From: georgew@hspice.portal.com (George Wu)
Subject: Re: What's it like outside California?
Organization: Meta - Software
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1993 22:41:38 GMT

In article <76084@apple.apple.COM> lin@Apple.COM (Judy Lin) writes:

>I am curious about the Asian American experience in other parts of the country.

     Well, I grew up in a rich, white suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  My
350 strong graduating class had one other Chinese, and one black kid.  Back in
1960-something, a judge agreed Fox Chapel High could accept kids from Italian
Sharpsburg and consider itself integrated, a policy which stands to this day.

     There were very few Chinese around.  Mostly, the Chinese I did meet were
friends of my parents, and we might drive across town three or four times a
year to have dinner with another Chinese family.  There were three Asian
groceries in town, all over an hour away.

     Mind you, I didn't *feel* isolated.  I didn't feel like a foreigner.  I
fit in just fine (for a "brain").  As an ABC, I spoke perfect English and had
the same interests as any white kid, and those kids who got to know me knew it.
I played with whites, I hung out with whites, I dated whites, and most of the
time, I was white, or at least, race was a non-issue among my friends and I.

     So 90% of the time, I didn't know or care if I was a minority.  It's the
other 10% that gets ya.  Especially among parents and the older folks, there
were the classic stereotypes.  A few kids were overtly racist to me, some
because they were racists, some because they were just bullies.  Devil's Night
was *guaranteed* to bring an attack on our house, usually thrown eggs or fruit.
Other aspects of racism showed up in insidious ways.  These were always the
worst.  Slurs from a bully I could handle, but getting blindsided by a supposed
friend or someone I didn't even know, now that hurt.

     I think one outcome is a big difference in one's self-confidence.  Out
here, I can "be Chinese," and know it's not "weird."  Back in Pittsburgh,
because some folks single you out as foreigners, I tried very hard to be white.

     Fox Chapel was a very wealthy community.  Folks needed to turn their noses
up at somebody.  Foreigners and other minorities were an easy target for those
with a superiority complex.  I think the slights and tea room backbiting are
why I reject America's "refined" way of living.  Someday I hope to again enjoy
the luxurious lifestyle, but I'll never be able to buy into the old boy
network, with their exclusive golf clubs and business luncheons.  I've got more
in common with an AA Angelino from the ghetto.

     Aside from Pittsburgh and the Bay Area, I've lived in New Jersey (near New
York) and Scotland.  I can't imagine ever moving back to one of those places.
I've yet to find a place so well integrated.  It's not the presence of Asians
which attracts me to the Bay Area.  It's white awareness of Asians.  Fewer
people have those stupid stereotypes, and those who do generally keep their
thoughts to themselves lest the PC police crack down on them.

							George

PS: My rather brief visits back to Pittsburgh in recent years hint that things
have changed.  I get the impression there are alot more Asians around, although
Fox Chapel will never change.
-- 
----
George J Wu,  Superior Maker of Technical Snafus,  georgew@metasw.com
Meta-Software,  1300 White Oaks Road,  Campbell, CA 95008,  (408) 369-5400
Never be the first to believe.  Never be the last to deceive.  ---  Chess
Newsgroups: soc.culture.asian.american