Author: Diane Songco

Stereotypes (Or Lack Thereof) in The Shadow Hero

Gene Luen Yang and Sonny Liew’s The Shadow Hero features the backstory of the Asian American superhero, the Green Turtle. Hank, a typical 19-year old, becomes Chinatown’s own superhero after assuming the turtle spirit that once inhabited his father. Through the personalities of Hank, his mother, and other supporting characters, The Shadow Hero challenges Asian stereotypes while still being an entertaining and well-drawn comic.

Hank defies various Asian stereotypes. Asian men are typically seen as being weak, which goes along with the “hardworking nerd” stereotype that is so commonly associated with Asians, both male and female. Hank, however, is built and muscular, and his physical abilities are what make him so successful in fights – aside from his bulletproof skin. There is also no mention of schoolwork throughout the comic; Hank is portrayed as a normal teenager without the expectation of school being his top priority in his life.

The female characters in The Shadow Hero also challenge Asian female stereotypes of being quiet and subservient. By contrast, women in the comic are portrayed as self-sufficient and strong. Hank’s mother is extremely independent: she has her own job, doesn’t listen to her husband (or even her boss sometimes), and is always ready to take matters into her own hands should family situations go awry. The daughters of Ten Grand are also independent, and when necessary, can be lethal. In the beginning of the comic, the daughter in the red dress ends up saving Hank in addition to protecting herself from street predators. The daughters of Ten Grand are well-trained in fighting, and are by no means vulnerable or subservient.

The Shadow Hero successfully portrays Asians in a non-stereotypical and respectful manner. Hank’s family is an ordinary American family, and Chinese culture is never made shown in a judgmental light. Asian characters are also not drawn in a caricature-like way, which is especially noticeable once compared with the style in which Asians were portrayed in the original comic The Green Turtle. Sonny Liew does not draw overly slanted eyes or extremely yellow skin, yet readers can still differentiate between Asian and non-Asian characters. The Shadow Hero also mentions racism against Asians, an issue that is often overlooked in society. When the detective calls Asians “sneaky, slant-eyed bastards,” readers are taken aback by his words and his surprise that an Asian like Hank could actually be a successful superhero. Stereotypes in The Shadow Hero are often not present, a lack that speaks volumes on the reality behind the inherent racism of racial stereotypes.

Chapter 10 Summary: A “New” New York City

Chapter Ten of Reitano’s The Restless City focuses on the changes in New York City after the 1965 immigration reform. By the 1990s, New York was more diverse and populous than it had ever been. Asian, Latino, and West Indian immigrants had established a presence in local neighborhoods, and were able to assimilate into society while still holding onto their cultural identity and pride. With such diversity, the cosmopolitan identity emerged – an open-minded, multicultural identity created when people of various backgrounds interact and create friendships with one another.

The Asian community in NYC saw significant changes in the years following 1965. Before immigration reform, Asians were mainly segregated in Chinatown and were barred from citizenship and job opportunities. After the repeal of the exclusion policy in 1943, Chinese immigrants were finally able to rejoin their family in America, and many found work in the garment industry. Most of these laborers were part of the Cantonese working class community, and clashed with the Mandarin-speaking immigrants from Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Taiwan. Such internal tensions within the Asian community were exacerbated by the model minority myth, which was the idea that through rigorous education, the children of immigrants could have the opportunities their parents could not. Despite these problems, the Asian community was able to grow in terms of geography and representation – there were now thriving communities in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, and Flushing, Queens, and Asians gained a voice in politics through the election of John C. Liu as City Comptroller.

Latino immigrants also established communities in New York City during the later half of the 20th century. Puerto Ricans and Dominicans were the largest Latino immigrant groups, and both were able to assimilate, though not without struggles. Puerto Ricans had a unique situation that complicated their sense of cultural identity. They gained American citizenship in 1917, which caused inner conflict amongst many who felt that they were “traveling back and forth” between identities as an American and as a Puerto Rican. In New York, Puerto Ricans were mainly middle class, although some lived in poverty and had low education levels. Despite these societal struggles, Puerto Ricans maintained their ethnic pride, with the Puerto Rican Day Parade, and were able to gain representation in politics.

Dominicans were another large Latino immigrant presence in New York – and by 2000, they had outnumbered Puerto Ricans. Like the Puerto Ricans, Dominicans had a dual identity but remained politically active in both their home country and America. Dominican women had a mixed experience adjusting to New York life – while they were able to find jobs as factory workers in the apparel industry and support themselves, they were paid low wages and were often taken advantage of by employers. Unlike Dominican men who wanted to return to the Dominican Republic eventually, women wanted to stay in New York and make money. A large Dominican community was established in Corona, Queens, retaining a sense of cultural identity and creating a home away from home.

