Part II The Korean American Dream

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Ari rang is about is about journey, dreams. In 1947, there was housing discrimination. Koreans never gave up. They worked hard and began achieving in many areas such as education, business, and sports. Orphans were being adopted from the Korean conflict of the 1950's. The civil rights movement in the 1960's began opening doors for Koreans in Korea to come to America. Even though Korea was becoming urbanized and industrialized, many fled because of all the political unrest. People coming here at a young age call themselves the 1.5 generation. They became caught between two cultures.
In the 1970's migration from Korea focused on Los Angeles. They formed what is now Koreatown or K-Town. A quarter of a million people came to America in the 1970's and one third of a million people in the 1980's. They took jobs that were below their education and skills abilities. Most stuck it out and worked hard to give their children opportunities in this Land of Opportunities. They came so their children could have the education. They felt sacrifices for their children were worth it.
As they prospered, they moved to other communities and commuted to work. This drew criticism saying that they were taking from the community but not giving. The other resident minorities weren't used to having to work hard and so bad feelings deepened. On April 29, 1992 when the verdict of the Rodney King trial was read, rioting broke out in the black communities. It eventually spread to K-Town. For two days, there was no police presence. The media profiteers portrayed Korean owners in a bad light as they patrolled their businesses with rifles. Some see this as a negative image.
This event awakened the Korean American people that the are truly AMERICANS. They realized that they are not here to live as guests. They must become naturalized citizens and vote as their right.
Struggles continue but the Korean churches help with holding them together. (And by the way, the books and film keeping mentioning this aspect of Korean church but glosses over the purpose of church. There are many wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ with a fervor to win the lost for Christ that they apply to all of life.) The churches hold English classes and help immigrants with many issues. Many people don't acculturate and keep to themselves as do most other minorities.
Korean Americans are dispersed throughout the U.S. They are usually highly educated and in high offices. They are proud to be Americans of Korean descent.

[Author]

Posts