cultures should “unify” in this new country and that the campaigner is a minority who obtained success through education and hard work.
3. I think it would benefit the Vietnamese Americans to engage in panethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because most of the immigrant minorities face the same problems and by combining forces with them that would make them a much larger force. The minorities combined would be larger than the majority.
“Going It Alone”-Extra Credit
1. The Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone in selecting the ” going it alone” strategy because they want people of their ethnicity to represents them and they want those representives to further make the vietnamese community voices be heard in the higher political field.
2. “Toggling” is a campaign tatic that carefully balances ehtnic mobilization with “crossover” communications targeted toward the outgroup (usually whites). The first prong in this dichotomized strategy typically revolves around homeland symbols and the language of “unity” in the face of external threat, the latter caters to the model minority myth of education and hard work in pursuit of the American Dream.
3. The Vietnamese Americans should more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually share problems of structural discrimination and economics inequalities because the voices of one group being heard alone will not be able to draw as much attention as the endeavors of many groups.
•Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
The Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity through the Eden Center. After leaving Vietnam in the 1970’s and 1980’s the immigrants from Vietnam begun to congregate and develop communities. The Eden Center was a creation of this cultural emergence. The center helps the Vietnamese community in Washington and the surrounding areas a way to connect with their roots. They wish to claim the culture of their native South Vietnam providing ethnic cuisine; businesses ran by Vietnamese, and flying the South Vietnamese flag in the center.
Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
There were three different waves of Vietnamese immigration. The first wave consisted of the refugees that fled from the fall of Saigon in 1975. This wave of immigrants was primarily educated, roman catholic and had ties to the government or family in the US. This group helped to form what is called little Saigon. This was important then because these immigrants had no way to identify with where they came from.
The second wave of immigration occurred in 1978 due to persecution by the north. The term “boat people” was coined for this group because many of the immigrants fled to neighboring countries on any kind of boat they could. The second wave of immigrants were also less educated, spoke little English and were Buddhist. This group was said to help develop the Eden center to where it is today.
The third wave of immigrants were primarily those from the GI’s during the Vietnam war. They came over due to the homecoming act to reunite the soldiers with their kids from Vietnam. However, because this group was small and were not considered full Vietnamese they were largely disregarded by the Vietnamese community.
•
Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
The Eden center provides the Vietnamese people to gather and socialize with each other. It is a place where young Vietnamese males can enjoy the cultural satisfaction of the coffee house. The Eden center provides the opportunity to speak in their native tongue with others and discuss political issues facing Vietnam currently. Eden is a cultural meca where the Vietnamese people can go to explore their cultural roots.
1. Vietnamese community in Washington constructs their ethnic identity by Eden Center, because this is a place that hosts most of the community activities from business through political actions. Founding in the reading this is also a physical symbol of the Vietnamese community live around the suburb of Washington D.C. . The community still wishes to claim their heritage as Vietnamese because they believe they have a significant group of people sharing a same heritage such as language and cultures.
2. There are 3 different waves of Vietnamese Immigration
First wave is from the fall of Saigon in 1975. This first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese,who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas. Those who settled in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs often had ties to the U.S. government or were sponsored by relatives already residing in the area. They considered themselves as refugees. These new settlers, who had evacuated Vietnam with little time for preparation and no plan for the future, found themselves in a drastically different situation than their predecessors had experienced. Sponsored by families or agencies, many were thrust into a foreign environment with few resources on which to draw. The form of Little Saigon in Clarendon, Virginia is a result of their growing need for familiarity.
Second wave began in 1978 to 1985, this wave considered as boat people waves. They escape from the communist regime in Vietnam on the fishing boat. This group generally less educated, spoke little English and considered themselves Buddhist. They are hard working people to symbol for all the hardships they been through. They increased the Vietnamese business which led to the official opened Eden Center in 1984 as a primarily Vietnamese Center
Third wave began in 1989 continues to present, this wave represented for people from various economic and social backgrounds. This wave of people have shaped the Eden Center and continue to affect its growth. Making a Eden Center as the most important place for the Vietnamese American community in Washington DC’s area.
3. Eden Center represents Vietnamese American community in the North East side by many different views. With social the Vietnamese create many businesses in Eden Center to provide the service and the needs for the Vietnamese community there. For example, restaurants, jewelry stores, travel agencies, music stores, markets, e.t.c. This is also the place where Vietnamese culture appears in food, in the silk for ao dai dress or in a ca phe sua. Eden Center showing some aspect of political by putting two giant flagpoles, one for American flag and another one is for the former Republic of Viet Nam (South Viet Nam). This is standing for anti-communist in Vietnamese American community.
Extra Credit
1. Vietnamese American in California more prone in selecting the going it alone because they want to have someone in Vietnamese’s community to be their representative and speak up for them. They believe this could help the community to have more power in the State, and will benefit the Vietnamese’s community.
