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Yellow
Writing in the tradition of W. E. B. Du Bois, Cornel West, and others who confronted the "color line" of the twentieth century, journalist, scholar, and activist Frank H. Wu offers a unique perspective on how changing ideas of racial identity will affect race relations in the twenty-first century. Wu examines affirmative action, globalization, immigration, and other controversial contemporary issues through the lens of the Asian-American experience. Mixing personal anecdotes, legal cases, and journalistic reporting, Wu confronts damaging Asian-American stereotypes such as "the model minority" and "the perpetual foreigner." By offering new ways of thinking about race in American society, Wu's work dares us to make good on our great democratic experiment.
416 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 64 reviews
March 3, 2016
I got to page 190, when I decided life is too short to read a book that I just kinda hate.
Here is the thing with this book: I'm not the right audience. This is a common problem in my life, I'm often "not the right audience" for a book. AKA a nice of way of saying I fucking hated it, but in good conscience can't quite say was a "bad" book. Many readers said they disliked this book because it was too "academic" or too "boring". It was neither of these things. I just hate the author and his belief system, therefore I disliked the book.
Despite the fact that a Chinese-American man wrote this book, this book is aimed at one audience and one audience only: Rich-ass old white people. Wu spends a lot of time trying to convince his readers that yes, racism is still a problem in America. I fully agree, I don't disagree with him there. However, Wu's basic premise is the fact that, because Asian Americans are a distinct ethnic group, they should "side" with themselves on issues, not with whites or blacks. While I also agree with this premise, it also frees Wu to make a fair number of borderline-sketchy anti-black comments. (Because he's neither for, nor against, nor aligned with them.)
Wu prides himself on being what one could call a "rational moderate". He doesn't self-identify as that in this book, but it's really obvious. For example, he's *for* affirmative action (something I have no issue with), but he's *ALSO* for racial profiling (something I've very opposed to). Basically, Wu is extremely patriotic. Therefore, he's *for* immigration controls, *for* racial profiling, *for* a bunch of other conservative BS, and he also has to spend a lot of time trying to convince other people who are for these things that hes A) on "their" side and B)that the ideas he has that disagree with theirs (i.e. being for affirmative action) isn't actually that far off from their beliefs.
Basically, I don't give two shits about xenophobic bullshit, nor anti-blackness, especially those sentiments are being couched as "reasonable" or "rational".
Very rarely do resort to slogans (they are two dimensional) but No Borders, No Nations, kthnxbai.
Here is the thing with this book: I'm not the right audience. This is a common problem in my life, I'm often "not the right audience" for a book. AKA a nice of way of saying I fucking hated it, but in good conscience can't quite say was a "bad" book. Many readers said they disliked this book because it was too "academic" or too "boring". It was neither of these things. I just hate the author and his belief system, therefore I disliked the book.
Despite the fact that a Chinese-American man wrote this book, this book is aimed at one audience and one audience only: Rich-ass old white people. Wu spends a lot of time trying to convince his readers that yes, racism is still a problem in America. I fully agree, I don't disagree with him there. However, Wu's basic premise is the fact that, because Asian Americans are a distinct ethnic group, they should "side" with themselves on issues, not with whites or blacks. While I also agree with this premise, it also frees Wu to make a fair number of borderline-sketchy anti-black comments. (Because he's neither for, nor against, nor aligned with them.)
Wu prides himself on being what one could call a "rational moderate". He doesn't self-identify as that in this book, but it's really obvious. For example, he's *for* affirmative action (something I have no issue with), but he's *ALSO* for racial profiling (something I've very opposed to). Basically, Wu is extremely patriotic. Therefore, he's *for* immigration controls, *for* racial profiling, *for* a bunch of other conservative BS, and he also has to spend a lot of time trying to convince other people who are for these things that hes A) on "their" side and B)that the ideas he has that disagree with theirs (i.e. being for affirmative action) isn't actually that far off from their beliefs.
Basically, I don't give two shits about xenophobic bullshit, nor anti-blackness, especially those sentiments are being couched as "reasonable" or "rational".
Very rarely do resort to slogans (they are two dimensional) but No Borders, No Nations, kthnxbai.
October 18, 2010
It's a little concerning how long it took me to read this book. Warning: This is not a book you can read with your mind on your dinner.
Despite the fact that this book is not so easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wu's description of anti-Asian sentiments in America is compelling and interesting, going pretty in-depth into the origins of these stereotypes, and then gently bashing them to pieces. I particularly enjoyed his sections on "The Perpetual Foreigner" and the model minority. Wu also tackles affirmative action, immigration, assimilation and intermarriage. One particular phenomenal chapter was about the "Dilemma of Diversity." Wu raised a lot of points that I found were really interesting and I had not thought of them before. I found that the examples and occasional anecdotes he wrote about I could relate to in some small way. Overall, this book opened up a whole new view on being Asian in America and what that means.
