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432 pages, Paperback
First published January 7, 2020
In the mall back home, heads sometimes turned when I walked by with my family, but now, my Asian-Americanness is invisible, erased like a shaken Etch A Sketch. It’s an unexpected relief.
I would die for my family if I needed to. I would emigrate to a foreign country and give up dancing to unwrap blood-soaked bandages every hour of every day if it meant food and shelter for my family. But because of them, I don’t have to.
I feel all the parts of myself coming together: glad that a part of me is Chinese, a part of me American, and all of me is simply me.
“When my mind wanders, it is always to you.”
“And news flash- not speaking your language- in their own country- doesn't make anyone less intelligent than you”
“And as I lunge and whirl my bo staff, dancing to the ancient drum beats, I fell all the parts of myself coming together: glad that a part of me is Chinese, a part of me American, and all of me is simply me.”
“We are powerful. We can be anyone we want to be—daughters, sons, mothers, fathers, citizens, human beings. We showed Taipei that tonight. And in the days to come, we will show the world.”