I’m sure Camy is a well-meaning person, but it seems a bit unrealistic for her to think that if she chooses to write a fiction novel focusing on Asian American Christian characters, her own identity as an Asian American Christian gives her an impenetrable aegis against peers in her community voicing their concerns over comments she’s made in regards to her novel, her publisher, or how her work appears to be marketed.

On the flipside, I’ll be brave enough to say that I want to read the novel and give it chance. Hopefully the dialogue that’s occurring here and in other places on the WWW will contribute to the novel’s quality as a piece of writing…

-G.

though the “skits” fallout has been heartbreaking and frustrating at times, this kind of dialogue says that there is hope for the future.

i really appreciate your ideas about living in the tension between east & west, asian & american. there is a stream of asian-american theology that emphasizes our “pilgrimage” — that the dissonance we experience as being both asian & american but not fully either reminds us of our ultimate heavenly citizenship.

the task, i suppose, is translating this pilgrim theology into kingdom living here & now. instead of slipping into “sweet by and by” thinking (i.e., just get through life so that we can get to heaven), it would be amazing to see God’s people actively participate in the redemption of our cultural heritage. as you rightly observe, we need to get away from this idea that the gospel transcends our culture by somehow “de-asianizing” us (or, at the other extreme, by completely asianzing us).

as members of a marginalized group, we have a unique freedom to create culture (as opposed to those who might be so deeply entrenched in the mainstream that they could not, even if they wanted to, change their culture).

i had a chance to sit down with marko from youth specialties a couple of weeks ago. i have begun sharing some of my thoughts about that encounter (and weighing in on asian-american youth ministry in general) over at my blog. it will be interesting to see where all of this leads.

However, if there is one aspect of the engagement that I wish were a little different, it would be the tone carried in the engagement, especially in the initial stages. I think that it isn’t always profitable to have a “shoot first” mentality. I guess I’m concerned that while we battle racism, we not lose the battle of within our own hearts to be charitable. Perhaps we can approach the likes of Ms Tang with the grace and kindness that reflect Christ rather than champions our grievances.

Just a thought for all of us to keep in mind. Thanks for all you do.

Grace to you

Now will Camy Tang promote stereotypes and mock Asian speech or cultural mores? Possibly, but I believe we can accomplish more by being her Mordecai as opposed to her naysayers.

First, anytime an Asian American Christian is able to break into an artistic and literary arena previously denied him/her, it is a cause for celebration. Anytime an AA Christian – once mute – gains a voice, that is something to applaud.

It is such a breakthrough moment, that even if the AA author came out and said that she employed some AA stereotypes as necessary plot devices, I think we can give her the benefit of the doubt.

But when the author unapologetically, adamantly, and with crystal-clear articulation states that she finds hilarious certain stereotypes that the majority has found morally reprehensible, then warning signs have to start ringing. When what others have labeled “horribly, inexcusably, and unquestionably racist,” she has described as hilarious, Ms. Tang has left nothing to doubt anymore.

As such, when she says that she plans on using stereotypes in her novel “to entertain,” all kinds of red flags have to go up. To not be alarmed – after having been given so obvious a warning – is to be an indifferent bystander.

Thanks for taking the time to respond to my blog post. I feel that the criticism that you’ve received, even if it can be justified, is still a bit unfair to you. First of all, I admire you a great deal because I think that you are someone who is partaking in the creation of culture, media, and voice. That alone is a big step that many of Asian Americans do not take, but somehow many of us feel justified in critiqueing anyone who dares step forward. That is an environment that inhibits creativity as opposed to promoting it. I say, for better or worse, it is better to be in your shoes than those who sit on the sidelines and judge. You are a leader and that is to be admired, but of course, we are all discovering that whew, doesn’t that mean you have more responsibility than you thought? I dare us all to take on as much responsibility.

I am learning and exploring all of these things as well, as I, only recently, have begun to identify myself as Asian American as opposed to Korean American. In any case, thanks for your voice and your openness to see how much you mean to the community. Write on.