The subtitle of the book is "Race in America Beyond Black and White." Wu definitely goes into the contrasting of white and African American culture with a lot of really interesting analysis; however, I think I would have liked to have seen more contrast between white and Asian American perspectives or between African American and Asian American perspectives. That and the incredible denseness of this book...
A great read overall.
Despite the fact that this book is not so easy to read, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Wu's description of anti-Asian sentiments in America is compelling and interesting, going pretty in-depth into the origins of these stereotypes, and then gently bashing them to pieces. I particularly enjoyed his sections on "The Perpetual Foreigner" and the model minority. Wu also tackles affirmative action, immigration, assimilation and intermarriage. One particular phenomenal chapter was about the "Dilemma of Diversity." Wu raised a lot of points that I found were really interesting and I had not thought of them before. I found that the examples and occasional anecdotes he wrote about I could relate to in some small way. Overall, this book opened up a whole new view on being Asian in America and what that means.
The subtitle of the book is "Race in America Beyond Black and White." Wu definitely goes into the contrasting of white and African American culture with a lot of really interesting analysis; however, I think I would have liked to have seen more contrast between white and Asian American perspectives or between African American and Asian American perspectives. That and the incredible denseness of this book...
A great read overall.
February 2, 2010
Finally, a book that breaks away from the racial dichotomy and explores what it means to Asian in America. Wu discusses both the old and new cultural stereotypes that Asian Americans face and how that kind of biased thinking disadvantages both Asian Americans and those who believe the stereotypes. Recognizing the rise of mixed marriages, Wu includes a chapter discussing how the concept of race is slowly becoming even less of a black and white issue and that any discussion must acknowledge and include all those who live in the US.
March 12, 2016
Via Google search, sought-out Brian Lamb's Book TV interview with Frank Wu, as part of self-education prior to an adoption in 2005. Was instantly sold on this author. Frank Wu - a professor at Howard University in Washington - who was born in Michigan in the mid-sixties, and is approximately the same age as myself. However, his life experiences have been profoundly impacted by his Chinese ethnicity. This book opened my eyes and informed my voting decision in the 2008 U.S. presidential election.
September 17, 2016
See my original review post here: https://gamingforjustice.com/2016/09/...
I have read Yellow over the course of the past year. I did not read it consistently, but mainly used it to talk with students I work with and to provide them excerpts I thought might be useful in their own identity development. Last month, I decided to pick it back up, reread a couple of chapters, and finish the book. I do not think I can aptly provide a comprehensive review of Frank Wu’s Yellow without dedicating the next couple of weeks to it, rereading even more chapters and sections. This book was dense, full of references and real life examples. As much as I would love to do that, I unfortunately do not have the time. I do want to share my thoughts and provide a snapshot of the text, hopefully conveying where I thought Wu’s ideas shined through and some critiques in his writing.
I am predisposed for Yellow to resonate with me because even though I do not share ethnic heritage with Frank Wu, I do share the experience of being from Eastern Asian origin. In the API (Asian Pacific Islander) communities, I do not hear about activism or social justice work as much as I would hope. I think there are many reasons for this separation and systems of power and oppression work really well to keep communities of color apart and against one another. Yellow was the first academic text I found and read that critically examines race and racism beyond the binary of black and white, focusing heavily on Asians and Pacific Islanders. Because of Wu’s own identity, this is the experience and the lens he is writing from. Asian is such a huge term, amalgamating hundreds of different cultures, spanning across a slew of countries, we really need to break down the word Asian and come up with new terminology. I was hoping for a more well-rounded perspective including more of South Asian and Western Asian peoples and experiences.
Wu’s writing style comes off as very rational and logical. He takes cultural phenomenons, such as the model minority myth, and microaggressions, such as asking an Asian person if they eat dog, and approaches his explanations and arguments for social justice by going through each possible argument and showing the shortcomings, ultimately coming to one argument he thinks is correct. While very helpful for me to process his different arguments, I thought the writing lacked a certain emotion that I think anti-racism work needs. This could very well be my own perceptions mixed in with my socialization about how particularly Asian men need to appear emotionless in order to get anywhere in this country. However, I am always a big proponent of showing emotion in social justice work. This work is personal. This work touches our core. It makes us angry, frustrated, sad, filled with grief. This work is also relational. Without sharing emotion, I do not think we can form strong relationships and learn from each other’s experiences. I think as soon as we get away from the emotional side of this work, we lose what it is all about: all of our intersecting identities, the wonderful person they make, and how we build community from it.
Although from an Eastern Asian perspective, Wu does a fantastic job pulling in current events and historical events that have supported and impacted racism across all communities of color. Wu recognizes the terms that the United States was found upon (slavery and colonization) and gives a commentary on how our country’s history plays a big role in how racism is seen and experienced today. I felt like Wu not only validated the experiences of other people of color, but gives voice and credit to what has already been done and the trials that other communities have faced.