The 20th century also saw a wave of West Indian migration to New York, specifically in the 1920s. West Indians joined the Harlem community at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, but instead of fully assimilating with their African-American neighbors, some used their British ties to set themselves apart. This tension lasted until the 1960s, when the civil rights cause united their issues. Aside from Harlem, NY, there is a large West Indian community in Flatbush, Brooklyn, and the West Indian American Day Carnival is an event that promotes pan-ethnicity and is open to all.

During these waves of Asian, Latino, and West Indian immigration, New York saw a shift in politics through the election of Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani was a Republican with very conservative values, especially in an extremely Democratic place like New York City. Giuliani mainly focused on the middle class and disliked “handouts” that helped the poor. While many people found his strict approach towards the poor unfair, other New Yorkers appreciated his hard policies. Giuliani cut funding for welfare and Medicaid, and enforced the Work Experience Program that required all able-bodied adult qualifying recipients to work for their welfare. Such drastic changes earn Giuliani the comparison to past mayor that also got things done: Fiorello H. LaGuardia. LaGuardia, however, focused on improving life the poor, just as Giuliani mainly worked for the benefit of the rich and middle class. In all, Giuliani is remembered as a good mayor for his handling of 9/11, an event that tested the city but ultimately proved its resilience.

Alva’s Storyline

Wallace Thurman’s novel The Blacker the Berry deals with complex opinions regarding skin color and self worth. The protagonist Emma Lou constantly wishes that she wasn’t so dark-skinned, and she sees the misfortunes in her life as a result of her skin color. While it is troubling to read about Emma Lou’s self deprecation, her reasoning is understandable: she has grown up in a family and society that looks down upon her race, especially on dark-skinned women, and she finds no solace even when she leaves her hometown for a more diverse college setting. Emma Lou’s self consciousness about her skin color affects aspects of her social and romantic life, which leads to her unhealthy relationship with Alva.

The third chapter of The Blacker the Berry is a notable shift from the rest of the novel, as it introduces Alva, and is told from his point of view. Emma Lou’s relationship with Alva ends up taking over her life. She becomes attached to him because he is kind to her, and this newfound attention along with her negative views about her skin color bind her to this illusion. Emma Lou has constantly been taught that only light-skinned women are found to be more attractive and suitable to marry, so she somehow cannot let go of Alva despite his obvious manipulation and deceit. Alva is the source of many of Emma Lou’s bad decisions, but he ultimately leads to her realization at the end of the novel  as she gradually becomes more comfortable in her own skin.

The Significance of Passing

The title of Nella Larsen’s novel, “Passing,” does not carry the meaning that readers can easily infer, but with the context of its 1920s Harlem background and unfolding plot, it soon becomes clear. “Passing” refers to being white passing, something that the main characters, Irene Redfield and Clare Kendry, use to their advantage. The concept of being white passing has superficial and emotional consequences. Both women keep their black heritage a secret, especially Clare, whose own husband doesn’t even know that she is black. While Irene does retain black pride, her light-skinned features enable her to do things a black woman could not do during that time, such as eat at the Drayton Hotel, where she still feels extremely self conscious. Clare’s use of “passing” is much more extreme – she lives life as a white woman, but though she can enjoy the benefits of white privilege in a narrow-minded society, Clare simultaneously denies her black heritage, which poses a problem to her friendship with Irene.

The term “passing” in the context of the novel can also serve as commentary on the ending, with Clare’s death, and the events that lead to it. While being white passing does have its superficial advantages especially in a racially prejudiced time, Clare cannot be truthful with herself and with her family members and subsequently leads to the destruction of her real identity. Clare’s fate resembles the literal definition of passing (ie passing away), but also contradicts its alternative definition of “going past” – she was never able to get past her physical features and embrace her racial identity in the same way Irene was able to.

Reflection on Journaling

Writing a journal entry every week has been a new experience. This seminar is the first class in which I’ve written at a consistent rate, and looking back at my entries, I’ve realized certain patterns in my journals. Rereading my own writing was a bit painful, but it has allowed me to reflect on my writing process, improvement, and style. I’ve noticed that I use quotes less often and summarize instead, which has improved the overall quality and flow of my writing. My thoughts still tend to be a little scattered, though maintaining some form of structure relevant to the question posed. My journal entry paragraphs start out with a topic sentence, followed by details from the text, which is impacted by the note-taking I do while reading.

