Donald Duk was the best book I have ever read from the perspective of Chinese Americans. From the first page Donald was not only my little brother but he was also myself. Even though I am an Alaskan, raised with the sound of wind in the trees quite like Arnold Azalea, I was confused about who I was and ashamed of where I came from. Frank Chin wrote this book in such a way that any person with a heart can identify as Donald.

Chin proved that he can write about anything that falls into the category of life. From amazing spreads of food shared with extended family to ancient Chinese mythology; the dynamics between teenage siblings and the patience of a father who senses his son’s racism towards his own people. Chin was able to write about incredibly deep topics without being boring, preachy or monotonous.

This book is something I wish I would have read ten years ago before my first visit to Chinatown. But because I did read it, I now realize that Chinatown is just a face for the hard history and incredible significance Chinese immigrants have played on this country.

I believe the Library of Congress should catalog this book as Historical Fiction and not only fiction. I look forward to reading more of his work.

The Movie:

I remember when the movie came out during my senior year of high school. I almost rented it three times but could not get past the difference in race between myself and the actors. For the same reason I did not watch the cheerleader movie, “Bring it On” or the football movie “Varsity Blues” or the gangster movie “Godfather” I did not watch this movie because I didn’t think I could relate. How wrong I was…

The confused youngsters involved in the movie were just like some of my own friends during high school, and perhaps even myself. Though I did not deal with being a different race as the majority of the population, I did move to a small town in Alaska when I was in 9th grade after my brother was locked away and my mother married a man doing a life sentence. Everyone in the small fishing village knew who I was and who my family was…and you could say we weren’t seen as noble, upper class citizens. So what happened… I created a face just like those guys. I partied, mistreated people and did things I would later regret. Just like the kids in the movie, my parents were no where to be found.

Watching this movie showed me how closed minded I have been to people different than myself. How even though I may tell myself, “I am open to many cultures…I love to travel and learn about people…” when it comes down to it, I don’t open my doors completely but always leave a screen and lock between them and me. I cannot have this any longer. I cannot support this subtle form of racism any longer. The more films, books, articles and people I meet the more warmth enters my heart instead of only my mind.

Jasmine said something in seminar that will stay with me forever. We are like fish in a tank and the water is racism. Fuck!!! I never thought about that in my life…

How do we filter the water?
First course… open the heart instead of just the mind…
Second course… take action… even if that action is to “only” support actors, actresses, artists and writers. It’s a damn start!

I Googled “famous asian american actors/actresses” and I was surprised to know only one. I was disappointed in myself. So I did the same for authors… and found the same result.

Frank Chin as a writer. Justin Lin as a director. Julie Atsuko as a writer. Toyo Miyatake as a photographer. This is a start. At least I am trying.