Two sections in the book stood out to me the most. The first was titled, “The Best ‘Chink’ Food.’ Wu opens with a logical conundrum: What does an Asian person answer when they are asked, “Do you eat dogs?” This strikes a chord with me because growing up, particularly in Middle School (6-8 grade), my friends (mostly Asian) and I would be asked on occasion if we ate dogs. As a middle schooler, I probably answered with a simple ‘NO!’ and possibly went on to say I had a pet dog who I loved very much. Wu explains very logically why the question about dog eating is a lose-lose-lose scenario for Asian people. And the more I thought about it, the more I saw the weight and the real intention behind the question. The asker, whether subconsciously or consciously, is asking to validate their stereotypes of the ‘exotic’ and ‘barbaric’ eating of dogs by Asian cultures. Answering ‘Yes’ will other the respondent right away. In a simple summary: Answering ‘No’ separates the respondent from Asians who do eat dogs, placing the respondent as ‘one of the good Asians.’ Ultimately in my reflections, my best response to this question would be… “What do you mean by that question?” to start talking about the underlying power dynamic of the question itself.
The second is the concentration Wu puts into coalition building in the final chapter. When I work within my own community, I am constantly frustrated at the disconnect of API folks and the other communities of color. This is not to say all Asian people are disconnected, but in my experience, it has been hard for me to motivate API communities to stand in solidarity or build coalitions with other communities of color. During the Civil Rights movement, there were prominent API activists who stood with the black community such as Yuri Kochiyama who was closely associated with Malcolm X. Moreover, the Black Panthers drew from Maoist tenets, creating Black Maoism. Leaders of the movement even visited Beijing to learn more about the Maoist movement. This type of solidarity between communities does not happen as much as it needs to presently. I see the power of the model minority myth setting the foundation for this disconnect as one of the biggest proponents of anti-blackness and anti-browness in API communities. White supremacy has been using Asians to maintain power and the status quo, promising the privileges of Whiteness but never fully accepting them. It is time to get back to coalition building!
My overall experience with Yellow was a positive one. This is definitely an academic book I will keep in my library. I can see myself returning to many different sections within the book to continue my understanding of the API community within the conversations of race in the United States.
I have read Yellow over the course of the past year. I did not read it consistently, but mainly used it to talk with students I work with and to provide them excerpts I thought might be useful in their own identity development. Last month, I decided to pick it back up, reread a couple of chapters, and finish the book. I do not think I can aptly provide a comprehensive review of Frank Wu’s Yellow without dedicating the next couple of weeks to it, rereading even more chapters and sections. This book was dense, full of references and real life examples. As much as I would love to do that, I unfortunately do not have the time. I do want to share my thoughts and provide a snapshot of the text, hopefully conveying where I thought Wu’s ideas shined through and some critiques in his writing.
I am predisposed for Yellow to resonate with me because even though I do not share ethnic heritage with Frank Wu, I do share the experience of being from Eastern Asian origin. In the API (Asian Pacific Islander) communities, I do not hear about activism or social justice work as much as I would hope. I think there are many reasons for this separation and systems of power and oppression work really well to keep communities of color apart and against one another. Yellow was the first academic text I found and read that critically examines race and racism beyond the binary of black and white, focusing heavily on Asians and Pacific Islanders. Because of Wu’s own identity, this is the experience and the lens he is writing from. Asian is such a huge term, amalgamating hundreds of different cultures, spanning across a slew of countries, we really need to break down the word Asian and come up with new terminology. I was hoping for a more well-rounded perspective including more of South Asian and Western Asian peoples and experiences.
Wu’s writing style comes off as very rational and logical. He takes cultural phenomenons, such as the model minority myth, and microaggressions, such as asking an Asian person if they eat dog, and approaches his explanations and arguments for social justice by going through each possible argument and showing the shortcomings, ultimately coming to one argument he thinks is correct. While very helpful for me to process his different arguments, I thought the writing lacked a certain emotion that I think anti-racism work needs. This could very well be my own perceptions mixed in with my socialization about how particularly Asian men need to appear emotionless in order to get anywhere in this country. However, I am always a big proponent of showing emotion in social justice work. This work is personal. This work touches our core. It makes us angry, frustrated, sad, filled with grief. This work is also relational. Without sharing emotion, I do not think we can form strong relationships and learn from each other’s experiences. I think as soon as we get away from the emotional side of this work, we lose what it is all about: all of our intersecting identities, the wonderful person they make, and how we build community from it.
Although from an Eastern Asian perspective, Wu does a fantastic job pulling in current events and historical events that have supported and impacted racism across all communities of color. Wu recognizes the terms that the United States was found upon (slavery and colonization) and gives a commentary on how our country’s history plays a big role in how racism is seen and experienced today. I felt like Wu not only validated the experiences of other people of color, but gives voice and credit to what has already been done and the trials that other communities have faced.
