STUDENT ESSAY CONTEST

Overview I 2005 Winner's Essay I 2006 Winner's Essay

2005 Winner's Essay

American Kimchi

Brian Hwang

We see signals that point to a lack of equality in our country every day, from the dearth of positive Asian-American role models in the media to racially-motivated injustices. In order for Korean-Americans to be considered as equals, not only as United States citizens but also as an integral cog in the machinery of America, certain things must be done. The Korean-American community must become one with American culture, through assimilation into modern America, the establishment of ourselves as individuals, and the cultivation of political consciousness.

To lay the foundation for change, the Korean-American community must first assimilate itself into American culture. This does not imply that we cut off our roots and forget our rich heritage, but to simply stop dwelling on the motherland so that we can fully embrace our new home. First and foremost, this means that we must learn to read, write, and speak proper American English. Asian immigrants’ English illiteracy has been the butt of jokes for decades, and the image will continue to persist until we takes the time to change that image. Until we do, it will always hinder the progress of the Korean-American community. Furthermore, this attitude also suggests that Korean-Americans must have a presence both inside and outside of “Koreatowns.” A significant percentage of the Korean-American community has cloistered itself in the depths of these “Koreatowns,” trying to transplant Korea in American soil instead of embracing the change and trying to raise new cultural crops. While it is economically important for like-minded businesses to cluster themselves, many non-Koreans find it difficult to feel comfortable interacting with the people there. The Korean-American community needs to let go of this primitive concept of “our turf” and expand into the cultural hodgepodge that is the United States so that we can fully develop as a part of America.

Secondly, Korean-Americans should break the stereotypes that result in us being negatively judged by mainstream America. To accomplish this, the process has to start from the top down. Leaders in the Korean-American community have to foster any and all interests of its young members, from music to medicine to magazine writing. Parents must urge their children to pursue what they love instead of trying to place them into tried and true fields, which, while stable, are not diversifying the image of the average Korean-American. For instance, there is a statistically large amount of Korean-Americans in professional fields, while there is a notable lack of them in the arts, which inhibits our own cultural development. With a more balanced distribution of professions, employers will not pigeonhole Korean-Americans into certain jobs, but will instead consider the worker as an individual with his or her own personal strengths and weaknesses. Such a perception of the Korean-American will undoubtedly set a better stage for future generations.

Thirdly, the Korean-American community must become politically active. Most Korean parents encourage their children to take steady, well-paying jobs, and efforts like these have made Asians the richest demographic in America. Despite this wealth, however, we fail to have much influence outside the community. There are no Asian-American political leaders that have become household names, no Martin Luther or Cesar Chavez to rally behind. In order to become recognized as something more than the “model minority,” the Korean-American community must raise political leaders that will push for change and support the efforts of its people. Additionally, young Asian-Americans, despite their high level of education, have the lowest percentage of voter turnout of any demographic. As a result, the Asian-American community is largely ignored by the government, which cripples attempts at community improvement. To grab the attention of political leaders, the Korean-American community must wield its votes and become a consistent minority presence, until politicians finally recognize the value behind the Korean-American populace. Increased political consciousness will level the playing field for Korean-Americans and help the community be recognized by mainstream America.

However, to integrate the community into American culture, break stereotypes, and raise the level of political awareness is no easy task. The Korean-American community needs to charge into mainstream America with confidence and without fear of failure, because even failure is worth it if we take one small step toward a more multicultural and tolerant American community. By taking these actions, one day, Korean-Americans will be able to say, without the slightest hint of irony, that they truly are as American as Kimchi.