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ASIAMS.NET |
ASIAN AMERICAN ISSUES
Is Seattle a Haven for Asian Americans?
(Updated
Tuesday, Apr 1, 2008, 05:56:46 PM)
he Seattle-Bellevue-Everett area is only 11th largest in the size of its Asian American population (285,000, or about 11.4% of the area's 2.5 million), but it claims one of the oldest and richest slices of Asian American history. Its Chinatown was home to America's first Asian-owned manufacturing business, the Wa Chong Co. The company produced, among other things, a very fine grade of opium, some of which was probably exported to China with the U.S. government's blessings.
Best city for AA?
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Since its birth in 1910 Seattle's atmospheric International District was settled by generations of Chinese, Japanese, Filipino and Vietnamese immigrants. In the late 70s the aging District began enjoying a rebirth into its modern incarnation thanks to Asian American activism in seeking to preserve it as a historical and cultural site. More recently an influx of trendy young AA professionals, entrepreneurs and artists has helped transform it into a vibrant part of downtown Seattle's cultural and night life. The District hosts the Northwest Asian American Theater Company and the Wing Luke Asian American Museum, named after a Chinese American elected to the Seattle City Council in 1965.
On the far end of the Seattle area's cultural spectrum is lush, ultra-modern Bellevue, one of the nation's most affluent communities. Asians make up 20.3% of the students of the Bellevue School District, thrice the 7.3% concentration in the general population of Washington state. This points up the fact that Seattle hosts one of the nation's best established Asian populations. Unlike some urban areas dominated by one or two Asian nationalities, Seattle's AA population is highly diversified, comprising the nations 7th largest Japanese (31,000), the 8th largest Vietnamese (44,000), 9th largest Corean (38,000), and the 11th largest Chinese (58,000) and Filipino (53,000) communities.
The area's Asian Americans take pride in their high degree of acceptance and integration. The fact that the state's governor is a Chinese American named Gary Locke doesn't hurt, of course. Or that the city's major league baseball team is owned by Nintendo chairman Hiroshi Yamauchi and sparked by Ichiro. Even on the grassroots level, one sees signs of acceptance. The ratio of AM/WF couples is noticeably higher than in most other metro areas. A cop who was rude in issuing a jaywalking ticket to a group of Asian Americans last year was reprimanded by the police department. And the ticket was dismissed by the judge.
Is the Seattle area really a haven for Asian Americans? What are the best and worst aspects of AA life there?
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WHAT YOU SAY
[This page is closed to new input. --Ed.]
It sure is (haven for AA's)! I live in the Southwest now where discrimination can be strong, compared to life in Seattle. In western Washington AA's are assumed to be bright, talented in the arts and computer sciences, and refined. It is a part of the country where AA's have been allowed to personally thrive as equals. One reason may be because the New Age-Eastern religions are highly accepted there. Thus, things Asian are cool. Moisture in the atmosphere make for great gardens. And everyone knows that Japanese gardeners are the best! Another plus for AA's is the fact that seafood is aplenty in the Seattle area, and very affordable!
PinaySaPK
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 12:39:54 (PST)
[208.2.155.1]
a bannana is an asian who is "yellow" on the outside and "white" on the inside. you know- a bannana. and the opposite analogy for a yolk. these are the americanized or culturally challenged asians. glad to be of assistance!
anonymous
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 10:12:27 (PST)
[209.253.84.70]
My family lived in the Seattle area for 7 years. Previous residences include New York, Chicago and now presently living in Denver. I felt most comfortable living in Seattle as the general population had a mindset that if you're Asian, you're brilliant, owing to the fact that most high-tech jobs are occupied by Asians (Microsoft, Nintendo, etc.). This could be either a blessing or a curse, but this mentality certainly allows a lot of Asians to attain significant positions in society in general. I think Denver still has a general sense of prejudice against non-whites, hence, Asians like me are seen as an aberration to the racial composition of the city. Discrimination against Asians even emanates from other ethnic groups such as the Hispanics and the African-Americans. This is more A "feel" type of evaluation, hence, anecdotal.
Levi Velasco
levivelasco@msn.com
Thursday, December 05, 2002 at 09:01:49 (PST)
[208.2.155.1]
It does seem true that as the level of FOBness goes up. AM play time with WF goes down. I am looking to go to grad school in Seattle in the next year.
I heard very good things about it.
I'm in Dallas, TX, which is the hardest place to throw game to WF, but dated a beautiful Cameron Diaz look alike for the last 2 weeks.
I wonder what my chances are up in Seattle for 5 ft 11" 177 lb. with a 30 " waist Vietnamese guy. I'm looking for the girl next door type who could easily model for Polo.
I hope it is a great place to fall in love.
rycherx
rycherx@hotmail.com
Wednesday, November 20, 2002 at 11:17:39 (PST)
[199.46.199.232]
I'm on my way...
