Asian Americans: The Movement and the Moment [Paperback]

Steven G. Louie (Editor), Glenn K. Omatsu (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2001

Cultural Writing. Asian American Studies. A wide-ranging collection of essays and material which documents the rich, little-known history of Asian American social activism during the years 1965-2001. This book examines the period not only through personal accounts and historical analysis, but through the visual record--utilizing historical prictorial materials developed at UCLA's Asian American Studies Center on Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Filipino, and Vietnamese Americans. Included are many reproductions of photos of the period, movement comics, demonstration flyers, newsletters, posters and much more.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

According to the book's West Coast editors, Glenn Omatsu and Steve Louie, the stories in The Movement and the Moment: weave the experiences and emotions of race, gender, nationalism, class, and history into rich accounts. The writers will make you smile, chuckle, and laugh; they'll make you clench your jaw, nod your head, shake your had, and bring tears to your eyes. You'll share observation, revelation, jubilation, anger, despair, and happiness from being part of something that was bigger than anyone of us.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

The Asian American Movement of the late 1960s, 1970s, and early 1980s was a watershed event for Asian and Pacific America; an "historical moment," as the late psychologist Erik Erikson would call it, when a special convergence of historical forces and individual experiences led to extraordinary social change.

Today, we take for granted the enduring legacy of the Movement's innovative strategies, vision, and accomplishments, be it the idea of pan-Asian Pacific American unity and collective action, the founding of a multitude of community-based organizations from Boston to Los Angeles, or redress for the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Asian Americans: The Movement and the Moment seeks to capture the visions and voices of the Asian American Movement, to share its profound historical lessons, and to launch a sustained examination by scholars, students, and activists on its significance to Asian Pacific Americans in today's multiracial America.

This book is the first of its kind to document, with twenty-five original essays and with hundreds of archival images and documents, the Asian American Movement from the interlinked vantage points of history and culture, politics and community, race and ethnicity, and generation and gender.

Asian Americans: The Movement and the Moment is a unique creative collective act in many respects, bringing together voices representing at least four generations of Asian American activists during the past fifty years. It is truly a book about America--and the relationship of Asian Americans with activists--African American, Native American, Puerto Rican, Vietnamese and other Asian groups, together with activists of all political stripes and including gay and lesbian Asian activists as well.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: UCLA Asian American Studies Center Press (September 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934052344
• ISBN-13: 978-0934052344
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #145,974 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)