Vietnamese American
Jen-Ann Lee
Eun Jung Park
MCWP 50, Section 759971
14 March 2013
Research Paper Final Draft
Working Title****Wordcounter
What does it meant to be an American? That question in and of itself is already a difficult one to answer. Then, what does it mean to be a Vietnamese American? Vietnamese American is a term to describe a person with Vietnamese ancestral roots residing in the United States. The influx of Vietnamese Americans can be attested to the “Fall of Saigon” on April 30, 1975, which initiated hundreds of thousands of Southern Vietnamese to emigrate out of Communist Vietnam either by boat or by trekking through Cambodia or Laos to reach Thailand (Povell). As a result of this refugee movement during and after the Vietnam War, the definition of a Vietnamese American is still incredibly vague. In order to move forward, America, as a whole, needs to realize that many of the Vietnamese Americans, especially of the second generation, are still haunted by the stories of the experiences from Vietnam and the boat people.
Throughout my paper, I frequently utilize certain terms in order to prove my argument. Primarily, the term, “Vietnamese American”, in the context of my work refers to not only those Vietnamese who immigrate to the United States during the refugee movement, but their future generations as well. My essay defines the Vietnamese American community and analyzes their performance in the United States while connecting it to their refuge to America. The term, “boat people” refers to the countless South Vietnamese people who escaped the Northern Vietnamese Communist invasion of April 30, 1975 regime by boat (Povell). Their journey out of Vietnam was brutal as they faced cramped living areas, rough waters, and pirates that raped, pillaged, and killed many. After their nautical endeavors, the Vietnamese were subject to refugee camps scattered across the Pacific Ocean mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Southern Thailand, and Hong Kong. There they were also
Eun Jung Park
MCWP 50, Section 759971
14 March 2013
Research Paper Final Draft
Working Title****Wordcounter
What does it meant to be an American? That question in and of itself is already a difficult one to answer. Then, what does it mean to be a Vietnamese American? Vietnamese American is a term to describe a person with Vietnamese ancestral roots residing in the United States. The influx of Vietnamese Americans can be attested to the “Fall of Saigon” on April 30, 1975, which initiated hundreds of thousands of Southern Vietnamese to emigrate out of Communist Vietnam either by boat or by trekking through Cambodia or Laos to reach Thailand (Povell). As a result of this refugee movement during and after the Vietnam War, the definition of a Vietnamese American is still incredibly vague. In order to move forward, America, as a whole, needs to realize that many of the Vietnamese Americans, especially of the second generation, are still haunted by the stories of the experiences from Vietnam and the boat people.
Throughout my paper, I frequently utilize certain terms in order to prove my argument. Primarily, the term, “Vietnamese American”, in the context of my work refers to not only those Vietnamese who immigrate to the United States during the refugee movement, but their future generations as well. My essay defines the Vietnamese American community and analyzes their performance in the United States while connecting it to their refuge to America. The term, “boat people” refers to the countless South Vietnamese people who escaped the Northern Vietnamese Communist invasion of April 30, 1975 regime by boat (Povell). Their journey out of Vietnam was brutal as they faced cramped living areas, rough waters, and pirates that raped, pillaged, and killed many. After their nautical endeavors, the Vietnamese were subject to refugee camps scattered across the Pacific Ocean mainly in Indonesia, Malaysia, Southern Thailand, and Hong Kong. There they were also