Note-taking is extremely useful to me. The act of physically writing something down helps me better understand what I am reading and how I interpret it. When assigned our readings, I usually fill up 3-4 pages full of notes, which I read over later and use to help me write my journal entry. Note-taking and journaling are very different but both aide in my understanding of whatever text I am reading. While note-taking can seemingly draw out and I find myself writing too many notes, length is not an issue when journaling. My completed journal entry is a compilation of my most important notes, and I can usually find a clear start and end point in my opinion piece or informative summary. I enjoy doing both note-taking and journaling, but journaling can be more time consuming because I am conscious that others may read it and that these entries will eventually be graded. For this reason, journaling somewhat feels like a less organic way of writing simply because I am not fully used to it, and because I am probably overthinking it a little. Like how I have developed techniques for note-taking, I know I will continue to improve on my journaling and I am excited to see how my style changes by the end of this semester.

Entering Shaun Tan’s “The Arrival”

Shaun Tan’s graphic “novel,” The Arrival, has amazing detail and thought put into every page, and the title and publication pages are no exception. Before readers even start to view the story, they are greeted by sepia tinted and worn-out looking pages that bear the title, publication information, and various illustrations that tie into details found later in the book. The pages are meant to look like old, stained pieces of paper, similar to the state one would find a letter or photograph from their great-grandparents’ time. This choice in design is especially fitting, given that The Arrival is an immigrant story, and many immigrants’ most prized possessions hold personal memories, like letters from loved ones and family pictures.

The title page features the title, author, and publishing company name, along with a square photograph of the protagonist of this story. The man in the picture is facing away from the camera, but can be easily identified by his hat and suit as the protagonist. Those who have already read The Arrival recognize that this person in the photograph is the main character, but to others, it could just be an another immigrant. Tan’s decision to conceal the man’s face and give him anonymity reinforces his purpose of making sure that The Arrival is a story that all immigrants can relate to – the absence of names, locations, and in this case, a face, serve to make this story about the universal immigrant’s experience. Bordering the photograph are adhesive tape marks, which add to the aged and personalized feel of the page.

Written on the opposite side of the title page are the dedications and publication information. The publication information is cleverly formatted in rectangular boxes made to resemble travel document attachments. Details like the large “Inspection” tag written on the top, and in the corner, “Ships list,” and other illegible words imply that this was part of a travel ticket for someone emigrating by boat ride. On the inspection ticket, letters belonging to the strange language invented by Tan that are used throughout the novel are stamped on the side, and other stamps with this strange language accompany it on the right side of the page. These stamps contribute to the page’s resemblance of a travel document. Given these details and the square photograph on the opposite page, one can assume that these documents are what the protagonist used in his journey to a new country.

Shaun Tan’s use of his invented language in the publication page and throughout the novel is an ingenious way of making sure his story applied to all immigrants. Without distinguishable letterforms, the readers have no way of figuring out where the protagonist is from or what country he is settling in, and the science-fiction like drawings of his past home and his new home make sure that no specific setting is implied. The straightforward details of The Arrival are left ambiguous – readers never find out the main character’s name, where he is from, and where he immigrated to – but such a decision strengthens the plot, and strong emotions are still conveyed through illustration only.

Chapter 5 Summary: The Empire City

Chapter Five of Joanne Reitano’s The Restless City focuses on the major problems New York City faced during the 19th century. During the years 1856–1899, New York rapidly modernized, and was nicknamed the “Empire City.” New York was the setting of Horatio Alger’s book, Ragged Dick, which showed the city in a positive light but raised questions involving poverty, corruption, and labor. The city was now the hub for finance, industry, trade and immigration, but with this success came many problems that only solidarity through reform could change.

New York was the known as the Empire City for its success, but it was also under the corrupt power of the Tammany Empire. Tammany Hall, led by William M. Tweed, dominated the city’s political scene. Tweed had held various elected and appointed positions of power in New York, and used his connections (and bribes) to gain influence in both the Democratic Party and Tammany Hall. He appealed mainly to the white middle and working class voters, and had newly-naturalized immigrants vote for him as well. While he was deeply corrupt and stole millions, he did help the city – playing a role in the completion of Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, as well as creating funds for hospitals and schools. Eventually, Tweed’s luck ran out, and he was exposed for all his corruption. Violence in the streets, like the Orange Riots of 1871, also hurt his image, and he eventually did time for his crimes against the city.

