Choosing Identity – ”China Boy” by Gus Lee Essay Sample

The fresh China Boyis the narrative of a cautious and sheltered Chinese male child named Kai accommodating the harsh. rugged life in the fifties’ San Francisco Panhandle following his protective mother’s decease. Once he is so suddenly thrown into the world of his environment. Kai struggles to happen a new topographic point in the unusual universe around him. Kai’s male parent becomes the voice of this quandary when he tells Kai the followers: “‘So. Pick one. Be American. Or Chinese. And ne’er alter your head. ’” ( 212 ) . Although a male child of seven is likely non capable of groking the full significance individuality or civilization. Kai understands the pick his male parent is seting before him absolutely. Kai chooses the YMCA. He instinctively knew it was the right pick for him. he didn’t even contemplate the others. Even though the feeling created by what Kai’s male parent said is that there is in fact a pick between the individualities. that is non true for Kai. The American and Chinese individualities are merely unlogical options. Kai entirely recognizes the lone logical option for himself in the context his male parent was showing. the YMCA individuality.

Even though Kai holds some Chinese political orientations such as Karma and familial duty near to his bosom. the world is that the bulk of the factors in his life are extremely detering of the the Chinese individuality. It has barely anything in common with most facets of his life. so much that going Chinese would endanger his safety. Edna would be even harsher to him if he were to take the Chinese individuality. since she is seeking to wipe out all hints of Chinese civilization from the house. It has been demonstrated in the novel multiple times that she will non waver to try to acquire Kai to act by her criterions by utilizing force on him. Those exact traits of her’s are portrayed in this transition. which followed the description of the first clip Kai has been hit by Edna because of a failure to follow her regulations: “Megan hinted that slapping kids in the face was non Chinese. ‘We are non in China. Megan. ’ Edna would state through her dentitions.

’That is exactly the point I am endeavoring to do. ’” ( 72 ) . Clearly. her blazing intolerance and discourtesy towards the Chinese civilization would be a large obstruction for Kai if he were to make up one’s mind to be Chinese. His experiences on the streets surely do non promote Kai to follow the Chinese civilization either. he would stand out even more for his vesture and patterns and would acquire crush up and picked on even more than he already does. The book begins with a word picture of Kai acquiring round to the land by another male child. following which the male child says to him: “‘China Boy. ’… ‘ Gim me yo’ lunch money. ratface’” ( 1 ) . Again. by taking the Chinese individuality Kai would put on the line acquiring round to the land daily. Although Chinese civilization has been enrooted in him by his female parent and Uncle Shim. Kai is non so profoundly connected to them that he is willing to put on the line falling behind all other facets of his life to be to the full Chinese. As demonstrated antecedently. the epoch the fresh China Boy took topographic point in was non really accepting of the Chinese at all. Peoples of Chinese heritage were besides non seen as Americans in the slightest. even if they have lived in the United States for their full lives.

For illustration. in the documental Becoming American: The Chinese Experience. the narrative of an American Born Chinese adult male named Shawn Wong is told. Shawn claims he has ever thought of himself as wholly American. but one time when he attempted to board a school coach. he was told by the kids there that no Chinese are allowed on the coach. He said this confused him greatly at the clip. since he didn’t even think of himself as Chinese. Kai. like Shawn. was born and raised in America during the 1950ss. He is besides non thought of as an American in the least by many people around him. For case. at the beginning of the fresh Kai Tells of an restaurant he liked to travel to. Upon telling french friess with a heavy Songhai speech pattern. a cook responds to him: “‘Fries! Crap! Boy. how long you bin in dis state? You bettah larn how ta talk. and don be usin no oriental mo-jo on me. Don occupation me outa nothin! ’” ( 2 ) . The cook is assuming Kai is traveling to seek to flim-flam him out of his money in some manner. based on his visual aspect. Although there are non excessively many incidents such as this one described in the book. it is however safe to presume that Kai was a changeless topic of those sorts of groundless prepossessions. At the clip and topographic point China Boy is narrated in. Kai’s visual aspect and speech pattern are more than adequate to do him be seen that manner.

Even if Kai wanted to be American. he would be faced with intolerance and rejection. It is the unreason of being Chinese in the Panhandle paired with the deficiency of pick to be American that lead Kai to make up one’s minding on the YMCA as him individuality. It is true that Kai does non peculiarly bask traveling to the YMCA at first. but he comes to associate to his instructors and friends at that place greatly. The more clip he spends in the YMCA. the healthier and happier he becomes. Kai comes to hold passion for packaging. and love for his wise mans. This is the first clip in his life Kai finds himself in a growing encouraging environment. which leads to a growing in his character. If he would non hold gone to the YMCA he wouldn’t have of all time fought Big Willie. and he would non acquire up after being about being kicked to decease by him either. Kai particularly would non make bold stand up to Edna if it was non for the YMCA. These bold determinations Kai makes towards the terminal of the novel might confusedly be interpreted as cogent evidence of his pick of the YMCA individuality over the others. when in fact they are non.

They are obviously a portion of the YMCA individuality he has adopted long ago. Ultimately. it is apparent that Kai ne’er made a pick between the American individuality. the Chinese individuality. and the YMCA. That pick was ne’er present since the first two are hardly options. But ironically. even though Kai did non even think of choosing the American individuality. nor could he of all time be Chinese. His father’s statement was right in a sense. His male parent understands how much completeness and felicity a full submergence into a civilization and assurance in one’s individuality would convey. exactly because he doesn’t have any of those. Kai ended up following the exact instructions his male parent gave him. merely with the YMCA alternatively of the American or Chinese civilizations.