Well, this is one of those very rare times where I, a user of reallyread.it, is sharing a story that I wrote! Yes, I am the writer of this essay. Hope you all enjoy it.
@sjwoo This is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing.
I majored in English in college and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've literally never heard of Tale of Genji.
I had no idea you were such a prolific writer! Congrats on living the dream. It's been a lifelong goal of mine to write a novel. I can't wait to get my hands on your books. Especially since (1) I'm also from New Jersey and (2) East Meets West was always my favorite store at the mall.
I recently started The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and before that I read The Sympathizer. Both good eye-openers for me on the topic of "not all Asians get along." War and occupation create devastating backdrops for literature, just as they create devastating backdrops for life. (I just got to Lieutenant Mamiya's backstory which is completely unbearable.)
Dear Bill -- it's totally OK that you've never heard of Tale of Genji. Because as someone who was also an English major and did take a class on The Tale of Genji, knowing about its existence did not help me in actually reading it. ;) That book is like two telephone books and I think I read like 50 pages...
Thanks for your kind words -- I'd love to imagine that I'm living the dream, but it's more akin to living a 30-second dream from a 4-minute power nap. But hey, no complaints!
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one hell of a book. I've given up on Murakami a long while ago, not because he's gotten terrible or anything, but because I just sort of got tired of his shtick (all writers, no matter how brilliant or talented, have shticks!). My favorite of his is Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Reading that for the first time was like falling in love. I need to read The Sympathizer -- I was on a plane for a while and totally blasted through Steven Johnson's "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World" -- I can't remember the last time I read a book so quickly.
Thanks so much! I do think there's entertainment value in DNA tests -- as long as they aren't taken too seriously. Sounds like comparisons between services like 23andme and Ancestry reveal that the percentages are somewhat soft, so everything with a grain of salt. :)
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story! It's so unexpected: how you believed in a deep distinction between Korean and Japanese people, how it prevented you from loving a Japanese woman, realizing you have Japanese ancestry, and then your mother's reaction at the end!
Thank you for the reminder that people can change. It's especially difficult to remember about our parents. We imagine them to be immutable, but they can change their minds just like everyone else.
I relate to that moment when someone confirms a stereotype (e.g., attributing Lisa standing you up to her being Japanese). It's so unfair and wrong, but it happens subconsciously sometimes. It's important to be aware of this so that when I catch myself doing it, I can self-correct.
I want to order a DNA test kit. My brother did 23andMe last summer, and his results said he's 100% European, which made me laugh.
Thanks for reading and enjoying my essay! Yeah, people do change, it's true. Hopefully for the better, though everyone's mileage varies. But yeah, it is very difficult to imagine the lives of anyone, period. And the older the person is, the harder it becomes because their world was so starkly different than yours. But definitely worth trying to see from their shoes...I believe that's where compassion comes from.
23andme is a blast -- and for a really good time, plug that data into https://codegen.eu to see all the ways you might die! :)
What a wonderful story to start my day.... There is so much ego and self protectionism infused into society right now (from you know who) that honest feeling and not being racially correct 100% of the time could make one feel boorish and dirty. We all have known and unknown biases that we deal with. I connected to the part where you explained not all Asians 'get along' and that the younger generation is not as quick to have the same opinions as their past generations. I find this to be obvious to the Cuban people and the fervent Anti-Castro hatred of many older Cubans...... the younger Cuban generation, not so much, and seem more able to look past the politics and just want to be able to travel to Cuba to explore their past and decide for themselves. Doesn't it kinda boil down to that.... that racial biases are formed from silly misconceptions that we picked up from not finding out for ourselves and that the nastier voice is usually the loudest voice. Anyway, this was a great read, a 'not in your face' condemnation of racism but an understanding of why it may be, and how it could end. Thanks!
Thank you, Jamie! Everything you said here is spot on. The toughest part is ignoring that nasty/loud voice when your back is against the wall. I often think that human beings are wonderful creatures as long as they aren't under stress, being threatened, etc. If we can all take a breath when things are tough, it'd help a lot. But sometimes it's hard to remember to take that breath!
Thank you for sharing this essay! I really enjoyed the honesty with which you examine your past biases, your family's reservations against the Japanese, and how the DNA testing changed your perspective of yourself and your past experiences. I'm Korean as well, and I grew up listening to my grandmother's stories of Japanese occupation. There's bad blood there, and that can easily lead to stereotypes, hatred, racism. It's so easy to gloss over the uglier parts of ourselves & families, so it was refreshing to read such an honest piece. I'm also now intrigued by the thought of doing a DNA test on myself. Maybe I'll buy one of the kits & see if there are any surprises in my own DNA!
I'm usually very against gene testing because it infuriates me how we consider genetics and race, something we've essentially constructed somewhat ambiguously, something could be "traced". At what point in history did a Chinese person become completely Chinese?
Aside from my grievances against that, genetics and race do have meaning in the context of this story, and I'm very glad I read it – especially since, as a Chinese person, I too observe Asian biases from the inside. Huge fan of your writing Sung J. Woo :)
Well, this is one of those very rare times where I, a user of reallyread.it, is sharing a story that I wrote! Yes, I am the writer of this essay. Hope you all enjoy it.
@sjwoo This is wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing.