2. The toggling strategy is a campaign tactic that carefully balances ethnic mobilization with “crossover” communications targeted toward the out group (usually whites). Candidate use this strategy to gain frequent, unfiltered, and often a favorable for their outreach effort by ethnic media such as Vietnamese radio station, newspaper and websites.
3. I think they can combine both ways, at first the Vietnamese’s community should going it alone to have their representative so that their voice can be hear in wider range, then they should be more actively engage in inpanethnic and cross-racial coalition to help solving national problems such as discrimination or economic inequalities. By doing this, the messages of all groups can be share and understandable in order to build a better America.
Pho and Apple Pie:
Eden Center is a little Vietnamese city inside the American state Virginia. Shops owned by the Vietnamese range from café shops, pho shops, jewelry boutiques, bakeries…etc. Even though they don’t live in Vietnam they still recreate a community that resembled the mother land and with out communists lifestyles. One way this was shown was a Vietnamese flag from the South.
The first wave considered to be the well educated, westernized, and also Catholics. They were the originator of the shopping malls the Saigon Market, and the Vietnam center. One was ran by a wife of a CIA agent while the other was ran by the secretary of the Vietnamese embassy. Then the second wave were to be considered as the less educated in terms of language and were also Buddhist. They helped boost the Vietnamese community from where the first wave have started. The last one was the third wave. Generally are the ones who are sponsored through programs to come over here in the US. They also contributed to the growth of the Vietnamese community as well.
The Eden Center wasn’t just a typical place for the Vietnamese. It is the center to socialism and interactions amongst another. It is a place that is very anti-communist. A place where everyone shares the same cultural lifestyle, political views, and holiday events.
The Viability of `Going it Alone’: Extra Credit
The reason for this strategy was that the Vietnamese population felt that they should have a representative of their own and could have a positive effect on the Vietnamese community with one of their own in power.
This strategy used in Vietnamese campaigns in which it combines ethnicity carefully, cross-racial appeals that are targeted to the out-group. Using the radio, newspaper and any kind of media.
I say that the Vietnamese use the cross-racial coalitions. By finding out what other groups are having problems with, they could combine the issues together and be a large group with the same issue. That way they would be more noticed since they aren’t the only ones. This could help them straighten out many things in which could lead to solutions.
Online Reading:
1.) The Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity by building a society through Eden Center. Since establishing themselves in America, Eden Center has become the most significant representation of the tight niche of the Vietnamese community. By introducing new cultural food, such as pho with wide ranges of commercial businesses but also embracing American culture. The community wish to claim their native language, the traditional foods and the anti communist views and by adapting to the aspects of being Vietnamese American.
2.) There were three different waves of Vietnamese immigration who settled in Washington DC which included students, diplomats, and government officials. The first wave of refugees was well educated and westernized Vietnamese who evacuated Vietnam after the fall of Saigon. They developed the “Little Saigon” for refugees to come in since of familiarity within a new country. The second wave was kind of the opposite with less education and none spoke English who came by boats. In result they had a harder time finding a good, steady job rather than first wave that easily could get white collared jobs. Instead they found a way to start new businesses within their area and Eden Center. The third wave of refugees came more through U.S. government sponsorships and the Humanitarian Operation Program. These included Vietnamese refugees and Ameriasians and some were survivors of the reeducation camps. These groups of refugees shaped what Eden Center is today and developed a strong Vietnamese community.
3.) With the Vietnamese South Republic flag and American flag alongside it, Eden Center has become a central symbol for the Vietnamese community. Socially, Eden Center is a predominant meeting place that attracts Vietnamese and others to gather together in one common area. The cultural dynamics are significant throughout the area where they celebrate Vietnamese traditions. The politics in Eden Center is a place where “nobody believes in communism.” The Vietnamese community gathers together and discusses politics in a traditional café or pho shop in Eden Center.
Extra Credit:
1.) Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy because they want to be represented with their efforts built around their motherland and identity. Living in the United States has given the opportunity for Vietnamese Americans to be a part of the action in their community by registering to vote or issues relating to race. Through representation alongside with the Vietnamese community, they are mobilizing towards the interest of Vietnamese Americans.
2.) The “toggling” strategy in the Vietnamese American campaigns is a tactic that involves communicating outside the Vietnamese community for support to unify as one nation. This strategy attracts the non Vietnamese as a minority group trying to achieve the American dream of “hard work”.
3.) Vietnamese Americans should more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because they will have wider range of people to sustain their position. As a minority group, they need the support of many groups of people with the any issues addressed.
1/ After 30 years in the U.S, the Vietnamese in Washington D.C had created a commercial center call Eden. Eden is a biggest Vietnamese’s commercial center on the East Coast and also the place that represent Vietnamese community in Washington D.C. Most of the business in Eden center run by Vietnamese. Eden is everything from a shopping mall to a place to hang out with other Vietnamese in the community. They represent themselves as Vietnamese American In Eden, there is a South Vietnam flag next to an America flag, which mean they are anti-communist. And a Vietnamese Center will not Vietnamese anymore if there are not any Pho restaurants which is a Vietnamese’s traditional food.
