Months ago when I was impatiently awaiting the release of the movie Crazy Rich Asians, I did not expect for the movie to affect me this much.
When I finally watched Crazy Rich Asians and the Netflix film To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, I knew that both films have done just that.
Crazy Rich Asians is a romantic comedy-drama that tells the story of Rachel, an NYU professor who accompanies her boyfriend to his best friend’s wedding in Singapore and learns that he’s the son of the richest family on the island and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a teen romantic comedy that follows Lara Jean, a teen romantic who writes secret love letters to boys when she wants to get over them who then discovers her private letters have been mailed to their recipients.

Crazy Rich Asians is the first movie from a major Hollywood studio to feature a predominately Asian cast since The Joy Luck Club (1993). That’s 25 years ago. To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before features a Vietnamese-American as the lead.If this is not a big deal, I don’t know what is.

I am a first-generation Asian American. I was born in Manhattan, New York, raised in Brooklyn for eight years, and currently reside in Queens, New York. My parents are both United States citizens who immigrated from Hong Kong and Wenzhou, China.
Growing up, I never went through the challenges that my parents faced when immigrating to a foreign country–assimilating into the culture, and tackling language barriers and cultural differences. My sister and I both were born into a life that my parents had to learn from scratch. My parents faced a lot of struggles and made a lot of sacrifices to enable my sister and me to have what we have today. What I did not realize was that I’d face many of my own internal identity battles when it came to how others viewed me and more importantly, how I viewed myself.
Back in middle school, high school, and college, the question “Where are you from?” was quite popular. When I reply that I was born here, in the U.S., you already know what is coming- I get a response of “No, where are your parents from?” or “No, where are you really from?” That’s when I finally understood that I wasn’t American like everyone else, I was Asian-American.
As a kid, I never thought I was seen as different. I didn’t feel alienated because I was Chinese-American. I never felt not white. However, preconceived notions continue to be made solely based on race. Even though I was born in the U.S., went to school here, work here, will others ever accept and understand that I am American? Will Asian Americans be viewed as anything but foreigners?
Despite the 150-plus-year history of Asians in the United States, when Asian Americans are included in U.S. history, we’re often presented as a model minority and are lumped together as a hardworking, passive, and successful minority. I was and am often viewed as too American to be Chinese and too Chinese to be American. This is how it feels like to be a first-generation American and an Asian-American. It’s the feeling of being able to be on both sides, feeling included, but simultaneously feeling not included.
I’m tired of having to bear derogatory, racist, and stereotypical comments just because I’m Asian. I’m tired of others associating everything I do with the fact that I’m Asian. Asians are NOT all the same. If someone is Asian, don’t automatically assume they are Chinese. I’m not a doctor or a lawyer. I’m a fantastic driver, thank you very much (and even if I’m a bad driver, it’s not because I’m Asian. It’s because I’m a bad driver). Don’t call me or my food exotic. I’m a human being just like everyone else. I am me and just want to be me for me–I’m not my ethnicity, race, or skin color.
As a child, I didn’t get to see myself in TV shows, movies, or stories. There wasn’t anyone like me on the screens. With the release of Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, we saw two protagonists that happen to be Asian American.
This shouldn’t be a big deal like this in 2018, but it is. Female protagonists of color are still rare in Hollywood.In April 2016, I tweeted “America is still deciding what to think and do with Asians beyond offering comic relief in stereotypical roles” when Scarlett Johansson was casted as Major Motoko Kusanagi in the film adaptation of the Ghost in the Shell manga. The excuse is that there aren’t big enough Asian/Asian-American names to choose from. Well, without a conscientious effort, how will anyone ever break through and become familiar enough with the audiences to allow producers to confidently cast them to be a lead in a film?
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a film adaptation of Jenny Han’s book. Jenny Han turned down many film offers because some studios wanted the female protagonist to be played by a white actress. It’s important that Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before do well because we need to show Hollywood that movies with Asian leads are an option, too. We want this to start a domino effect whereby more diverse stories can and will be told.
In no way are these two films made to represent ALL Asians and all experiences, but it’s a beginning that will hopefully shift Hollywood executives’ thinking and affect their behaviors of funding more works from diverse voices.
Crazy Rich Asians had many moments that spoke directly to me. Not only that but Crazy Rich Asians proves Asian American representation can be successful too. The film opened on Wednesday, August 15th. The film made $35.3 million from Wednesday to Sunday and another $26.5 million for the second weekend (this weekend)–a current grand total of $76.8 million!
To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is a teen rom-com I wish I had when I was in high school.In an opinion editorial, Jenny Han writes “What would it have meant for me back then to see a girl who looked like me star in a movie? Not as the sidekick or romantic interest, but as the lead? Not just once, but again and again? Everything. There is power in seeing a face that looks like yours do something, be someone. There is power in moving from the sidelines to the center…Because when you see someone who looks like you, it reveals what is possible. It’s not just maybe I could be an actress. It’s maybe I could be an astronaut, a fighter, a president. A writer. This is why it matters who is visible. It matters a lot. And for the girls of 2018, I want more. I want the whole world.” Read Jenny’s piece here.
Watch these two films. Show up. Be curious for people different than you…that’s when inclusion begins.
Be an ally. Recognize your privilege (you can be privileged without feeling privileged), own your experiences, listen more, have uncomfortable conversations, help yourself understand, consistently learn and unlearn, and be proactive in taking responsibility for changing these patterns.
We still have a long way to go but seeing the films Crazy Rich Asians and To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before doing well is a step in the right direction.
0 0 votes
Article Rating
justviasyl
Aspiring to be a woman comfortable and happy mentally, physically and professionally, JustviaSyl highlights Sylvia's personal and professional development journey through tips, thoughts, and stories in hopes of bringing more positive energy into the world and encouraging us to keep learning, laughing, growing, relaxing and reflecting to become the best versions of ourselves and live a life we're remarkably proud of. To get in touch or work together, send a note to justviasyl@gmail.com

