Is race only about the color of your skin? In The Latinos of Asia, Anthony Christian Ocampo shows that what "color" you are depends largely on your social context. Filipino Americans, for example, helped establish the Asian American movement and are classified by the U.S. Census as Asian. But the legacy of Spanish colonialism in the Philippines means that they share many cultural characteristics with Latinos, such as last names, religion, and language. Thus, Filipinos' "color"their sense of connection with other racial groupschanges depending on their social context.The Filipino story demonstrates how immigration is changing the way people negotiate race, particularly in cities like Los Angeles where Latinos and Asians now constitute a collective majority. Amplifying their voices, Ocampo illustrates how second-generation Filipino Americans' racial identities change depending on the communities they grow up in, the schools they attend, and the people they befriend. Ultimately, The Latinos of Asia offers a window into both the racial consciousness of everyday people and the changing racial landscape of American society. -- Provided by publisher.
Reviews with the most likes.
Rating: 4.5 stars
I loved how well-written and relatable this book is because I also questioned whether or not I am Asian or Asian American enough for people. My Filipino and Asian identities have been questioned by Asians and non-Asians alike and the fact that this book features multiple Filipinos who have experienced the same thing makes me feel less lonely. I especially resonated with one of the Filipinos who majored in Biology and felt underrepresented in her field as she was pre-med in her undergraduate years. Similarly, I majored in Information Science and felt underrepresented even amongst the sea of Asians since most of them were East and South Asians. There was a disconnect between East Asians and Southeast Asians. I also got made fun of for being Filipino and was deemed inferior by one former East Asian friend. That being said, I wish that the author got Filipinos from different parts of the United States like the East Coast and beyond California. I think that would've improved the book a lot and I love it so much already.
