also been a victim of this too. In the early days when I first came to
America I was getting sucked into Western culture. If you notice many Asians
start to change their names to ones like John, Dave, Tim, Nancy, etc. instead
of using their original birth given names like Chang, Won, Kim, etc. then you
are witnessing identity hatred. A lot of times we change our names because
people keep miss pronouncing the names or make fun of the way they sound;
what happens is that we end up feeling ashamed about it.
What makes me very sad is that some people change their whole last name to a
Western English name. People have the right to do what ever they want with
their life style but I believe that it is very sad to kill our birth given
name. Also, after living in America for a long time, I sometimes forget that
I am Asian. This happens to many Asian Americans. Once we are here for a
long time we think that we are white. As time goes by we slowly stop
speaking our language and slowly stop knowing about our culture. I think
that all culture and languages are beautiful and people should not let them
die out. When I was living in Ventura for 6 months I joined a local Asian
American Club that met at Ventura College. There was also the Black Student
Union and the Mecha Club (Mexicano Students). Now a lot of white students
think that these are separatist groups. Sometimes I do not under stand why
people get scared when people of color get together. The reason I joined the
Asian American Club was because I wanted to speak Korean to other Korean
friends so I wouldn't forget my language, as well as to study about my own
history. But our club was not for Asians only. The door was open to anyone
who was interested no matter what race they were. All other cultural groups
should have the door open to everyone regardless of what race they are so
people can learn. Like I said before all cultures are beautiful and people
should not forget where they are from.
IDENTITY HATRED
We came to this land in search of a dream
But we were told we didn't belong
We fled the oppression of poverty
Just to end up in the belly of the beast Identity Hatred / your erased away x4
We slowly stop speaking our culture
We slowly lose our native tongue
Our children forget out history
Left behind in the land of the east
This is not a separatist or nationalist song / It's about keeping our cultural spirit alive / We must understand when people wish to study their culture and speak their own language / The door should be open to anyone who wishes to learn about other cultures / And we must fight against the prejudice of The "English only" attitude
Some change their names / Are you so ashamed of your identity / That you hid for so long? / Assimilation /
Sell your culture for the dream of the west / Hatred if your own identity / Hatred if your own people /
Our Asian history books are dusted / Our culture is slowly being erased
Identity Hatred/ your erased away x4
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