2/ There are three different waves of Vietnamese come to the U.S. The first wave were the Vietnamese that came to America before 1975, they come from wealthy families, well educated and westernize so that it were not really difficult for them to fit in the American culture. The second wave were the Vietnamese that came after the fall of Saigon, they left Vietnam by boats, very little experiences about America. The third wave came to America by U.S government’s sponsorship, or their own family members.
3. Eden is not only a commercial place but also a socialize place, hang out place, where people gather after work or in the weekend to have Vietnamese food or hang out in the Vietnamese coffee shop or to celebrate Tet ( Vietnamese new year). Eden is also the place for political events such as anti-communist events, meeting…
Extra credit
1. Vietnamese communities in the U.S have a different life style and different reason to come to the U.S. The other people in other communities come to U.S mostly because they want to make money, have a better life. But for Vietnamese, they came to America because they have to run away from the communist government. So that their political view will be different to other communities. If u can not achieve some goal by working with someone then u better do it by yourself.
2. Different than going it alone is the toggling strategies, which involve not only Vietnamese American issues but also other community’s issues. There are posters about those issues not only in Vietnamese but also transferred to another language so that Vietnamese and other people can work together to be able achieve some common goal that they have.
3. Vietnamese should be more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because when u stand by yourself and you fell down, there will be no others that will help you stand up. But if you stand with a friend, they will help u stand up.
• Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
o The Vietnamese within Washington DC have picked up the American culture. Eden center in Washington DC is an example of their ethnic identity. This is a place where many Vietnamese people started their businesses such as traditional food, coffee shops, and other forms of Vietnamese entertainment. These businesses and stores resemble the ones that they had back in their homeland. Another thing is that they are very anti-communist.
• Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
o The first wave of Vietnamese who came to the United States were very educated or were sponsored and had something to do with the government. They opened up a little center called Little Saigon.
o The second wave of Vietnamese were named as the boat people. The reason why they were given this nickname was because they escaped to United States via boats. These boat people were a lot less educated than the first wave of people. They had a hard time learning the American culture and language. In order for them to survive, they had to get together and form a Vietnamese community. As the numbers were increasingly high, they relocated and made what is now called the Eden center.
o The third group is far less significant than the first two. This third wave was mainly sponsored by government programs. They have also shaped the Eden center in their own special way.
• Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
o On a social standpoint, the Vietnamese people of the area are attracted to the Eden center along with other Vietnamese families. On a cultural view, the Vietnamese in this area all celebrate traditional cultures that are shared in the community.
As I mentioned in one of my answers earlier, the Eden Center is very anti-communist. ON a political dynamic standpoint, the Vietnamese here do not believe in communism. They are pro-democratic and one way to see that is the anti-communist Vietnam flag flying alongside with the US flag.
• Why are Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy?
o The Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone because they are very high in numbers. They are proud and voting is a very big ordeal to them. For them to vote means that they want a representative that is Vietnamese. They believe that one of their own people would be the best to represent themselves. They believe that having a Vietnamese spokesperson would further help their community in terms of development and other issues.
• Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
o The toggling strategies are Vietnamese American campaigns used to gain interest of other targeted ethnic groups. This can be used in terms of flyers, radio, tv and any media that is readily available.
• Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
o I think that the Vietnamese should definitely engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions. The reason why is because if they address problems that are shared in a large group of people they will have more power and say in terms of numbers. With all of the minorities sharing the same problem, after they combine in numbers, they wouldn’t be such a minority group anymore.
• Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
Instead of Immigrants being assimilated into American mainstream, Eden progress is an example of ethnic reconstruction of how Vietnamese identify themselves as Vietnamese American. Eden Mall is more than just a gathering place to get Vietnamese food and services. It provides a sense of home where Vietnamese community can reserved their language and heritage. Vietnamese establish new ethnic identity in the America by cherish its own tradition and heritage. It define Vietnamese American through fish sauce and Pho.
• Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
There are three major wave of Vietnamese immigration to the United State. The first wave of Vietnamese settle in DC area was in 50s and 60s prior to the Fall of Saigon in 1975 and the number was about 18,000 including students and government officials. There were only two Vietnamese grocery stores and gathering take place only on special events. Even thought social events are held and their attempt was small in participants and rather unsuccessful, they were the first attempt to create a Vietnamese community in the DC metropolitan. The second major wave was number about 125,000 and it were direct result of Fall of Saigon in April 1975. Out of the need for such number, “little Saigon” in Clarendon, Virginia was established which includes grocery stores and some gift shops. As “Little Saigon” evolves it provides a place where Vietnamese immigrant can temporary connect to their heritage and language. In other words, a little escape from their American lives. The third major wave was after 1978 who escape communist persecution by escaping in small fisherman boat thus call the “Boat People”. There was about 75,000 settle in the DC metropolitan and they are considered to be less educated. Unable to renegotiate a new lease in Clarendon, business owner move their business to Eden Center in 1984. The Boat People wave stimulates Vietnamese business to move and concentrated in the Eden Center for various reasons. Their contribution to make up a significant number of Vietnamese in DC would demand more and larger Vietnamese grocery stores and shops. Second, because this wave of immigrated has harder time adapting to the American life, their need for a Vietnamese community is much more than the other two waves.
• Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
Today Eden Center is social gathering place. One can spots license plates in the parking lot are from many different states. Many Vietnamese organizations often held lunches and meetings here. Culturally people can spend a whole afternoon in Eden visiting shops and restaurants without using English. Many social gatherings take place here yearly including Tet festival (New Year) and The Fall of Saigon (30 Thang 4). For many it is a place where old acquaintance can be meeting. For other, it provides activities for the whole family very similar to the environment in Vietnam. Elderly can play Chinese chess, man can enjoy listening to music and drink iced coffee in a coffee house. Women and children can shop and grocery for Vietnamese good and food. Moreover, there are numerous news paper and magazine that are print in Vietnamese. Music stores provide Vietnamese both music and movie from many eras. Even thought people from many different backgrounds gather in Eden center, one thing in common is that they are almost always anti-communist. The flag of the former Republic of Vietnam stand in the center of Eden Center express just that. Almost any newspaper and magazine have a few articles about anti-communist and human rights (as many believe, communist and human rights don’t go hand and hand). However, the children of the first wave of Vietnamese immigrant are less tightly bound to the Vietnamese community than the other. They may not speak Vietnamese and their life are more Westernized.
Online Extra Credit Writing
• Why are Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy?
Overall, Vietnamese community is one of the most conservative ethnic groups. Moreover, large portion of foreign-born constituents would be more likely to involve in oversea problems that would have little congruency with other possible coalition. On other reason that prompt Vietnamese community to “going it alone” is the shear concentration of Vietnamese in the Orange county area comparing to other Asia America group which in turn would lead to certain unique issues. Vietnamese also barred themselves from coalition because they define their status close to more affluent Asian American group such as Chinese and Indian, while other Asian American groups see Vietnamese at a less success level of Hispanic and Black (see page 10 of article.) Personally, I think the major reason that push Vietnamese toward “going it alone” is because most Vietnamese are loyal Republican while most Hispanic and Black are Democrats.
• Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
“Toggling” strategy appeals to different group differently in order to get support. As the article indicated, Trung Nguyen presents himself to the Vietnamese community as a symbol of “unity against external threats” while he appear to the white voters as immigrant pursuing the American Dream.
• Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
The major political problem for the Vietnamese community in Southern California is that they are well under representative. Candidates should first be more focus on “going it alone” to get support from Vietnamese until a fair amount of representative is present in the political system. Cross-racial coalition can only be effective when they have strong support from their own group. Moreover, campaign should be issue driven and both strategies can be employed to address a particular set of issue. The “going it alone” can be use by candidate who are focusing on addressing more Vietnamese specific and unique issues such as naturalization procedures, future immigration of other Vietnamese, and human rights in Vietnam. Coalition should be employed for more domestic issue that has common with other groups. Some of the shared issues are education, roadwork, living condition, discrimination at work, and health care for low income.
1. The Vietnamese community in Washington D.C. contructs their ethnic identity through many factors. One way that they are able to do so is by imaging a community through the physical symbol of Eden Center. Eden center gives credence to the idea of a “Vietnamese community”. Another way that ethnic identity is constructed comes from examining the boundaries of ethnic groups rather than teir centers. Here, the biculturalism reflects the degree which they feel boh Vietnamese and American as well as the extent to which they form their identity against Vietnam and mainstream America. A third way Vietnamese in D.C. construct their ethnic identity is through both ascription and adversity as a result of outside influence. By being anti-Communist, the Vietnamese community declares its position and thwarts potential adversity. The Vietnamese wishes to build a community within close proximity to each other. They want to share the same culture and language. This allows them to have a sense of nationalism.
2. The first wave came between April to December 1975 where 125,000 Vietnamese fled t the US. Those that came to D.C. settled in Arlington County in northerm VA, due to their placement in this area by US sponsor services. They were well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese who practiced Roman Catholicism and came fr urban area. Also they usually had ties with either the existing Vietnamese in the suburbs or were sponsored by relatives in the area. The first wave of Vietnamese to the D.C. area affected the development of the community by creating “Little Saigon” in Clarendon, VA where it was the first shopping complex speciafically for Vietnamese poeple in the area. It contained gift shops and grocery stores.
The seond wave of refugees bega in 1978 and further and were known as “boat people” because they fled on homemade fishing boats and arrived up until 1985. Many of these people ethnic Chinese that left Vietnam to escape persecution by the Communist regime. The second wave were ledd educated, spoke little English, and considered themselves Buddhist. They were the ones that developed small businesses within the community which boosted Eden Center.
