Asian American Vignette #2

During a church potluck dinner, a white father sits with his child, opposite an Asian American woman who is eating her food with chopsticks.  The father picks up a pair of chopsticks and starts to eat with them, saying to his child, "See, Americans can eat with chopsticks too."

Commentary to Asian American Vignette #2

The father’s comment implies that the woman of Asian descent sitting across from him is not an American.  What effect might hearing this comment have on the Asian American woman?  And what is he teaching his son?

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