The city experienced corruption in not just politics. Robber barons and their companies were located in New York, and their businesses did equal parts damage and good to society. John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust Company helped modernize the American economy and contributed to the large market centered in New York. Rockefeller created trusts in steel, lead, sugar, amongst others, which now made New York home to most of the nation’s biggest businesses. Trusts became so powerful that it attracted political action and led to the regulation of many business practices.

Poverty was another major issue in 19th century New York. The city might have been the center for economic growth, but there was a huge gap between the rich and the poor. There was a Social Darwinian, capitalist mindset amongst many New Yorkers that “justified” poverty. Many were patronizing towards the poor, and others only wanted to help because they feared that poverty would lead to violence and crime. However, there were some who were actually dedicated to social reform and bringing about change in the slums of New York. Jacob Riis, a reporter for the New York Tribune, was in the Five Points daily for his job, and used photography as a means to expose the realities of poverty. His book, “How the Other Half Lives,” opened people’s eyes and exposed what life in poverty was really like, drawing special attention to problems youths in slums faced. Riis also promoted the creation of parks in slums, slum clearance, and tenement house reform, and worked with other reformers like Josephine Shaw Lowell. Lowell was the first female commissioner of the State Board of Charities, head of the NY Charity Organization Society, and later the president of the NYC Consumer’s League, the latter in which she helped mobilize women to boycott stores that exploited female workers. She was also an important leader in the women’s suffrage movement in addition to the labor reform movement.

In 1886, labor activism peaked and there were 1,200 strikes in New York alone. Previous efforts to organize were usually drowned out by police and led to conflict and police brutality. However, various strikes and simultaneous boycotts, led by organizations like the Central Labor Union, proved that there was strength in solidarity and power in collective activism. Other areas of reform included the New York City public schools, which became part of a centralized system in 1896. In 1901, the state of New York required all children under the age of twelve to attend school, and in 1900, became desegregated.

Vito’s Beginnings

At the 53:00 mark in “The Godfather II,” Vito Corleone loses his job at a grocery and later commits his first robbery – an action that will serve as the foundation for his status as a crime boss. When the owner of the grocery store tells Vito the bad news, the camera is at an eye-level angle. The shot reverse shot technique is used, and we see the reactions of both men at different points in the conversation. Vito is forgiving but is no doubt worried, as he has a wife and son to take care of at home. When Vito leaves the store, a dolly shot is used to establish setting, and we see what a typical 1920s New York street looks like – busy, dirty, and crowded. Vito chooses not to tell his wife about his job, and the next day he agrees to commit a robbery with his neighbor Peter Clemenza.

As Vito and Peter walk to the house they are about to rob, a locked down shot is used. Vito and Peter are still on screen, but slowly disappear into the street, and setting becomes the main focus. Upbeat Italian music plays in the background to match the pace of this busy New York street – there are people of all ages on the block, some haggling at market stands, others just passing by. A small girl can be seen playing with chickens and dogs, presumably while waiting for her mother to finish shopping. When Vito and Peter arrive at the house, the upbeat music fades out, and for the rest of scene there is no music, only dialogue and background noise. Vito is visibly hesitant when breaking in the house and moving around the furniture. He is unsure of whether or not he really wants to be a part of Peter’s robbery, although this crime is much less cruel than the murders he commits later in the film. During another locked down shot, Vito tries to only be a witness to this crime, standing off to the side and making sure he doesn’t touch or move anything. With Peter’s prodding, however, Vito begins to get more involved in the robbery, and even stands by as Peter is ready to draw a gun at a police officer checking in on the house. The police officer eventually leaves, and there is no bloodshed. Vito and Peter successfully commit their first crime together, and the upbeat Italian music follows them as they carry the carpet to Vito’s apartment, triumphant and happy.

Vito’s apprehensiveness in this flashback is a sharp contrast to the Vito Corleone most people know from the first Godfather film. In the next scene, Vito looks on lovingly at his wife and young son as they use the carpet he just stole. We are reminded of the strong familial bonds Vito is committed to, and the actions of his son Michael later in the film contrast Vito’s beliefs.

Summary of Part 1 – Jewish Immigration in NYC

Chapter Five of Binder and Reimers’s All Nations Under Heaven focuses on the Eastern European Jewish immigrants of New York City. Nearly two million Jews immigrated to America during the late 19th century, mainly coming from the Russian Empire. There was no fixed identity associated with the Jewish immigrant – all had different economic, political, and spiritual beliefs. Still, most had the urban mindset, traditions, and work ethic that allowed them to quickly find employment in skilled/semiskilled jobs and become well-adjusted to urban life.

