Hotel On The Corner Of Bitter And Sweet Asian American Prejudice

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Prejudice has pitted people against each other since the beginning of time. Throughout history, wars have begun and catastrophes have occurred because people harbor blind hatred. Sometimes, catastrophes and wars coincide. A tragic calamity, which all Americans know as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, initiated the United States' participation in the Second World War. The horrific bombing was the spotlight of 1942, which introduced Asian American prejudice that is still seen today. Unfortunately, Henry Lee, a young second-generation Chinese immigrant, was on the receiving end of this prejudice. Jamie Ford, the author of Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet, uses Henry’s “I am Chinese” button to symbolize the demonstrations of prejudice toward Asian Americans, …show more content…

While Henry’s “I am Chinese” button distinguishes him from the Japanese population, it also creates confusion in his home life. Although Henry’s father tells him only to speak English, he “pin[s] a button to his school shirt that read[s] ‘I am Chinese” (Ford 12). Speaking English while also displaying a Chinese button is extremely contradictory because his father seemingly wants Henry to fit in with his American peers, but will be unable to do so if he blatantly identifies as Chinese. Soon after the Japanese were evacuated from Bainbridge Island, which indicates tensions were rising in WWII, Henry’s father demanded he wear his button “on the outside, where everyone can see it” (Ford 120). Henry’s father unmistakably wants everyone to know his son is Chinese. So Henry will not be harmed by the extensive measures the military is taking to ensure safety from the “Japs,” but is subconsciously harming

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