Dana's Review

The study is based on lengthy descriptive interviews of 43 Amerasians from various identities, who are Japanese and Euro-American and Japanese and African American individuals, raised in Japan or near US military bases. According to the Amerasians interviewees in the study, the terms Eurasians and Afroasians refer to internationally and interracially mixed persons. The studies show interracial people identifying with their entire heritage, develop healthy self-identities.

Since the term “marginal man” is broad, it doesn’t distinguish the differences between marginal statuses, marginal personalities, and marginal life experiences (2810). The negative marginality has been the neither/nor status, cultural maladjustment, limited social assimilation, incomplete biological amalgamation, and pathological personalities. On the other hand, the positive side of marginality is having the understanding and knowledge of two or more societies that will allow a marginal person to transcend their differences.

The study shows the existence of the different challenges and issues concerning with cultural and racial backgrounds of Afroasians and Eurasians. Its also illustrate the common experiences of Amerasians through culture, identity, and their upbringing. The influenced of the outside world often affected the Amerasians’ experiences, and their decisions, which contribute to the result of their self- and group esteem. Being raised and socialized in multicultural setting allows Amerasian to embrace the values, beliefs, and behaviors of Eastern and Western together. With the experiences of life as multiculturalists, Amerasians and their families can be view as “third culture.” Ann Cottrell (1978) found that biracial individuals residing in military communities suffered less from conflicts and confusion because the atmosphere of military bases is more racially tolerant, as different people interact and come together on the basis of their common background (William 284).

The relationships with their mother are often conflicted as a result of typically generational and cultural; the conflict is a passage into their adulthood. Most Amerasians experience cultural barriers between them and their mother. They prefer the social references of their father, probably because of the dominant American. However, Amerasians spent more times with their mother and many realize the culture values and the accomplishment of their goals because of their mother. On the other hand, the relationships with their father were often constricted due to his military obligation. Their father was absences most of the time during their childhood and into their adolescent years. Not having been able to share with their father on some level of his heritage, affected their ethnic development.

Johnny's Review

Mono-racial models for the study of race have always shared a similar problem. They assume that people of mixed races always choose one race as their identity and completely discard all others. These models lack the possibility for a multiracial identity, and this leads to errors in accurately recording multiracial people's experiences. What this study showed was that many multiracial people would endorse multiple identities if they were given the chance. The participants felt that the multiracial experience is unique and not accurately reflected under mono-racial models. They shared experiences with exclusion and rejection from mono-racial groups. They also felt that these experiences made them more prone to tolerating difference and becoming more accepting of others.

Mary's Review

From Dust to Gold: The Vietnamese Amerasian Experience emphasized how Amerasians are marginalized in Vietnam and the US. Amerasian children were alienated in Vietnam because of their skin tone (Valverde 147). In Vietnam, they were discriminated against in school which cost them a good education. Vietnamese society oppressed Amerasians which caused them to be homeless. When Amerasians arrived to the US, Amerasians did not have their needs met by volunteer agencies because of their unique experience. Valverde describes how Amerasians have no voice and this caused a struggle to empower themselves (144). Creating more awareness and breaking stereotypes will allow Amerasians to adjust to their situations. There needs to be a voice for multiracials so everyone can understand their struggle.

Jimmy's Review

“The more ambiguous one’s information, the more likely one is to rely on the opinions of others.” (p. 118)

Reflected Appraisals in Racial Identity: The Case of Multiracial Asians is research conducted by Nikki Khanna who explores why physical appearance and cultural exposure affect and shape the identities of multiracial Asians. In conjunction with these two factors of what can influence identity, Khanna stresses a concept called “reflected appraisal” which describes why the opinions of others can cause self-reflection and eventually lead to changes in identity. Khanna samples a part of the multiracial Asian-White population by using methods of open-ended questions and surveys. Her conclusions provide strong evidence that both cultural exposure and physical appearance are major factors that determine how the identities of multiracial Asians are formed.