The thrisd wave came after 1989 and mostly were able to leave through government sponsored programs such as the Orderly Departure Program and the Humanitarian Operations Program. Then some AmerAsians arrived to the US under the Homecoming Act. Many of thhe thrist wave of immigrants were survivors of torture and faced different adjustment difficulties than the previous groups. However, the education level was higher than those before because they were able to finish high school under the military.
3. The social dynamics of Eden Center can be described as a multigenrational meeting place that established a sense of community among its visitors. Locals say that its a common thing to see relatives reuniting or acquaintances rediscovering one another after years of separation.
The cultural dynamics of Eden Center can be described as a place where people can interact through social services and events. They celebrate the traditional holidays and commemorates the fall of Saigon to the Communist regime. The center also incorporates the influence from the Chinese into the religious temples and worshipping centers.
The political dynamics of Eden Center can be seen in their strong views against Communism. Everyone in this community share a negative view of the Communism. They continue to have animosity towards their respective countries which demonstrates how refugess hold onto traumatic aspects of their past and influence American society during the process of recreating their identity in a new country.
Online Reading:
1. In Washington DC, the construction of the Eden Center was the Vietnamese community’s representation of their ethnic identity. The Eden center is composed of shops selling pho, jewelry boutiques, bakeries, delis, music and video stores, travel agencies that provide transportation to and from Vietnam, and money wiring offices. The heritage that the Vietnamese community here is wishing to claim is their tradition, cultural, language, and homeland. As stated in the text, the Eden Center serves as the most visible point of interaction among the dispersed Vietnamese community in the Washington, DC metropolitan area as well as for other Vietnamese Americans along the East Coast. This center illustrates how the Vietnamese in the Washington DC area define themselves outside of their homeland of Vietnam and, more importantly, how they were able to recreate their ethnic identity as Vietnamese Americans.
2. The Vietnamese immigration to Washington DC came in three main waves. Not considered to be a massive wave but was important were the students on scholarship, diplomats, or other government officials who came as individuals rather than as members of a group. Most settled in Arlington, Virginia or Bethesda, Maryland during the 1950s and 1960s and are considered by some to represent the most elite and exclusive of the four immigrant groups. Before 1975, not many of the Vietnamese immigrants settled in Washington DC.
The first of the three massive waves of immigration followed the first arrivals and occurred with the fall of Saigon to Communist troops on April 30, 1975. This first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese, who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas. Those who settled in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs often had ties to the U.S. government or were sponsored by relatives already residing in the area. The second great wave of refugees began in 1978 and further altered the dynamics of the community. The “boat people,” so termed because many had fled Vietnam on homemade fishing boats to safety in Thailand or Malaysia, arrived steadily until 1985. Generally, people within this wave were less educated, spoke little English, and considered themselves Buddhist. The arrival of the second wave influenced the move of businesses to Eden Center. Although Vietnamese in the area had gained a sense of community from Little Saigon, the increase in Vietnamese items and people at Eden Center proved an even greater attraction. The center continued to expand as the third large wave of immigrants started making its appearance in 1989. Although categorized as “boat people,” most Vietnamese from this wave actually came to the United
States through government sponsored programs, namely the Orderly Departure Program and the Humanitarian Operations Program. In 1987, a smaller wave of Amer-Asians, people with American fathers and Vietnamese
mothers, had arrived in the United States as a result of the Homecoming Act. The first wave laid the foundation for a Vietnamese commercial center; the second developed it through Eden Center; and the third either patronized it or began to search for other venues.
3. Socially, the Eden center is a place for people to meet and interact with one another. Eden center’s visibility as a Vietnamese cultural center thus makes a physical reality of the imagined community. The cultural part of the center is when the community comes together and celebrates important events such as Tet. Politically, it can be said that by celebrating April 30 and June 21 at the center they are expressing their anti-communism.
Extra Credit:
1. The Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone to in selecting the “going it alone” strategy because they want to have a Vietnamese representation for their voice and opinions. By using this strategy they are more likely to have their efforts delivered and successful at having a Vietnamese person representing them.
2. The “toggling” strategy is a campaign tactic that carefully balances ethnic mobilization with crossover communications targeted toward the out-group. Where the first prong in this dichotomized strategy typically revolves around homeland symbols and the language of “unity” in the face of external threat, the latter caters to the “model minority” myth of education and “hard work” in pursuit of the American Dream.
3. I think that Vietnamese Americans should more actively engage in cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities. Together, the minorities should unite because as a whole they would be stronger than just being alone as one.
-WEEK 3 Assignment Myers, Jessica. 2006.
1) Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
-They built the Eden Center which have “buildings that make up the largest Vietnamese commercial center on the East Coast of North America.” The place felt a smaller version of a Vietnamese city that included Vietnamese businesses such as Pho restuarants, jewlery, and cafe shops. They also incuded other “restaurants from Vietnam’s numerous provinces, jewelry boutiques, bakeries, delis, music and video stores, travel agencies that offer transportation to and from Vietnam, and money-wiring offices.” They even have a clocktower that is idential to saigon’s shopping center. Also they display flags that represent the republic of Vietnam and the south.
