Chapter 1, pgs. 3-20 Summary and Analysis

The author grew up in Palolo Valley in Oahu, Hawaii, a community consisting of Japanese, Chinese and Hawaiian families. At a Midwestern college, he was treated as a foreign student, even though his family had been in America for more than three generations.

Asian Americans have roots reaching to a variety of Asian countries. Many of them live in Chinatowns and in other districts, where they have spread into other ethnic communities. They are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in America. Their growth rate surpassed those of Hispanics in the1970-1980 time period since the Immigration Act of 1965 eased entry requirements. During this period, Asians represented half of all immigrants to America.

The author makes the point that many people equate America as being white, or European. They overlook Asians. This is an attitude that...