Some of our readers may have heard about the buzz amongst the Asian-Americans that’s been headlining news, specifically in the state of Texas -- and if you haven’t, and you’re Asian-American, then you should.
In early April the Asian-American community in Texas were riled and infuriated after Texas Representative Betty Brown -- a member of the Texas House of Representatives -- made a remark on how Asian-American voters should adopt names that are “easier for Americans to deal with.” Asian-Americans, from many parts of the country -- even New York City councilman, John C. Liu -- have angrily demanded for Brown to retract her statement and apologize for her remarks. Those who were offended by Brown’s comments, interpreted her statement in the likes of saying, “Asian-Americans aren’t American” and accused the lawmaker for being racist. However, those who have defended Brown, including herself, have argued that her statement was in no way about race; with no intention of malcontent or racial connotation against the Asian-American community; that it was simply to encourage a resolution for those who find difficulty in counting votes submitted by Asian-American voters. Even so, the Asian community in and around Texas and from the far eastern coasts of the United States, feel that her comments reflect some hidden truths to how many Americans continue to condescendingly perceive Asian-Americans as a foreign identity and not American.