-Aspects of their Vietnamese heritage that they wish to claim is to adapt to American Society while they keep most of their traditions from Vietnam.
2) Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
-There were three waves: “This first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese,
who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas.” “The second great wave of refugees began in 1978 and further altered the dynamics of the community.” These immigrants were refugees that fled to Thailand or Malaysia and then 75,000 boats were used to send this wave. “the third large wave of immigrants
started making its appearance in 1989.” This group of people were sponsored by government programs or reunited with married American citizens and the Vietnamese. There were also Amerasians which brought diversity to the community But have been largely ignored by the community. But together, the arrival of all these waves had an impact on the influence of moving businesses to the Eden Center. It became a bigger attraction by the Vietnamese community that brought ideas from saigon which gained more ideas and vietnamese items.
Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
-The Eden Center provided a place for the Vietnamese to socially, culturally, and politcally interact with each other. It was a place to reunite, meet new people, hang out, celebrate holidays, and set meetings for organizations. The Eden Center also “merges the economic
aspect of immigrant entrepreneurs with the political interests and
social interactions of this dynamic community.”
-Extra Credit Collet, Christian. 2008.
Why are Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy?
-Vietnamese Americans in California are more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy” because they only want to represent their own ethnicity in order to have a representative to represent. Since, the diverse population in California is wide, the Vietnamese wants to be visible in the political field and to help gain benefit for the Vietnamese community.
Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
-This strategey includes multiple ethnic groups to create a bigger community that can help gain power to the whole community. With a huge diverse community, they can address specific problems that can help support the Vietnamese Community.
Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
I believe that the Vietnamese Americans should stick with the “toggling” strategy if they do not gain any benefits from the “go it alone strategy”. Because the “toggling” strategy is a much wider and diverse community, it may be more visible and may have a higher chance to gain power instead of keeping a single-racial ethnic group. With the “toggling strategy” the Vietnamese have nothing to lose, but to gain more support from others ethnics besides only the Vietnamese. So therefore, I believe the toggling strategy is the best choice to address mutually shared problems and inequalities.
1)The Vietnamese community in Washington DC takes great pride in claiming themselves Vietnamese. They shape themselves around anti-communist environment. They are active in political activities and built a strong Vietnamese City in Washington DC. Vietnamese people have worked hard to give themselves opportunities to open their own businesses from noodle houses to nail salons, and jewelry shops. With all the success, the Vietnamese still remembers their origin and honor their heritage, they would preserve the language, food, and well as traditions.
2)The different waves of the Vietnamese immigration that have affected the development of the community include the well educated Westernized Vietnamese, the “boat people” who migrated from Thailand and Malaysia, and the government sponsored programs that help refugees settled in the new country. All of these aspects have a huge impact in the Vietnamese community because it brought change and innovation within the people.
3)Eden Center is social get together destination for the Vietnamese community. It’s allows all Vietnamese to come together to celebrate traditional events such as Tet and the remembrance of the fall of Saigon on April 30th. These events not only represent the pride within the Vietnamese community but also to display the history of Vietnam publicly.
Extra Credit:
1)A good majority of Vietnamese Americans reside in ethnically diverse cities such as San Jose, Westminister, and Garden Grove. Because of the rising Vietnamese population within these regions, the desire to be recognized and represent the Vietnamese community occurs. The GIA approach is easily organized because of the large number of support within the Vietnamese community. Population is key because the more people of the same ideology, the cause will be supported and developed. Whereas, without a strong community, nothing can be done because no interests are being brought up.
2)Toggling refers to as carefully spreading the idea of a specific topic in one ethnic group amongst other ethnic groups. The Vietnamese American campaigns “toggling” approach targets mainly whites. For example, a Vietnamese candidate, Madison Nguyen approaches not only the Vietnamese community in her campaign ad, but other racial ethnic such as Hispanics, Caucasians and African Americans. Madison Nguyen is ideally a Vietnamese candidate running for a political position; she represents not only the Vietnamese community, but also a representation of every community needs at a whole.
3)Vietnamese Americans should continue to take the “go it alone” approach because it has been effective. Vietnamese Americans have strong communities throughout the world. Since we hare the minorities in foreign countries, it is up to the Vietnamese people to make themselves known to others.
Assignment
1. Describe how the Vietnamese community in Washington DC constructs their ethnic identity. What aspects of their Vietnamese heritage do they wish to claim?
Vietnamese, who live in Washington D.C. are still shown their traditional lifestyle and activities from the South Vietnam. They began to own their business in Washington DC such as pho, coffee and more.
2. Describe the different waves of Vietnamese immigration and how they affect the development of the community.
The first wave consisted of well-educated, “those who settled in Washington DC and it suburbs often had ties to the U.S. government or were sponsored by relatives already residing in the area.” They developed their growing need for familiarity like Vietnamese first shopping complex. The second wave is the dynamic of the community in 1978, Vietnam people who escape from the persecution by the communist with the fish boat. Those people are less education, spoke little English, and considered themselves Buddhist. People who travel through the fishing boat tried really hard to adapted to American culture. Vietnamese people start to open their own business that market itself to the growing Vietnamese population. The third wave of immigrant started in 1989, who came to American through many program such as HO and S.O.S.
