MIXED-RACE ASIANS FIND PRIDE AS HAPAS-WHO KNEW?

[Anonymous]

I heard about the exhibit at the Japanese American musuem at a Japanese festival in Torrance. Now that school is out, I am trying to get out there to check out this interesting topic. Growing up in Gardena, where most of the community was in some way connected to Japan, I was in the thick of Japanese culture. I have heard the term "Hapa" used around my community my entire life. My friends had no problem using it. Never was it perceived as a negative term. It was actually a source of identity, and possibly, even pride. I am looking forward to seeing the photographs and commentary of those in the exhibit and how the artist has portrayed this issue which, seeing from the stats, is such a large part of our California makeup.

[Anonymous]

I just recently learned of the term hapa but never heard of it growing up. I like the meaning of half, part, or fragment. Someone used the term to describe a fellow teacher. The person also brought up the idea that all people are not 100% of something. What does that mean for people and Asians?

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

WELL. YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY. FOR YEARS I HAVE HAD MIXED-RACE ASIAN FRIENDS AND I HAVE NEVER HEARD THE TERM HAPA. HAVE I BEEN THAT MUCH OUT OF THE LOOP. HOW DO MIXED-RACE ASIANS FEEL ABOUT THE TERM? IT LOOKS LIKE KIP FULBECK, A SANTA BARBARA ARTIST, FILMMAKER, ATHLETE AND ART PROFESSOR WHO IS OF CHINESE, IRISH, WELSH AND ENGLISH DESCENT, RECENTLY PUBLISHED A BOOK CALLED "PART ASIAN 10O% HAPA."

HAPA WAS ORIGINALLY A DEROGATORY HAWAIIAN WORD FOR HALF-BREED AND ACCORDING TO THE TIMES ARTICLE IT IS NOW A TERM OF PRIDE. SOUNDS IFFY TO ME. RECENTLY I HEARD AN IRISH MEXICAN REFER TO HIMSELF AS A "GREEN BEAN." NEVER HEARD THAT ONE EITHER. BEING ONE MYSELF I FOUND THE TERM AMUSING. I DON'T KNOW HOW I'D FEEL IF SOMEONE LABELED ME AS SUCH. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO HEAR SOME PEOPLE'S FEELINGS ABOUT THE TERM HAPA. I GUESS AMERICA'S FASCINATION WITH LABELS KEEPS CHURNING NEW ONES OUT. IS IT AN OK TERM TO USE TO REFER TO SOMEONE?

ANYWAY, THIS WEEKEND FULBECK OPENED A RELATED PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBIT AT THE JAPANESE AMERICAN NATIONAL MUSEUM IN LITTLE TOKYO.

INTERESTING FACTS:

HAPA'S NUMBER 1.6 MILLION IN THE U.S. AND NEARLY A THIRD LIVE HERE IN CALIFORNIA. 11% OF THE TOTAL ASIAN-AMERICAN POP. IN THE STATE. THE LARGEST OUTSIDE OF HAWAII. Alejandro V. Aguilar

[Anonymous]

It was interesting to read your post because my girlfriend is Asian and I am white. We were having a discussion about having kids and how being biracial would effect them growing up. Neither one of us had heard the term before.

[Author]

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