The Boston Celtics versus L.A. Lakers.
Tupac versus the Notorious B.I.G.
Growing Pains versus Full House.
It seems like the whole East Coast versus West Coast drama has been played out on so many different American stages. Oddly enough, the Asian American community is no exception.
This really isn’t a turf war. There’s no Puffed Rice Daddy representing the 212. And Korea Town isn’t following Snoop Dog’s lead, “sippin’ on Soju juice (laid back) with my mind on my studies and my studies on my mind.” And I’m not imagining things, either. This topic has reared its bandana-wearing head in a few Asian American conventions. It seems that a line has been drawn based on the American-ness of each coast.
Thanks to geography, a lot of people from Asia end up on the West Side. In fact, it’s home to the second largest Korean population in the world (and according to Korean mothers, not a gay person among them). Consequently, there are so many Asians out west that it’s almost like White America has adapted to them instead of the vice versa. Their numbers dwarf the number of Asians on the East Side. This discrepancy has some West Siders thinking East Siders aren’t as assimilated into American culture as themselves. Due to this lack of population density (outside the various Chinatowns), they contend that Near Easterners stick out, well, like an Asian American whistling Dixie. Some theorize East Coast Asians segregate themselves from other American cultures to retain their racial identity; something West Coasters feel that they don’t have to do. Yeah, I think they’re full of Rachel Ray’s cooking too.
In terms of pure stereotypes, the West sees the East as ghetto and poor. The East sees the West as a bunch of brats who are good at spending their parent’s money. This is unfair. They’re great at spending other people’s coin. There is, however, one thing they seem to agree on: Midwest Asian Americans aren’t as sophisticated as those on the coasts.
Apparently we caught the agricultural bug that seems to solely exist in the Midwest. For one thing, that germ is only in the air at Michigan State University. Secondly, when was the last time you saw an Asian American in a combine? Finally, as Asian Americans we really have more similarities than differences. We all like KFC. And the concept of flat sheets is alien to our parents. I’ll be honest. As fun a topic as this is, I also think it’s a bit frivolous, too. Everybody knows Midwest Asian Americans are the best.