Two sections in the book stood out to me the most. The first was titled, “The Best ‘Chink’ Food.’ Wu opens with a logical conundrum: What does an Asian person answer when they are asked, “Do you eat dogs?” This strikes a chord with me because growing up, particularly in Middle School (6-8 grade), my friends (mostly Asian) and I would be asked on occasion if we ate dogs. As a middle schooler, I probably answered with a simple ‘NO!’ and possibly went on to say I had a pet dog who I loved very much. Wu explains very logically why the question about dog eating is a lose-lose-lose scenario for Asian people. And the more I thought about it, the more I saw the weight and the real intention behind the question. The asker, whether subconsciously or consciously, is asking to validate their stereotypes of the ‘exotic’ and ‘barbaric’ eating of dogs by Asian cultures. Answering ‘Yes’ will other the respondent right away. In a simple summary: Answering ‘No’ separates the respondent from Asians who do eat dogs, placing the respondent as ‘one of the good Asians.’ Ultimately in my reflections, my best response to this question would be… “What do you mean by that question?” to start talking about the underlying power dynamic of the question itself.
The second is the concentration Wu puts into coalition building in the final chapter. When I work within my own community, I am constantly frustrated at the disconnect of API folks and the other communities of color. This is not to say all Asian people are disconnected, but in my experience, it has been hard for me to motivate API communities to stand in solidarity or build coalitions with other communities of color. During the Civil Rights movement, there were prominent API activists who stood with the black community such as Yuri Kochiyama who was closely associated with Malcolm X. Moreover, the Black Panthers drew from Maoist tenets, creating Black Maoism. Leaders of the movement even visited Beijing to learn more about the Maoist movement. This type of solidarity between communities does not happen as much as it needs to presently. I see the power of the model minority myth setting the foundation for this disconnect as one of the biggest proponents of anti-blackness and anti-browness in API communities. White supremacy has been using Asians to maintain power and the status quo, promising the privileges of Whiteness but never fully accepting them. It is time to get back to coalition building!
My overall experience with Yellow was a positive one. This is definitely an academic book I will keep in my library. I can see myself returning to many different sections within the book to continue my understanding of the API community within the conversations of race in the United States.
April 29, 2017
There are other books that have done it better. In attempting to whittle down my ever-growing stack of books I thought I'd try to plow through books by Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) for the month of May (which is AAPI Month). I've had 'Yellow' for several years on my shelf so it seemed like it would be a good opportunity to get a head start on the month (as well as clearing out the rather large, oops).
Wu discusses Asian Americans and examines their identity, their place in US society, the racism and microaggressions encountered in his personal experiences. He walks the reader through history, pop culture references, societal context, relations with others, etc. How to recognize the concept of race in US has not limited to black and white, what we can learn, what we still need to learn, etc.
At least, I think that's what he was trying to do. As other reviews say, his background as a lawyer comes very clearly through. Sometimes he goes into excruciating detail that isn't always necessary. Sometimes it's frustrating to watch him switch topics without a better transition or framework. And honestly, a lot of this seemed to be colored by his own experiences and feelings. Which is not necessarily bad or invalid, but it's a little frustrating.
He isolates Asian Americans a bit (which is understandable in his focus) but as noted elsewhere, his comments about black people are worth a side-eye. He may acknowledge their work and history but perhaps without understanding racism, anti-blackness and how that may be affecting his POV. Some of his commentary on immigration and racial profiling are a bit bizarre and at odds with his overall thesis...or examples of how he doesn't quite understand the greater context.
Overall the book is not for me. It might be handy for a law student (seriously, it sometimes reads like it's a bunch of legal case studies) but as someone who is more of a layperson and was looking for something different it wasn't for me. I wish I hadn't purchased it as a bargain buy but oh well. Recommend the library unless you're studying specific topics he covers.
A book that I thought of (but is not quite on the same topic) is Erika Lee's 'The Making of Asian America' which is more of a history and I felt can be read without needing a class to frame the book.
Wu discusses Asian Americans and examines their identity, their place in US society, the racism and microaggressions encountered in his personal experiences. He walks the reader through history, pop culture references, societal context, relations with others, etc. How to recognize the concept of race in US has not limited to black and white, what we can learn, what we still need to learn, etc.
At least, I think that's what he was trying to do. As other reviews say, his background as a lawyer comes very clearly through. Sometimes he goes into excruciating detail that isn't always necessary. Sometimes it's frustrating to watch him switch topics without a better transition or framework. And honestly, a lot of this seemed to be colored by his own experiences and feelings. Which is not necessarily bad or invalid, but it's a little frustrating.
He isolates Asian Americans a bit (which is understandable in his focus) but as noted elsewhere, his comments about black people are worth a side-eye. He may acknowledge their work and history but perhaps without understanding racism, anti-blackness and how that may be affecting his POV. Some of his commentary on immigration and racial profiling are a bit bizarre and at odds with his overall thesis...or examples of how he doesn't quite understand the greater context.
Overall the book is not for me. It might be handy for a law student (seriously, it sometimes reads like it's a bunch of legal case studies) but as someone who is more of a layperson and was looking for something different it wasn't for me. I wish I hadn't purchased it as a bargain buy but oh well. Recommend the library unless you're studying specific topics he covers.
