Reference no: EM133678638

Essay :

Being of mixed-race descent (I'm Asian/Vietnamese) and white (Dutch), I experienced a complicated and multifaceted relationship with the idea of racial identity as a child. Being Asian American has influenced my perspective of racial identity, both in terms of how I see myself and how other people see me. I have a deep connection to Vietnamese culture and have not had much exposure to my Dutch history.

I feel that having Asian American ancestry gives me a strong bond with the cultural, linguistic, and historical traits that characterize this multicultural society. Since I was raised more closer to my mother's side of the family, I can personally attest to the importance placed on Vietnamese customs, beliefs, and experiences.

I have experienced both internal and external impressions while navigating my identity as a person within the Asian American racial group. The outside world frequently classifies me based on my appearance, even though I strongly identify with my Vietnamese origin. I struggle with being categorized as "white" or "privileged" but having a strong cultural connection to Vietnam, and this dichotomy has caused me to feel internally conflicted.

People's opinions of me differ from the outside. While some may primarily perceive me as an individual, others may use outward signs to classify me as a member of a particular racial group. The experience of being called names and facing racist comments emphasizes how difficult it is for people to understand and classify others based only on their race.

In my experience, privilege has many different aspects. I am, on the one hand, sometimes called 'white' and given some sort of supposed privilege. Conversely, the racialized comments I face because of my Asian heritage highlight the difficulties that come with belonging to a minority race. Due to this contradictory experience, privilege is now seen in a complex way that is neither clear-cut nor absolute.

My sense of self is dynamically impacted by my membership in ethnic groups. My sense of self-identity is anchored by my close ties to Vietnamese culture, but opinions from the outside world based only on my appearance constantly challenge and mold it. My experience as an Asian American is made more complex by the interaction between societal classifications and personal identification.

My life has been profoundly impacted by my membership in the Asian American racial group and my mixed Vietnamese and Dutch ancestry. Within the larger framework of racial dynamics, a sophisticated understanding of the self has been made possible by the complexity of identity, privilege, and outside views. The interconnectedness of cultural heritage and society perspectives shapes the ongoing process of self-discovery.