I majored in English in college and I'm embarrassed to admit that I've literally never heard of Tale of Genji.
I had no idea you were such a prolific writer! Congrats on living the dream. It's been a lifelong goal of mine to write a novel. I can't wait to get my hands on your books. Especially since (1) I'm also from New Jersey and (2) East Meets West was always my favorite store at the mall.
I recently started The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle and before that I read The Sympathizer. Both good eye-openers for me on the topic of "not all Asians get along." War and occupation create devastating backdrops for literature, just as they create devastating backdrops for life. (I just got to Lieutenant Mamiya's backstory which is completely unbearable.)
Dear Bill -- it's totally OK that you've never heard of Tale of Genji. Because as someone who was also an English major and did take a class on The Tale of Genji, knowing about its existence did not help me in actually reading it. ;) That book is like two telephone books and I think I read like 50 pages...
Thanks for your kind words -- I'd love to imagine that I'm living the dream, but it's more akin to living a 30-second dream from a 4-minute power nap. But hey, no complaints!
The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle is one hell of a book. I've given up on Murakami a long while ago, not because he's gotten terrible or anything, but because I just sort of got tired of his shtick (all writers, no matter how brilliant or talented, have shticks!). My favorite of his is Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World. Reading that for the first time was like falling in love. I need to read The Sympathizer -- I was on a plane for a while and totally blasted through Steven Johnson's "How We Got to Now: Six Innovations That Made the Modern World" -- I can't remember the last time I read a book so quickly.
I suppose three-year-old book recommendations still count! Added to the ever-expanding reading list ✅
Thanks for this article too, I’d never heard about anyone actually using a commercial DNA test “for fun”. Now I’m curious too...
Thanks so much! I do think there's entertainment value in DNA tests -- as long as they aren't taken too seriously. Sounds like comparisons between services like 23andme and Ancestry reveal that the percentages are somewhat soft, so everything with a grain of salt. :)
Thank you for sharing this beautiful story! It's so unexpected: how you believed in a deep distinction between Korean and Japanese people, how it prevented you from loving a Japanese woman, realizing you have Japanese ancestry, and then your mother's reaction at the end!
Thank you for the reminder that people can change. It's especially difficult to remember about our parents. We imagine them to be immutable, but they can change their minds just like everyone else.
I relate to that moment when someone confirms a stereotype (e.g., attributing Lisa standing you up to her being Japanese). It's so unfair and wrong, but it happens subconsciously sometimes. It's important to be aware of this so that when I catch myself doing it, I can self-correct.
I want to order a DNA test kit. My brother did 23andMe last summer, and his results said he's 100% European, which made me laugh.
Dear Erica,
Thanks for reading and enjoying my essay! Yeah, people do change, it's true. Hopefully for the better, though everyone's mileage varies. But yeah, it is very difficult to imagine the lives of anyone, period. And the older the person is, the harder it becomes because their world was so starkly different than yours. But definitely worth trying to see from their shoes...I believe that's where compassion comes from.
23andme is a blast -- and for a really good time, plug that data into https://codegen.eu to see all the ways you might die! :)
What a wonderful story to start my day.... There is so much ego and self protectionism infused into society right now (from you know who) that honest feeling and not being racially correct 100% of the time could make one feel boorish and dirty. We all have known and unknown biases that we deal with. I connected to the part where you explained not all Asians 'get along' and that the younger generation is not as quick to have the same opinions as their past generations. I find this to be obvious to the Cuban people and the fervent Anti-Castro hatred of many older Cubans...... the younger Cuban generation, not so much, and seem more able to look past the politics and just want to be able to travel to Cuba to explore their past and decide for themselves. Doesn't it kinda boil down to that.... that racial biases are formed from silly misconceptions that we picked up from not finding out for ourselves and that the nastier voice is usually the loudest voice. Anyway, this was a great read, a 'not in your face' condemnation of racism but an understanding of why it may be, and how it could end. Thanks!
Thank you, Jamie! Everything you said here is spot on. The toughest part is ignoring that nasty/loud voice when your back is against the wall. I often think that human beings are wonderful creatures as long as they aren't under stress, being threatened, etc. If we can all take a breath when things are tough, it'd help a lot. But sometimes it's hard to remember to take that breath!
Lol the end actually made me laugh
Thank you for sharing this essay! I really enjoyed the honesty with which you examine your past biases, your family's reservations against the Japanese, and how the DNA testing changed your perspective of yourself and your past experiences. I'm Korean as well, and I grew up listening to my grandmother's stories of Japanese occupation. There's bad blood there, and that can easily lead to stereotypes, hatred, racism. It's so easy to gloss over the uglier parts of ourselves & families, so it was refreshing to read such an honest piece. I'm also now intrigued by the thought of doing a DNA test on myself. Maybe I'll buy one of the kits & see if there are any surprises in my own DNA!
Thank you!
Crystal
I'm usually very against gene testing because it infuriates me how we consider genetics and race, something we've essentially constructed somewhat ambiguously, something could be "traced". At what point in history did a Chinese person become completely Chinese?
Aside from my grievances against that, genetics and race do have meaning in the context of this story, and I'm very glad I read it – especially since, as a Chinese person, I too observe Asian biases from the inside. Huge fan of your writing Sung J. Woo :)