“American Born Chinese,” Guen Luen Yang’s Printz Award-winning graphic novel, explores the life of Asian- American adolescents. The novel illustrates the experiences of racial minorities and their interactions with the dominant race. The writer uses the individual stories of three characters to bring out the theme of racial identity and self-acceptance. All individual stories are inter-connected.
One of the characters is the Monkey King, a Chinese mythological figure. The portion of story describes how the Monkey King barred from attending a party of deities in heaven despite the fact that he is one. The main reason being that he is a monkey. He is angered by the injustice that befalls him. He attacks the other deities and the guards in an attempt to voice his frustrations. The Monkey King returns home where he transforms himself into the shape of a man, through advanced Kung Fu, and torments those who embarrassed him. The other deities’ complaints reach Tze-Yo-Tzuh, the creator of all things. He advises the Monkey King to accept his identity as a monkey. He tells the monkey “I created you. I say that you are a monkey, therefore you are a monkey” (69). He later adds, “A monkey I intended you to be. A monkey you are” (81). The Monkey King refuses and is imprisoned for five hundred years under a mountain of stone until he is enlisted as a disciple by the monk Wong Lai-Tsao.
The second part of the story is about a first-generation Chinese American boy, Jin Wang. He and his family move to a pre-dominantly white neighborhood where he struggles to fit in. He tries to maneuver the prejudice and racial ignorance of his peers as well as teachers. On his first day of school, a classmate says, “My momma says Chinese people eat dogs”. Furthermore, Wei Chen, another Asian boy from Taiwan joins the class. He has little grasp of English and even introduces himself in Mandarin. He tries to make friends with Jin Wang, the other Asian student, but Wang repels his advances. They eventually come together but Jin’s struggles with acceptance of his racial identity lead him to push Wei Chen away. Jin even undermines Wei Chen in order to gain the approval of his white peers thus sacrificing their friendship.
The third segment of the story revolves around, Danny, a white American teenager. Danny is embarrassed by Chin-Kee, his Chinese cousin. The author ethnically and racially stereotypes Chin-Kee. On arrival at Danny’s house he exclaims, 'Harro Amellica!’ Furthermore, he packs his luggage with oversized Chinese food takeout boxes. Danny changes school as a result of the embarrassment from Chin-Kee’s yearly visits. Danny desires for things to go back to the way they were before his cousin’s arrival.
Towards the end of the novel, the link between the stories is revealed. Danny is Jin who is transformed due his failure to accept his Chinese American identity. Chin-Kee is actually the Monkey King who assists Jin/Danny in dealing with his racial and ethnic identity crisis. Wei Chen is the Monkey King’s son who escaped to America upon transforming into a human. With the Monkey King’s help, Jin eventually accepts his Chinese American identity and repairs his relationship with Wei Chen. The Monkey informs him, “I came to serve as your conscience-as a signpost to your soul” (221).
The author uses the animal character as metaphor on race. He uses it to explore the theme of self-acceptance of identity. After the monkey is humiliated, he takes the form of a human. The transition is perceived to be to a superior shape. Tze-Yo-Tzuh finds the transformation problematic and voices his opinion. The Monkey King eventually submits to Tze-Yo-Tzuh’s will and regains his previous shape. Jin Wang as well transforms from a Chinese American to a white American-either literary or psychologically. This is regarded as a step up the racial hierarchy. Jin struggles to maintain his Danny form as a result of his struggles with racial identity. Chin-Kee reveals himself to be the Monkey King to Danny and implores him to reveal his true self as well. The Monkey King tells him “now that I’ve revealed my true form, perhaps it is time to reveal yours . . . Jin Wang” (213-4).
The narrative allows us to examine the similarities between the experiences of the two characters. Both Jin and the Monkey King illustrate the result of the oppression undergone due to difference in “form” (race/ethnicity). It may lead to feelings of inferiority and self-loathing.
Both begin as oblivious to the racial discrimination of their race by others. The bias is eventually revealed to them while interacting with their peers. Both buy into the feelings of inferiority and react in anger and self-hate. Both transform into a “superior form” but are convinced by a deity to resume their original “form.” In Jin’s case, the Monkey informs him “you know, Jin, I would have saved myself from five hundred years’ imprisonment beneath a mountain of rock had I only realized how good it is to be a monkey” (223).
The story also shows the betrayal of one’s own race as a result of the character’s insecurities. Jin desires acceptance from his peers but is unwilling to accept Wei Chen. In a bid to seek acceptance, he openly mocks his Asian counterpart.
In conclusion, Guen Yang’s graphical novel allows the readers to examine the relations between racial minorities and the dominant race. It presents the though as to whether identity is our own possession or that of the oppressor. Self-acceptance of one’s identity is essential to live a fulfilling life.
Bibliography
Yang, Gene Luen, and Lark Pien. American Born Chinese(YA). New York: First Second, 2007. Print.
