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talkpolitics
I thought this was perfect for this week's topic on nationalism and immigration, particularly for the United States. For the last four weeks, PBS has been broadcasting Faces of America with Henry Lewis Gates, Jr. Tracing the history of 12 notable Americans (e.g. Mario Batali, Stephen Colbert, Malcolm Gladwell, Yo Yo Ma, Eva Longoria, Meryl Streep, Queen Noor, etc.) by using genealogy and DNA testing, the series is a fascinating and at times, a very emotional experience. One touching story involved Kristi Yamaguchi's family: while many American Japanese were being held in internment camps along the west coast, Ms. Yamaguchi's grandfather served in an all Japanese infantry unit in the European war. Or Louise Erdrich's German ancestors who immigrated from Germany and settled in Minnesota. One of her great grandfathers enlisted into the American Army and fought against his own relatives in the Kaiser's army in France. Yo Yo Ma is shown video tape of a village in China, where his distant relatives are so thrilled to give him a series of books his ancestors kept for hundreds of years, with a direct tracing of his paternal line to before 1400. The host of the show Henry Lewis Gates, Jr. is more Irish American than he is African-American, as he noted-- despite his appearance, and traces back some of the history of his ancestors, which he shares in common with Stephen Colbert.
While we know in general terms that America's relationship with immigrants and how it has treated various groups (e.g. the Irish, or Asian Americans) is a complicated one, but the personal lives really gives it an edge that you don't get from a history book. Of course, the issue of nationalism was brought up all the time, but one thread was a constant: once the families immigrated to the United States, they saw themselves as Americans and struggled to participate fully, overcoming enormous prejudices and racism along the way. If you haven't seen the series, I highly recommend it. The episodes are available online at the official website.
Here is Stephen Colbert's comments on being Irish American:
Kristi Yamaguchi & the contributions of Japanese-Americans in World War 2:
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Date: 5/3/10 21:39 (UTC)You've made my day!
Date: 6/3/10 00:59 (UTC)Re: You've made my day!
Date: 6/3/10 01:01 (UTC)Re: You've made my day!
Date: 6/3/10 20:09 (UTC)BTW, one of my colleagues mentioned the experience of watching Pinky Lee on TV as a child. I had to look him up on the 'tube to learn more. What a show!
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Date: 6/3/10 04:29 (UTC)Colbert the Norman
Date: 6/3/10 20:16 (UTC)