For this post, rather than discuss a particular reading I will be reflecting back on the film screening of “Who Killed Vincent Chin” for a quick moment. Also, instead of discussing the obvious injustice that came as a result of the freedom of the two murderers (Nitz and Edens), I want to discuss a short and probably unnoticed comment that Renee Tajima-Pena made at the question-answer session at the end because it stuck in my mind and I just needed to get it out. I cannot recreate the exact words that were said, so I will try my best to paraphrase to my best recollection.

When Tajima-Pena was asked how she had acquired the funding for the film she responded by saying “We didn’t have the funding for it at all. A lot of the money was fund raised through the [Asian] community”, who had raised about forty-thousand dollars in one night. Shortly after that, she followed it by saying something along the effects of “that’s how close and concerned the community was back then – we don’t have anything like that now anymore”.

Now, forty-thousand (US) dollars is a lot to fundraise in one night, don’t get me wrong about that. I am pretty sure that for any independent filmmaker being able to get that much extra help in funding is a god-send. However, the point that I am trying to make is that the last statement about “not having that [community support] anymore” genuinely shocked me. Given that I have not taken any Asian American Studies courses outside of this one, I am pretty confident in saying that the Asian American Community is more than likely stronger now than it was back more than twenty years ago. If Tajima-Pena is right about that, I want to know why that is. (I probably should have asked a question about that, but I just had lacked the grit to do so at the time – and now I really regret it).

As far as my knowledge goes, the support structure for Asian Americans has raised significantly if not by specific numbers or figures, then simply because I know that various Asian American organizations exist throughout the country, such as the Asian American Journalists Association, Japanese American Citizens League, Korean American Coalition, National Asian Women's Health Organization as well as various other Museums/Resource Centers throughout just California alone. The list can go on for pages, but the point I am trying to make is that there are hundreds to thousands of support groups that exist nationally throughout the United States (just check Google, like I did). Even on our own campuses amongst the 5C’s there have been many struggles for the support of the Asian American Studies Department as well as proper resources for API students (with some good results, such as organized student groups and resource centers like AARC, IDAAS, CAPAS, etc.) -- so why is it that she would say something like that?

I really wish I knew exactly what Tajima-Pena meant to say when she said that we “didn’t have [that]” anymore… Perhaps it’s a discussion about people being more involved personal interests and gain rather than communal (and “long-term”) ones. Asian Americans, at least in my opinion, have made significant progress throughout the years so maybe it is possible that those who were successful are now aimed towards furthering only themselves and a few people around them. Or perhaps, maybe some [Asian Americans] feel that there is no real need (anymore) for such wide support. Another likely possibility would be that some just are not aware of issues and things affect the overall Asian American community. Through my interactions with various students during my years at the Claremont colleges, I in fact, already know that they are all possibilities.

…So, if I “already know” about these things, why did I ask my question in the first place? Well, because to put it simply: it sucks. When you think about it, around the time that the film “Who Killed Vincent Chin” was made, Asian people were still being called Orientals. They have (we have) come a long way since then and have been making significant efforts and progress to be treated as “normal” citizens of this country. When Tajima-Pena statement, I cannot help but disagree because I see so many more support structures and resources available now than there were before – I suppose the only real problem is getting the knowledge of the places out and having them utilized to their full extent. Certainly, when things are on a professional scale the situation changes (I am talking about the “elite” and those who have become inducted into it) but to the average person with problems that need outside assistance I am more than confident that if one strives for it, they can receive help – they just need to know that help is there.

I do not believe it was an accident that she said what she did (plus, it was literally for a split second or two anyway). Regardless, even though I am probably being a little too critical (or thinking too much) about it, it slipped out and was said for a reason. I just wish I knew what that reason was. I guess I’ll try asking more questions from now on -__-.

-David Saetang