A book that I thought of (but is not quite on the same topic) is Erika Lee's 'The Making of Asian America' which is more of a history and I felt can be read without needing a class to frame the book.
September 17, 2012
This is a thick book for a reason: it's very thorough, touching on hotbutton race issues that show up frequently in media as simplified issues of Black and white, and using Asian-American experiences as a tool for complexity and depth to both dismantle the racism that makes them hotbutton issues and to suggest anti-racist challenges to those issues. It's definitely written by a lawyer, which can make it a slow read, and that in some ways leaves me really torn: as it covers that broad range of hotbutton issues (affirmative action, racial profiling, etc) I want to be able to recommend it as an "if you're going to only read one book ever on race" thing to the people who bring up those issues as though they thought of them all on their own. But it's really a "if you're going to read just one more book on race" sort of thing. In particular, his challenging racial profiling is one of the most important and valuable sections of the book, and it's where his communication is at its weakest.
June 21, 2010
Wu's book starts out amazingly -- he takes us through a journey of racism experienced by Asian Americans from forms of racism we, non-asians, are familiar with (e.g. stereotypes of Asians as intellectually gifted math nerds) to more invidious form of discrimination that are looked over or perhaps outdated but still relevant (e.g. societal belief that Asians and Asian Americans are more loyal to their native Asian countries than the US). I was absolutely riveted by the first three chapters of the book which discuss the falsity of various generalizations describing the nature, behavior and attitudes of Asian/Americans. For example, most Americans subscribe to the stereotype that Asians are indiscriminately intelligent, educated people who live affluent lives. However, ethno-economic statistic clearly show that Asians, individually, make lower amount of money than the average American.
September 8, 2007
I don't know why it took me five years to finally get around to reading this book. Wu touches on the model minority myth, the perpetual foreigner trope, affirmative action, immigration, intermarriage, coalition building and more. I especially liked how it wasn't only a call for non-APAs to think about race "beyond black and white"; it also challenged APAs to take more ownership and leadership in making that happen.
June 27, 2008
Frank H. Wu's Yellow is an excellent analysis of the absence of an Asian perspective in America's racial debate and what it's like to be an Asian-American as a result. Throughout the book, I found myself thinking "That's happened to me!" with an alarming frequency. Yellow also has the added benefit of explaining the dense analysis of a related subject in Edward W. Said's Orientalism in a way that is concise and easily understood.
May 1, 2009
I've been reading a lot lately about the complicated issues of Asian American culture, but this defeated me. It's really interesting stuff, but a bit heavy. My brother has a copy, so I'll return to it someday. In the meantime, I'll stick with Adrian Tomine and Derek Kirk Kim, and Mariko Tamaki, et al.
February 6, 2011
A good introduction to Asian America. I will say however, that Frank H. Wu's background is in law, which definitely shows throughout the book (a particularly long list of stereotyped caricatures of Asians in media sticks out in my mind). A bit dense to read at times (from what I recall as an undermotivated undergrad), but recommended reading.
August 27, 2012
Could not relate to it in places, still a well put together writing exercise and very passionate author...
Having had life experiences since reading the book, it might be a more appropriate now than when I read it.
Best part
Coming to a realization that there are issues being, in Kayne West's words, a single black female in the USA today
Having had life experiences since reading the book, it might be a more appropriate now than when I read it.
Best part
Coming to a realization that there are issues being, in Kayne West's words, a single black female in the USA today
November 13, 2012
Dense but very interesting. Throwing all the countries Westerners consider Asian (close to 50) and lumping them into "Asian-American" doesn't allow for all the variances in language, beliefs, and cultures. Model minorities and other stereotypes associated with this population limits our understanding of the vastness of experiences Asian immigrants bring to the U.S.
January 8, 2008
Written by the first Asian American law professor at Howard, this book finally brings Asians to the table. Bravo!
August 21, 2009
Love Frank Wu, his writing is snappy, he indulges the reader with his personal experience and then goes on to discuss the world as it is
Read
February 19, 2020Title: Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: 2002
One may be puzzled when seeing this books unusually bright color to where they pick it up to see what it's about. With a first glance at the "Yellow" title of this book, they may still wonder what it is about as it doesn't give out many clues. But the last part of the title helps with that as it literally tells you that the topic of this book is race in America. Frank Wu dives into this topic by presenting information regarding his perceptions of race in every page of the book.
This book was written in the beginning of the 21st century (after a century full of racial tension) to give us insight about how race was divided and to bring about a new and different dialogue regarding race. In this book, Frank Wu examines the state of civil rights in America just like many other intellectuals as he provides a unique perspective on how race plays a major role in society by talking about what specific races do and mean in American society, especially how they fit into it (concentrates on Asian Americans). The ideas addressed in this book, such as discrimination, immigration, and diversity, are highly detailed, making this an interesting read for someone looking to gain knowledge. As he mixes his own experiences and social science research to justify his claim, he is able to talk about how Asian stereotypes such as the "model minority" and "perpetual foreigner" have hurt individuals and even whole communities.
