Rhetorical Analysis

Posted by Alice Liu on

In the article, “Racism is Ingrained in Asian American Communities. We Can Change That” by Chelsey Zhu, the author discusses how racism is embedded within the Asian Community as a stance against racism. In the genre of a personal essay, Zhu writes about 2 experiences in her life and how it affects her today and why she decided to write this article. While also providing credibility, Zhu uses her own experience and identity as an Asian American to explain how racism exists inside the Asian Community. Zhu begins with what her parents told her, that she couldn’t date a black person, and how they justified racism by seeing themselves as “model minority” and the fact that, they were immigrants who started off with nothing and was able to rise into a middle class. However, they did not consider how prevalent racism is in the US, that would prevent the black community to do as the best as they can. Then Zhu discusses how George Floyd, who was a factor, that sparked the Black Lives Matter protest, allowed her to analyze her own community. She realizes that everyone within the Asian community must confront the idea of racism and that they have a duty to not be silent on this issue. Zhu addresses to the Asian American community, that the idea of going up against elders and family members who don’t understand the concept of racism unlike the younger generation, would not be a sign of disrespect. We should confront, explain, and educate them. The Asian community can do something that can help address the social issue of racism.

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Alice Liu

https://resistance2020.commons.gc.cuny.edu/author/aliceliu/

Comments ( 6 )

  1. Alexa Morales
    Hi Alice, I agree with your points about racism inside the Asian community. I may not be Asian myself but often times I see this happening within the Latino community as well. My aunt used to tell me the same thing that Chelsey Zhu's parents used to tell her. It is important to confront, explain and educate those in our communities when they are in the wrong.
  2. Emily Sanchez
    I strongly agree with the idea that people have a right to stand up and educate others who aren't as informed about the matters that have been occurring. However, even if you're just a bystander watching it all happen, even if you're not part of that specific community yourself, you also have a right to speak up because you may know more than the next person and it's important to spread awareness.
  3. Elena Yu Xu
    I agree with what you stated about educating, and having different opinions than others because everyone views something differently; and as the events occur, all of them can show something, which I believe they are very related to the argument of Chelsey Zhu.
  4. Christine
    This is so deeply rooted in many cultures, most obviously with White Americans. Reading about how it presents in the Asian American community resonated with my own experience growing up in middle America. The statement about standing up in opposition to the elder population and their racist views being a sign of disrespect was very true in my community as well. I related to this piece and found it powerful that we all must stand together generationally to make the changes that our country so desperately needs.
  5. Andrey Musin
    It is very compelling hearing someone shed light about difficult topics around their own culture and I believe its something we should all be doing more of. Though difficult I think there is great value in trying to educate an older generation and I would like to add that one day it may well be us on the other side. We should be ready to change even when were 80 if we expect that of our elders.
  6. Andrew Mark Salmieri
    Coming from an Italian background, I often encounter elders in my circle of family and friends that espouse old world, backwards views. I think some people just refuse to get with the times. They'd rather be stuck in their bubble of traditional customs and ideas. I tend to distance myself from my more backwards-thinking family and friends. I've actually confronted an older family friend of mine about her views and she does not talk to me anymore. I don't know how one could live in NYC and not love the vibrance and diversity of this place. We all work and grind together in this metropolis, so I feel camaraderie with my fellow New Yorkers and people as a whole. As a generation, it is up to us to break down old beliefs and habits. We have to forge a world that loves and respects the dignity of everyone. No one should feel like they don't fit in.

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