Jews settled in neighborhoods all over the five boroughs, but it was the Lower East Side region of Manhattan that felt the largest Jewish presence. The Lower East Side soon became the most densely populated neighborhood in New York City, but with the influx of new settlers came a trend of crime and poverty in the area. Various community initiatives arose from German-Jewish leaders in order to combat crime, including the New York City Kehillah, which had a specific bureau dedicated to preventing crime. The New York City Kehillah organizations were effective in certain goals, but in the end, did not succeed in unifying the Jewish community. Such an end result was the result of the divide between the German-Jews and the new Jewish immigrants, who found the German-Jews patronizing and inclusive. The Educational Alliance, another organization founded by the German-Jewish community, was also disliked by the recent Jewish immigrants because of their patronizing attitude and the absence of classes that discussed Yiddish culture. However, the Education Alliance eventually began to offer Yiddish classes and proved successful with many community members attending their classes. Landsmanshaft organizations were another important part of the Jewish community. These organizations, like the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, were the result of the unity and kinship of old country townspeople immigrants. Landsmanshaft organizations provided a way for new settlers to socialize, continue their culture, and have access to various social services, like life insurance and job employment. These organizations were extremely successful in the Jewish community, and provided aid and resources to the new Eastern European Jews.

Strength in numbers did not just apply to community life organizations for the Jewish immigrants. A rise in union membership was facilitated by members of the Jewish community, especially during the years 1909-1914. This time saw the creation of many unions such as the International Ladies’ Garment Workers’ Union, as well as many protests and strikes, including a strike in November 1909 that over 20,000 workers participated in – the largest strike of women workers in America. While this was a huge step in uniting the community, the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire in 1911 proved that more work still had to be done to protect laborers’ rights, and thus, union membership was stressed greatly.

While many Jewish immigrants worked in the clothing industry, they took advantage of other job opportunities in New York, like those in the commerce and manufacturing industries. Working was important in Jewish families, but so was education. Education was valued because they understood that it led to jobs, and even girls were encouraged to go to school. Going to school was seen as the “ladder of success;” many dreamed of attending college (CCNY!) and pursuing various subjects outside of school. Those who could not were still able to learn by visiting libraries, going to lectures, attending night classes, reading newspapers, or even just socializing with other intellectuals at popular café gathering spots.

Jewish immigrants were committed to learning, and this emphasis on secular education steered them away from religion. Only a few of Eastern European Jews in New York remained truly Orthodox, and younger immigrants found difficulty in practicing religion as strictly as their elders did. Religious education was lacking in the city, and there were few trained rabbis in synagogues. Zionism was not embraced by many American Jews, and was dismissed as a “movement of dreamers.” With social mobility in working industries and opportunities for basic education, Jewish immigrants had less time for strict religious guidelines but found success in other areas of life. They were well-suited for the fast-paced life of New York City and embraced the opportunities and open-mindedness of America.

American Dreams in Bread Givers

The concept of the American Dream is different for each person, but the hope associated with it is a commonality amongst every immigrant. However, the reality of American life is often filled with poverty and sacrifices that get in the way of dreams, as the Smolinsky family learns in Bread Givers. Sara, her father, and her older sister Mashah all have different definitions of the American Dream, which affect their family greatly.

Sara’s version of the American Dream involves finding her passion and being successful. Success, in Sara’s eyes, is being able to find something she loves as much as her father is dedicated to studying the Torah, while still maintaining her independence and financial stability. Sara is extremely independent even from an early age, and is deeply affected by the way her father’s influence has created hardships for her older sisters. After seeing what her sisters went through, Sara is determined to make a better life for herself. She continues to pursue her education despite the many sacrifices it entails, and becomes conflicted between her own goals and those of her family and culture.

Sara’s father, Reb Smolinsky, has a different take on the concept of the American Dream. In his version, the American Dream means being able to study and express his religion freely, with the complete support of his family. Reb Smolinsky’s dedication to his learning of the Torah often leads to the negligence of his daughters’ happiness and ability to become independent. The steps he takes in achieving his American Dream have taken a strain on his family both financially and emotionally.

Mashah, Sara’s older sister, is established as being self-centered from the very beginning of the novel. She often spends the money she makes on herself before helping out her family, and is blissfully unaware of the magnitude of their financial hardships. Mashah is caught up in the superficiality of the American Dream – her prioritization of beauty and music over familial obligations creates distress amongst her family members, and later, in her marriage.