In my opinion, the biggest selling point of this book is its distinctive writing style. Its content is well organized into different parts in the book to help intrigue the reader. One main thing that Frank Wu does that interests me is that he often compares minorities to other minorities or even dominant races in America (hence the title) to contrast how different races are perceived in this age and society. Additionally,one thing that I will remember from this book is its vocabulary such as "model minority" or "affirmative action" as it is used frequently in this book. These phrases supported his claim very well and helped me to further understand the book. Although its content may be appealing, there are some things to take into account before reading this book. One thing is that it can get tedious to read after a while. It begins with an interesting story, but seems to decline in amusement after that as it can get repetitive with fairly boring research. Also, if you are sensitive to racial slurs or curse words, this book may disturb you as they pop up every now and then.
Although I am not really a book person, this book captured my attention right at the start with its intricately woven style and the interesting story I stated above. Although it did get tiresome to read at times, I liked the book overall as it gave me new information to expand my ideas on. Because of this, I would suggest this book to any book person, anyone looking to gain awareness about race, or even grasp new information.
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: 2002
One may be puzzled when seeing this books unusually bright color to where they pick it up to see what it's about. With a first glance at the "Yellow" title of this book, they may still wonder what it is about as it doesn't give out many clues. But the last part of the title helps with that as it literally tells you that the topic of this book is race in America. Frank Wu dives into this topic by presenting information regarding his perceptions of race in every page of the book.
This book was written in the beginning of the 21st century (after a century full of racial tension) to give us insight about how race was divided and to bring about a new and different dialogue regarding race. In this book, Frank Wu examines the state of civil rights in America just like many other intellectuals as he provides a unique perspective on how race plays a major role in society by talking about what specific races do and mean in American society, especially how they fit into it (concentrates on Asian Americans). The ideas addressed in this book, such as discrimination, immigration, and diversity, are highly detailed, making this an interesting read for someone looking to gain knowledge. As he mixes his own experiences and social science research to justify his claim, he is able to talk about how Asian stereotypes such as the "model minority" and "perpetual foreigner" have hurt individuals and even whole communities.
In my opinion, the biggest selling point of this book is its distinctive writing style. Its content is well organized into different parts in the book to help intrigue the reader. One main thing that Frank Wu does that interests me is that he often compares minorities to other minorities or even dominant races in America (hence the title) to contrast how different races are perceived in this age and society. Additionally,one thing that I will remember from this book is its vocabulary such as "model minority" or "affirmative action" as it is used frequently in this book. These phrases supported his claim very well and helped me to further understand the book. Although its content may be appealing, there are some things to take into account before reading this book. One thing is that it can get tedious to read after a while. It begins with an interesting story, but seems to decline in amusement after that as it can get repetitive with fairly boring research. Also, if you are sensitive to racial slurs or curse words, this book may disturb you as they pop up every now and then.
Although I am not really a book person, this book captured my attention right at the start with its intricately woven style and the interesting story I stated above. Although it did get tiresome to read at times, I liked the book overall as it gave me new information to expand my ideas on. Because of this, I would suggest this book to any book person, anyone looking to gain awareness about race, or even grasp new information.
May 15, 2019
" Right from the first chapter, Professor Wu lays out the dilemma of being Asian in America in terms that are spare but evocative: 'I remain not only a stranger in a familiar land, but also a sojourner through my own life....I alternate between being conspicuous and vanishing, being stared at or looked through. Although the conditions may seem contradictory, they have in common the loss of control. I am who others perceive me to be rather than how I perceive myself to be.' "
Such a powerful opening alone is a reason to read this book. So often the conversation on race in the United States centers around Black and White, and in Wu's work, I am reminded how playing oppression olympics does no one any good and only hinders the learning that needs to happen.
Like the law professor I assume he is--the first Asian American at historically-Black Howard University Law School-- Wu leaves us with more questions than answers. But, as he points out in several places in his book, that is precisely the point. "I aspire to provoke people to think for themselves rather than persuade them to agree with me," he says on page 16. Twenty-two pages later, he expands on that theme: "Each of us who has the opportunity to make an appearance at the podium or to see a byline in print should remember that if we do not speak for ourselves, someone else will speak for us--or worse, we will be ignored. We must give voice to our many views."
Building on the work of Helen Zia, Gary Okihiro, Ron Takaki, and others who have placed the Asian American experience in the context of a broader racial dilemma, Professor Wu challenges Asian Americans and the broader society to cast aside a simplistic two-part model of race: "On each of these divisive topics, Asian American examples can enhance our awareness of the color line between black and white, rather than devalue the anguish of African Americans, because Asian Americans stand astride the very color line and flag its existence for all to see. If the color line runs between whites and people of color, Asian Americans are on one side; if the color line runs between blacks and everyone else, Asian Americans are on the other side. The line, however, is drawn in part by Asian Americans, and in turn can be erased by us. Asian Americans can be agents of our own destinies, insisting that we are ourselves and refusing to be either black or white."