3. Describe the social, cultural, and political dynamics of Eden Center?
The Vietnamese social of Eden Center is when people begin to open their business to serve the Vietnamese community at their place. The culturally dynamic is when Vietnamese open their own business they still provides Vietnamese good such as Vietnamese restaurant and market. The political dynamic is when the Vietnamese people are still anti-communist in American country.
Extra Credit
1. Why are Vietnamese American in California more prone in selection the “going it alone” strategy?
The “going it alone” strategy is when there a representative who goes alone to help the communities and speak up for their people problems. Which help the communities to solve their problems.
2. Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
(answer is not sure) The “toggling” strategy is a campaign strategy that combines ethnicity with careful, cross-racial appeals.
3. Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually share problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
Vietnamese people tend to stay away from trouble by being more active in cross-racial coalitions and learn how to contribute to the economic opportunities.
1. Vietnamese community in Washington constructs their ethnic identity by Eden Center, because this is a place that hosts most of the community activities from business through political actions. Founding in the reading this is also a physical symbol of the Vietnamese community live around the suburb of Washington D.C. . The community still wishes to claim their heritage as Vietnamese because they believe they have a significant group of people sharing a same heritage such as language and cultures.
2. There are 3 different waves of Vietnamese Immigration. First wave is from the fall of Saigon in 1975. This first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese,who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas. Those who settled in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs often had ties to the U.S. government or were sponsored by relatives already residing in the area. They considered themselves as refugees. These new settlers, who had evacuated Vietnam with little time for preparation and no plan for the future, found themselves in a drastically different situation than their predecessors had experienced. Sponsored by families or agencies, many were thrust into a foreign environment with few resources on which to draw. The form of Little Saigon in Clarendon, Virginia is a result of their growing need for familiarity.
Second wave began in 1978 to 1985, this wave considered as boat people waves. They escape from the communist regime in Vietnam on the fishing boat. This group generally less educated, spoke little English and considered themselves Buddhist. They are hard working people to symbol for all the hardships they been through. They increased the Vietnamese business which led to the official opened Eden Center in 1984 as a primarily Vietnamese Center
Third wave began in 1989 continues to present, this wave represented for people from various economic and social backgrounds. This wave of people have shaped the Eden Center and continue to affect its growth. Making a Eden Center as the most important place for the Vietnamese American community in Washington DC’s area.
3. The social aspect of the Eden Center is it provides a place for Vietnamese people in America to be Vietnamese. They come here to eat, socialize, shop, and be around their culture. Culturally, the Eden Center has events such as Tet and on April 30th and June 21st to remember their past and tehir separation from the Communists. Politically, the Eden Center portrays itself as Anti Communist and friend to Americans. This is shown through the South Vietnam Flag flying next to the American flag at the Eden Center.
Extra Credit
1. Vietnamese communities in the U.S have a different life style and different reason to come to the U.S. The other people in other communities come to U.S mostly because they want to make money, have a better life. But for Vietnamese, they came to America because they have to run away from the communist government. So that their political view will be different to other communities. If u can not achieve some goal by working with someone then u better do it by yourself.
2. Different than going it alone is the toggling strategies, which involve not only Vietnamese American issues but also other community’s issues. There are posters about those issues not only in Vietnamese but also transferred to another language so that Vietnamese and other people can work together to be able achieve some common goal that they have.
3. Vietnamese should be more actively engage and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities because when u stand by yourself and you fell down, there will be no others that will help you stand up. But if you stand with a friend, they will help u stand up.
1)After the fall of Saigon in 1975, the Vietnamese was forced to leave their home country and become refugee in the United States. The Vietnamese was able to form a small community that replicates Vietnamese City in Washington DC. Eden Center is the largest Vietnamese commercial center on the East Coast of America, it has many shops that own by Vietnamese such as Pho which is a traditional Vietnamese noodle soup, and many more. The Vietnamese community also represents the South Vietnam by putting up that flag, which stands for non-Communist, and democracy. In Washington DC, the Vietnamese Americans speak the same language, and share a similar culture. The Eden Center is the place that gathers most of the Vietnamese heritage such as language, traditional cultural, anti-Communist and traditional foods.
2)There are 3 different waves of Vietnamese Immigration. First wave is from the fall of Saigon in 1975. This first wave consisted of well-educated and Westernized Vietnamese,who practiced Roman Catholicism and came from urban areas. Those who settled in Washington, D.C. and its suburbs often had ties to the U.S. government or were sponsored by relatives already residing in the area. They considered themselves as refugees. These new settlers, who had evacuated Vietnam with little time for preparation and no plan for the future, found themselves in a drastically different situation than their predecessors had experienced. Sponsored by families or agencies, many were thrust into a foreign environment with few resources on which to draw. The form of Little Saigon in Clarendon, Virginia is a result of their growing need for familiarity.
