An Argument for Authenticty

This interesting exchange between a blogger (H.Y. Nahm) and an anonymous reader presents but a microcosm of the various perspectives when discussing Asian American identity.  The writer admonishes that the path to authenticity begins with “being 100% secure in your identity, no matter how much they poke and prod and scratch at your skin”; the reader is bent on a more pragmatic approach.  “Own your ethnicity” is one of three tenets the writer prescribes and with which the reader slightly differs.

H.Y. Nahm: “I’m Korean!” is how I say it when some yokel asks, “So what are you?”  I’ve come to the conclusion that “I’m Korean American” sounds too defensive.  The more sophisticated know what I mean. If they can’t figure out that I am also American by the way I speak and act, too bad for them. I don’t care enough to waste energy trying to educate them.

Reader: Of course, if you’re asked “What’s your ethnicity” you should answer, as you said, “Korean” (assuming the writer is one). However, if I’m asked “What’s your nationality” or “Heritage” then I would, proudly or not, answer “American”. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with trying to explore the heritage of your ancestors, but you have no right to act as if your ancestor’s heritage was your own.

The rightfully proud Korean American—or should I say, Korean—writer has all but the good intentions in his approach, and I concur that we should all step up to our ancestral origins.  I would however agree more with his reader that an appropriate question deserves an appropriate answer.

Now, if the question were less than appropriate (Need I even provide examples?), I find it befitting our ancestral pride and confidence in our identity that we offer a response that attempts to inform, educate, enlighten, and maybe even convert the however-unsophisticated mind, or manners, of the inappropriately questioning.  What energy does it take to just spill out the facts—whether it lands on the path, the thorns, the rocks, or on fertile soil?  Hey, you never know!

I am an Asian American of Korean ancestry.

There is stronger agreement on the two other doctrines that H.Y. Nahm proposes, which are:  never try to prove how American you are, and never apologize for anything Asian.  I agree that the proof is in the pudding, though too it is not our accent nor birthplace that should solely define us.  I believe it is our deeds acknowledging our ideals that serve as the bottom line in proclaiming our true selves.  And so I offer another tenet related to this:  Never downplay that you are also American.  And, yes, we should give people—and ourselves—some slack, because like everyone else, authentic or otherwise, we are in fact imperfect human beings.