Such a powerful opening alone is a reason to read this book. So often the conversation on race in the United States centers around Black and White, and in Wu's work, I am reminded how playing oppression olympics does no one any good and only hinders the learning that needs to happen.
Like the law professor I assume he is--the first Asian American at historically-Black Howard University Law School-- Wu leaves us with more questions than answers. But, as he points out in several places in his book, that is precisely the point. "I aspire to provoke people to think for themselves rather than persuade them to agree with me," he says on page 16. Twenty-two pages later, he expands on that theme: "Each of us who has the opportunity to make an appearance at the podium or to see a byline in print should remember that if we do not speak for ourselves, someone else will speak for us--or worse, we will be ignored. We must give voice to our many views."
Building on the work of Helen Zia, Gary Okihiro, Ron Takaki, and others who have placed the Asian American experience in the context of a broader racial dilemma, Professor Wu challenges Asian Americans and the broader society to cast aside a simplistic two-part model of race: "On each of these divisive topics, Asian American examples can enhance our awareness of the color line between black and white, rather than devalue the anguish of African Americans, because Asian Americans stand astride the very color line and flag its existence for all to see. If the color line runs between whites and people of color, Asian Americans are on one side; if the color line runs between blacks and everyone else, Asian Americans are on the other side. The line, however, is drawn in part by Asian Americans, and in turn can be erased by us. Asian Americans can be agents of our own destinies, insisting that we are ourselves and refusing to be either black or white."
February 19, 2020
Title: Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: January 15,2002
Issues this book addresses occurred in the 20th century to early 21st century in America. In this Novel, Frank Wu addresses both black and white prejudices against Asians in America. The books is split into different sections, the first one being about personal stories of life growing up as a Chinese-American while also demonstrating the Model Minority Myth (populations perceived to achieve a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the population average). The next section is about Asian American problems, such as racial profiling and the dilemma of diversity. The Final section of the book is suggestions about Asian-Americans forming coalitions with other minorities.
In my opinion, the biggest selling point this Novel provides is its unique insight provided through research, which is meant to intrigue the reader. The Novel is filled with personal experiences of a Asian-American, while at the same time containing both scientifically proven research and research observed by the author himself (Frank Wu). From reading this book, I will remember the hardships faced by minority groups in America and useful knowledge about the Asian-Americans such as the Model Minority Myth.
Before reading this book, you should take into account the use of vulgar words in this book that are associated with racial prejudice. It is also important to accept the fact that this book is not meant to be a very entertaining book, but rather a knowledgeable/ Informative book about racial issues in America, particularly Asian prejudice.
Author: Frank Wu
Genre: Non-Fiction
Publication Date: January 15,2002
Issues this book addresses occurred in the 20th century to early 21st century in America. In this Novel, Frank Wu addresses both black and white prejudices against Asians in America. The books is split into different sections, the first one being about personal stories of life growing up as a Chinese-American while also demonstrating the Model Minority Myth (populations perceived to achieve a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the population average). The next section is about Asian American problems, such as racial profiling and the dilemma of diversity. The Final section of the book is suggestions about Asian-Americans forming coalitions with other minorities.
In my opinion, the biggest selling point this Novel provides is its unique insight provided through research, which is meant to intrigue the reader. The Novel is filled with personal experiences of a Asian-American, while at the same time containing both scientifically proven research and research observed by the author himself (Frank Wu). From reading this book, I will remember the hardships faced by minority groups in America and useful knowledge about the Asian-Americans such as the Model Minority Myth.
Before reading this book, you should take into account the use of vulgar words in this book that are associated with racial prejudice. It is also important to accept the fact that this book is not meant to be a very entertaining book, but rather a knowledgeable/ Informative book about racial issues in America, particularly Asian prejudice.
May 10, 2021
Frank Wu's book, though written 20 years ago, is depressingly timely, exploring the ways that Asians and Asian Americans complicate the story of race in America. His chapter on the perpetual foreigner (the "no, where are you really from" question) highlights his lawyerly ability to identify the crux of an issue and logically dissect and explore its various layers, which is excellent, and gave a more intellectual framing to an issue whose wrongness was always felt more clearly in my gut than in my mind. While the issues he raises are still present in the 2020s, his examples seem dated, and required some recall on my part. Obviously, that's no fault of Wu's - I should've read his book when the campaign finance scandal of 1996 was fresher in my mind. I also struggled with the internal unity and structure of his book; it read more like a collection of essays, though his comment in the epilogue summarizing his work as being "about self-consciously creating a true community that allows for personal autonomy" seems accurate enough. Ultimately, this is a good book that I'd recommend for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of the complicated ways our traditional black-white template of race is incomplete and what complicating that template can do to deepen our understanding of important racial issues.
October 9, 2021
As an Asian American who still has a lot to learn about Asian American history, I appreciated reading a more academic book about issues of race surrounding Asian Americans in the U.S. This book definitely gave me a stronger background and terminology to describe Asian American issues. I also especially enjoyed the beginning of many chapters when the author Frank Wu shared about his upbringing and experiences as an Asian American as they resonated deeply with me.