Second wave began in 1978 to 1985, this wave considered as boat people waves. They escape from the communist regime in Vietnam on the fishing boat. This group generally less educated, spoke little English and considered themselves Buddhist. They are hard working people to symbol for all the hardships they been through. They increased the Vietnamese business which led to the official opened Eden Center in 1984 as a primarily Vietnamese Center
Third wave began in 1989 continues to present, this wave represented for people from various economic and social backgrounds. This wave of people have shaped the Eden Center and continue to affect its growth. Making a Eden Center as the most important place for the Vietnamese American community in Washington DC’s area
3) Socially, the Eden center is a place for people to meet and interact with one another. Eden center’s visibility as a Vietnamese cultural center thus makes a physical reality of the imagined community. The cultural part of the center is when the community comes together and celebrates important events such as Tet. Politically, it can be said that by celebrating April 30 and June 21 at the center they are expressing their anti-communism.
Extra Credit
Overall, Vietnamese community is one of the most conservative ethnic groups. Moreover, large portion of foreign-born constituents would be more likely to involve in oversea problems that would have little congruency with other possible coalition. On other reason that prompt Vietnamese community to “going it alone” is the shear concentration of Vietnamese in the Orange county area comparing to other Asia America group which in turn would lead to certain unique issues. Vietnamese also barred themselves from coalition because they define their status close to more affluent Asian American group such as Chinese and Indian, while other Asian American groups see Vietnamese at a less success level of Hispanic and Black (see page 10 of article.) Personally, I think the major reason that push Vietnamese toward “going it alone” is because most Vietnamese are loyal Republican while most Hispanic and Black are Democrats.
I think Vietnamese Americans should engage in cross-racial coalitions to address their problems, because the more people we have concerning an issue, the more attention they will get and gain more benefits from it.
The toggling strategy is a campaign tactic that carefully balances ethnic mobilization with “crossover” communications targeted toward the out group (usually whites). Candidate use this strategy to gain frequent, unfiltered, and often a favorable for their outreach effort by ethnic media such as Vietnamese radio station, newspaper and websites.
1 Why are Vietnamese Americans in California more prone in selecting the “going it alone” strategy?
Going it alone means fighting for your own race to the Vietnamese. They are focused on helping out the Vietnamese community and want their voices to be heard by the government. If they protest with large crowds from many races the idea behind helping the Vietnamese community will be washed away. The Vietnamese are usually prone to staying together and they have shown how strong they can be ( for example New Orleans) when they go alone.
2 Describe the “toggling” strategy in Vietnamese American campaigns.
The toggling strategy is a technique that is used which involves multiple races that are usually protesting against another race. They get other people on their side to have more backing and hopefully make a bigger impact. This tactic is opposite of the “going it alone strategy”.
3 Should Vietnamese Americans “go it alone” or should they more actively engage inpanethnic and cross-racial coalitions to address the mutually shared problems of structural discrimination and economic inequalities?
I think the Vietnamese should continue the way they are going and do a hybrid of the two. The Vietnamese community is not that big so if they only protest using the toggling strategy the Vietnamese community will be overlooked as a whole. However, the toggling strategy is good for issues that affect multiple races and by using this strategy they are building allies in the community which will help fight for mutual things in the future. For issues that will directly affect the Vietnamese community they should stick with the going it alone strategy.
1. The Vietnamese came to Washington DC with many of their cultures still by them. For example, Pho, noodle soup, is one of the most memorable foods of the Vietnamese culture. Furthermore, the non communist flag is hung around in US which represents democracy. Also, the language is still spoken here and they have accustomed to English. This is all done by the Eden Center.
2. There are 3 main waves in the Vietnamese immigration. The first wave was in 1975 when intelligent refugees came from urban areas. The second wave in 1978 however, was not educated and arrived on boats. They had a harder time getting aquainted with the American culture. And finally the third wave came through after 1989. They were brought over here through the homecoming act and other similar government based motives. The 3 waves all made an impact on the Eden Center in Washington Dc.
3. The social aspects of the Eden Center were demonstrated when Vietnamese Americans celebrated TET. It was basically the hang out spot because many Vietnamese people felt like they were close to home again when they came here to talk and shop and eat. Politically, the Eden Center is Anti-Communist because of the flag that is hanging at the center. Finally, the Eden Center is economically represented through the music and food beause it is reminded of Vietnem.
EXTRA CREDIT
1. California followed the “go it alone” because they didnt want to be involved with any other races/ethinicities besides their own, Vietnamese.
2. The toggling strategy balanced moving ethnics and the languages of communication for outer groups like the whites. Many of the candidates used this method to reach out to the voters by using the newspaper, Vietnamese radio, websites, and other types of media.
3. The Vietnamese Americans should be more engaged and go towards cross-racial events because they need to get involved with their opinions and stand up for one another. Most of the problems addressed such as structural discrimination and economic inequalities are extremely important.