MEKK
Thursday, October 17, 2002 at 12:35:25 (PDT)
[209.123.121.149]
I don't know about other experiences in
Vancouver are, but I am an asian male who experienced a UTOPIA in Vancouver.
I stayed there 5 nights and ended up hooking up with 2 non AF gals.
The female bartender at one club gave me her digits.
If yall are telling me Seattle is even better of a place, I will definitely be there someday.
I'm currently in Dallas, TX. The hardest place in the world to throw game, but I still do anyways.
RycherX
tate007@yahoo.com
Tuesday, September 10, 2002 at 09:07:06 (PDT)
Seattle is cool.
Adridon
Thursday, August 22, 2002 at 06:56:22 (PDT)
"but in reference to your post, do you have to be a hunk? What if you're just a regular guy? Will the gals still all be coming on to me?"
My Dreaming?:
No, a hunk status is irrelevant here in Seattle. I just ran into yet another Asian male/Caucasian female couple today: a gorgeous white female with lovely blue eyes and a "regular" Asian guy, and they had just gotten married two months ago. A nice couple, and both had great personalities.
I also find it interesting running into these classic WASP or Nordic females, who happen to be on errands around town without their Asian mates, and discovering that they carry an Asian last name.
Seattle is full of babes.
Koryo Hunk
Sunday, August 18, 2002 at 19:23:56 (PDT)
KORYO: ' 'One positive feature of Seattle is that Asian, Asian American, and Caucasian females are all competing with each other and looking around for Asian and Asian American males as mates'
Sorry it took so long to reply but in reference to your post, do you have to be a hunk? What if you're just a regular guy? Will the gals still all be coming on to me?
It seems more often than not whenever I seem to have finally uncovered the 'promised land' in terms of babes, there always seems to be a pin ready to burst my bubble.
I'm not asking a lot, just wannabe treated as a rock star complete with all the groupies ready and willing.
MY DREAMING?
Thursday, August 15, 2002 at 10:16:09 (PDT)
I agree that there aren't enough AA males on local news (Isn't that the case almost everywhere?) but there's some progress. You've got Dan Devone, the sports anchor at Q13, who is part Asian. Also, Rob Mayeda is the weekday meterologist (read: weatherman) on KIRO-7. Since we're so weather-crazy in Seattle, you get to see Rob and his updates nearly every 5 minutes during a half-hour newscast. It's very annoying; I mean, how much could the weather have changed in 5 minutes? On the other hand, it is very cool to see an AA face on the air that often, so I guess we'll have to tolerate the annoyances.
There are also a few AA reporters on local TV, such as Robert Mak and Arturio Santiago.
The nice thing is that all these guys look different, as opposed to all being cut from the same mold. Dan is very cool and slick-looking, Rob looks like that upbeat, good-natured Boy Scout your mother always wanted you to marry, Arturio looks very intense and Robert, well, let's just say that despite his thick glasses and big ears, he is an awesome reporter.
So we even have diversity among our AA news reporters. I know, I'm really reaching, but it's a start....
Northwest Girl
Monday, August 05, 2002 at 20:39:27 (PDT)
JasonY79
FYI, a banana is an Asian who is "yellow" on the outside but "white" on the inside. A yolk (or egg yolk) is "white" on the outside but "yellow" on the inside.
Seattle Sodo Mojo
Friday, August 02, 2002 at 11:15:02 (PDT)
like Locke, i wanna be like Locke:
While there are no AM anchormen, there are several AM assignment reporters, sports reporters and and live shot reporters seen on KING-5, Q-13 and so forth on down the line. Give it some time, we'll probably have an AM sportsanchor or Weatherman up there to give Lori Matsukawa or Akemi Takei a run for their money!
Seattlite
Thursday, August 01, 2002 at 12:43:54 (PDT)
Hi Seattle Sodo Mojo,
"There are a lot of WF in Seattle who are yolks, and not AM being bananas or Americanized."
For those that don't always get the $100 questions in that millionaire show, what the heck is a yolk??? and banana??? I'm behind on the lingo department.
JasonY79
yeo@purdue.edu
Sunday, July 28, 2002 at 02:35:20 (PDT)
I've lived in the Seattle area for almost 7 years now. It's alright. Nothing to get excited about anyway, especially for those who love to be around lots of other young, intelligent, successful, fun-loving AA's. Plus, the nightlife isn't all that great compared to the other major cities (NYC, LA, SF, Chicago). But if you're looking for an area that is surrounded by unparalleled natural beauty, then Seattle's your place.
Also, Washington state as a whole is a haven for AA political leaders, so consider it if you're a budding politician.
Last thing: there is an abundance of AF local news anchors, but there is a complete absence of any AM anchors. This is quite disconcerting to me.
like Locke, i wanna be like Locke
Monday, July 22, 2002 at 15:06:02 (PDT)
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