However, where this book falls short is that I think it attempts to cover too much breadth often by referencing every possible event, film, book, etc that ever had anything to do with Asians. Also it wasn’t always clear what the point of all these references were, or even what the author was arguing in many parts of the book (which covers topics from affirmative action, to Asians being seen as perpetual foreigners, to mixed races, and to the importance of forming coalitions across races). This is definitely a book meant for academia, but I don’t think that an academic book has to be verbose or complex or difficult to understand. It was quite difficult to get through this book (it took me 7 months reading it bit by bit) and I finished not being sure exactly what I learned.
However, where this book falls short is that I think it attempts to cover too much breadth often by referencing every possible event, film, book, etc that ever had anything to do with Asians. Also it wasn’t always clear what the point of all these references were, or even what the author was arguing in many parts of the book (which covers topics from affirmative action, to Asians being seen as perpetual foreigners, to mixed races, and to the importance of forming coalitions across races). This is definitely a book meant for academia, but I don’t think that an academic book has to be verbose or complex or difficult to understand. It was quite difficult to get through this book (it took me 7 months reading it bit by bit) and I finished not being sure exactly what I learned.
May 16, 2017
I appreciate this book tackling issues that have been touched on in discussions of race, but with more depth. Not only does Wu discuss Affirmative Action at length, but the Model Minority & Perpetual Foreigner dual myths, "diversity", and intermarriage and people of mixed race. As others have mentioned, the writing can be a bit dense at times, and I would get distracted by some of the tangents. Wu is also much more of an idealist than I am... not exactly a problem, but makes some of the ending hard to completely buy. I look forward to reading other authors on similar subjects of race beyond the black/white binary.
February 23, 2018
Wu provides a detailed discussion of the issues facing Asian-Americans. much of the historical discrimination was new to me and goes far beyond the Japanese internment camps off World War II. Wu tackles obvious issues, such as the downside of being the "model minority," but then goes on to discuss the complications of affirmative action, and the odd way that Asian-Americans are misunderstood by both White and Black Americans. Wu is a law professor at Howard University and his writing its detailed and dense. I do wish he'd had a better editor, but there is a lot here that's important and not much else I've seen on this topic.
September 3, 2021
I read this book for a book club, and while I was excited initially I hate to say that the book really dragged on. First off I respect that this book is 20 years old. At times that fact is horrifying as Wu is pointing out issues that have not improved at all in the past 20 years. At times it is challenging because the examples are out of date. There are great insights in this book that I really appreciated. However, wow there is a lot of words. I really felt like there needed to be more editing here. Overall I am glad to have read it, but it was a grind to read.
September 13, 2024
This is a very academic book. I think Wu’s perspective is interesting and helpful. Despite being written 20 years ago, he speaks to issues that continue to be pressing, and I wonder what he’d write now. However, the book is not accessible enough, not written for a mainstream audience but more of a collegiate one. I found, too, in Wu’s writing style that he could get a bit repetitive and slightly tangential; but then he’d snap back with a strong, insightful observation or powerful summation. So the writing was uneven with both somewhat dull and very compelling passages.
July 29, 2017
As an Asian-American who's lived in the American South for much of her life, it's very gratifying to hear thoughts about the dynamic Asian-Americans add to the reductionist Black-White binary that oftentimes surrounds racial relations. However, since this book was published in 2002, I'd encourage readers to supplement this reading with newer, additional texts regarding Asian-American identity politics because so much has shifted in America's racial environment within the past decade.
April 20, 2018
I wasn't sure what I'd get from this book given that it's written by a law professor, but the arguments and analysis of race in the US are pretty solid. It's important in that there is a focus on East Asians and Asian Americans, who are commonly left out of this kind of dialogue, but also spends a fair amount of time addressing issues as they relate to other racialized groups. Sometimes the writing felt a little dense and/or disorganized, which slowed me down a bit.
June 26, 2020
I quit after 130 pages. I just didn't feel like I was getting much out of this book. He highlights some of the many ways racism affects Asian Americans, but his observations are really short on analysis. Almost all of the stereotypes and injustices he lists I'm already familiar with. But even if that weren't the case, it just felt like a bunch of lists. I want synthesis, interpretations, new insights. Maybe that comes later in the book, but I'm not sticking around any longer to find out.
February 21, 2020
Very clearly written by a law professor, the book is a bit dense with academic jargon and windy logical arguments. But he did provide some new perspectives that broadened how I think about race. The author also does a nice job blending in Asian American history (and general American history) along with his arguments about various racial issues.
December 31, 2021
Fantastic - I will have to think more about the ideas Wu presents in the Epilogue. I learned so much from the concise and nuanced analysis presented throughout the book. Thank you, Frank Wu, for sharing the connections of law, history, and culture in your book that is as relevant today in 2021 as when you wrote it in the 1990s and early 2000s.
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