Catherine Ceniza Choy on The Multiplicity of Asian American Histories

KQED's Forum

Americans of Asian descent are commonly lumped together under the broad identifier of “Asian American.” But such a general term can overlook powerful histories and distinctions among ethnicities. In her new book “Asian American Histories of the United States,” author Catherine Ceniza Choy reminds us that Asian Americans are not a monolith. “Like a galaxy of stars,” she writes, “the multiple origins of Asian American history are distinctive, but most meaningful when collectively visible as in a constellation, revealing intricate connections that present new ways of seeing, understanding, and moving forward.” We’ll talk with Choy about the evolution of the Asian American identity and the diversity it encompasses.

Guests:

Catherine Ceniza Choy, associate dean, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Belonging, and Justice, and Professor of Ethnic Studies, UC Berkeley; author, "Asian American Histories of the United States" and "Empire of Care: Nursing and Migration in Filipino American History."