Norviel's Asian Attitude

1. The main thesis to the writing "Yellow" by Frank Wu is that he is saying that when it comes to race people only think of blacks and whites. There is no talk about Asians (those with yellow skin) and they are pretty much over-looked by society. Although a person's skin color should not matter, it still somewhat plays a part in our world today. Wu is saying that being classified as a minority, like those who are African American, is better than having no class or social standing at all.
2. Wu starts off his writing by saying that people want to believe that each individual is just as important as the next, no matter what their skin color is; but Wu is not fooled by this and says that even though people want to think this is so, it really is not how things are. He talks about how "Americans believe in a heroic myth from the nineteenth century, whereby moving to the frontier gives a person a new identity", meaning that at that time things had changed and that everyone was considered equal, even though they were not all treated the same. He talks about some of his person experiences of not knowing his place in society being an Asian and not a black or white person. One of his experiences was when he was going to ride the bus and did now know where he should sit. The front was filled with whites, while the back was occupied by the blacks. Knowing that he did not really belong to either group he was confused as to what he should do. He says that people who are not like them are not acknowledged, and are oblivious to them. Meaning that Whites acknowledge Whites, Blacks acknowledge Blacks, and Asians acknowledge Asians. Although race is thought to be only Black and White, there is a gray area there too that people do not think of, those with yellow skin.
3. Where would Asians like to be classified? Maybe by not being put into a black or white group is better, since they still get minority benefits but are not thought to be over-privileged.
4. I like the examples that Wu used in his writing, such as the one about the motorcyclists in his oblivious example. His writing was simple but still made you think, and got his point across. He almost seems to be complaining too much and in a way makes him seem like he thinks he wants to be classified in a group, after saying that race shouldn't be the reason of how people are treated but rather by their individual characteristics. Overall the reading was not too bad, and with being short it was much easier to pay attention, but I believe I was still able to understand the issue he was addressing.