Goodreads | Rethinking the Asian American Movement by Daryl J. Maeda — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists

Goodreads | Rethinking the Asian American Movement by Daryl J. Maeda — Reviews, Discussion, Bookclubs, Lists




Rethinking the Asian A...
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Daryl J. Maeda
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Rethinking the Asian American Movement
by Daryl J. Maeda
3.29 · Rating Details · 7 Ratings · 2 Reviews
Although it is one of the least-known social movements of the 1960s and 1970s, the Asian American movement drew upon some of the most powerful currents of the era, and had a wide-ranging impact on the political landscape of Asian America, and more generally, the United States. Using the racial discourse of the black power and other movements, as well as antiwar activist and the global decolonization movements, the Asian American movement succeeded in creating a multi-ethnic alliance of Asians in the United States and gave them a voice in their own destinies.

Rethinking the Asian American Movement provides a short, accessible overview of this important social and political movement, highlighting key events and key figures, the movement's strengths and weaknesses, how it intersected with other social and political movements of the time, and its lasting effect on the country. It is perfect for anyone wanting to obtain an introduction to the Asian American movement of the twentieth century. (less)
Unknown Binding, 201 pages
Published January 1st 2012 by Routledge

COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Jan 17, 2015janet rated it liked it
Shelves: non-fiction
This is basically a textbook but it has vital information about the legacy that various Asian American activists left in the 1960s and 1970s that has been hidden from history. Even Zinn in his A People's History of The United Statesleaves their contributions out, and this book offers a correction to Zinn by inclusion of this aspect of political activity of the people. What is offered theoretically is the analysis of the Asian American Movement as coalitional across "race" most importantly uncovering Asian American collaboration with and inspiration from the Black Power movement and the connections made internationally with Postcolonial revolutions. Maeda also reveals the crucial nature of Filipino American activism in the UFW movement and Asian American support for the cause. Conflicts over class/national orientation, the transnational or assimilationist strains were contrasted with Frank Chin's ideas. In the ending, Maeda concludes that the movement is over and questions the continued relevance of the concept of an Asian American group - perhaps similar to Spivak and Lowe's suggestion of a strategic essentialism that is continuously critiqued. (less)