Hu (’22) Publishes Book Exploring Asian American Identity
Deanna Hu (‘22) conveys her thoughts in “Another Asian American,” a collection of short stories and poems, to embrace the idea that Asians and Asian Americans are just as similar as “the person next door.”
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, many Asian Americans have become the targets of racism. People across the country are working to improve the situation by spreading awareness through protests and social media. Hu’s inspiration for “Another Asian American” began as a result of these events.
“I couldn’t fathom why [these things were happening]. Just because it’s a disease doesn’t mean there should be discrimination,” Hu explained of the persecution of Asian Americans for supposedly carrying COVID-19. With her strong passion for writing, she felt it was necessary to address these injustices and create an eye-opening experience.
Hu has always had a passion for writing. She feels that through poetry and short stories, she has more freedom to convey her emotions. With these skills and a long quarantine ahead of her, Hu expressed how she was able to build up the courage to pursue something she genuinely loves: developing a book.
By creating scenarios and characters in her head and putting them in “bizarre circumstances,” Hu describes her writing process as just writing a story out of itself. Her characters, like a beautiful Chinese girl and an Indian cartoon character, participate in an Asian American discussion club that works towards redefining the meaning of ethnic identity while defining what it means to be Asian American.
In her very last story, Hu acknowledges the confusing feeling of juggling two different cultures, stuck in the gray area between black and white. In this story, a group of Asian Americans gather together and share a sense of community. The group then learns that many people are experiencing similar difficulties, giving the group a family to call their own people.
By showcasing her unique style through brief, yet captivating, stories and poems, Hu uses “Another Asian American” to comfort those struggling with their cultural identity. Deep topics are covered in this book, from discrimination to mental health, and Hu encourages anyone reading it to “find some way to relate.”