Leave a Reply

183 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
trackback
4 years ago

viagra pills

viagra pill

trackback
4 years ago

canadian pharmacy cialis

cialis over the counter

trackback

cialis price walmart

generic cialis 2019

trackback
4 years ago

cialis prices

canadian pharmacy cialis 20mg

trackback
4 years ago

online pharmacy viagra

viagra 50mg

trackback
4 years ago

gnc ed pills

top ed pills

trackback

top erection pills

erection pills

trackback
4 years ago

cheapest ed pills

pills for erection

trackback
4 years ago

buy cialis online

cialis 10mg

trackback

pharmacy online

canada online pharmacy

trackback
4 years ago

rx pharmacy

walmart pharmacy

trackback

canadian pharmacy

pharmacy online

trackback
4 years ago

cialis visa

generic cialis online

trackback
4 years ago

Viagra or cialis

Real cialis online

trackback
4 years ago

levitra for sale

generic vardenafil online

trackback
4 years ago

levitra 20 mg

levitra 10mg

trackback
4 years ago

levitra online

vardenafil 20 mg

trackback
4 years ago

online casinos for usa players

empire casino online

trackback
4 years ago

gambling casino online

online casinos real money

trackback
4 years ago

viagra viagra

generic viagra online

trackback
4 years ago

casino slots gambling

real money online casinos usa

trackback
4 years ago

best online casino real money

real online casino

trackback

cialis buy cialis online

cialis generic cialis

trackback
4 years ago

short term loans

cash payday

trackback
4 years ago

instant loans

payday advance

trackback
4 years ago

short term loans

payday loans online

trackback
4 years ago

viagra 100mg

viagra for sale

trackback

gambling

Fat wired Casino sites among mondo ice stones casino craps casino game suncoast hotel licensed additional compensation for unique sweat

trackback
4 years ago

financial betting sites

Select on the Internet Casino sites by fat bounty csgo gambling site 2019 sportsbook legal states classy gift for strange professional

trackback
4 years ago

generic cialis

new cialis

trackback
4 years ago

20 cialis

cialis 5 mg

trackback
4 years ago

cialis to buy

buy cialis

trackback
4 years ago

cialis 5 mg

cialis generic

trackback
4 years ago

20 cialis

cialis generic

trackback
4 years ago

play online casino real money

casino real money

trackback

real money online casinos usa

free casino games

trackback
4 years ago

casino world

online casino real money

trackback

hollywood casino

casino slot games

trackback

canada viagra

viagra generic name

trackback
4 years ago

viagra no prescription

viagra without a doctor prescription

trackback
4 years ago

cheapest viagra online

viagra cost

trackback

tadalafil dosage

buy cialis online safely

trackback

pharmacy cheap no prescription

Asian American representation – JustviaSyl

trackback

viagra 100mg 100 tabs $100

Asian American representation – JustviaSyl

trackback
4 years ago

tadalafil generique

tadalafil 20 mg

trackback

viagra without a doctor prescription

Asian American representation – JustviaSyl

trackback
4 years ago

viagra pills

Asian American representation – JustviaSyl

trackback
4 years ago

golden nugget online casino

slot machine

trackback

online casino real money usa

best real casino online

trackback
4 years ago

generic viagra 100mg

Asian American representation – JustviaSyl

1 2 3 4
Follow

Get the latest posts delivered to your mailbox:

183
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x