Hey, Do You Know Kung Fu?
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Conclusion With time and effort, I believe there can be
As Martin Luther King, Jr. said “Everything
actors that have played a lead role in a televi-
a faster progression with Asians and Asian
that we see is a shadow cast by that which
sion series or blockbuster film that didn’t play
Americans in American media. Current orga-
we do not see.” I feel that this quote strongly
a stereotypical role. I want to see more people
nizations, filmmakers, showmakers, and actors
relates to how people’s perception of Asians
breaking down the stereotypes and showing
are only small pieces of the puzzle that bring us
in American because they do not see Asian
that Asian Americans are worth watching
a few steps forward. By exposing the harmful
Americans as just normal everyday Americans.
because we have the skills and talent. There
consequences that under-representation and
This is because that is how the media perceives
will hopefully be more Jeremy Lin’s and Wong
stereotypes has on society. Especially, children
us to be. We are seen as foreign and assimi-
Fu Productions that this problem of diversity in
who are easily influenced by what they are
lated. We are seen as over-sexualized women
the media will just be something of the past.
shown through television and movies.
that are submissive and fragile or evil and
Along with saving lives from being harmed through bullying and hate crimes, the main point of equally diversifying the media is to protect the children of our future. I look up to people who have changed the views of people by using the media as a tool for posi-
conniving. We are seen as Kung Fu fighting machines that can quickly calculate a SAT math question without any difficulty. These stereotypes may be true for some, but for the majority that do not relate to these misconceptions is not right.
tive messages. I hope that someday I could be
My personal goal in five to ten years is to
a part of sending out these positive messages.
be able to name at least ten Asian American