A review by margaretefg
Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People by Helen Zia

4.0

Helen Zia blends personal, historical and journalistic writing in this exploration which focuses on Asian American identities and organizing after 1965. The pain of invisibility and lack of perception of anti-AAPI violence as hate crime runs throughout. Yet Zia's message is full of hope. I was struck by her description of the Japanese American Citizens League debate over support for same sex marriage. "The principle of standing up for the equal rights of what was perceived to be... Another community... Every American has a right to speak out on any issue... because every issue has implications beyond immediate self-interest."
That's a key piece of her vision for building movements for change. Compelling.
Published in 2000, it left me wanting a next chapter dealing with the past 20 years.