05/25/2026
I'm jumping into the discourse rather late but just wanted to remind people of the history that Vietnamese mixed kids have that makes this Capitol of Wasia conversation kind of tone deaf. My nana had a food stall during the war in Saigon. 3/6 of my dad's siblings, him included, were the result of US military men meeting my nana and dating, caring for her through her pregnancies, even taking care of her siblings and kids before they disappeared. We know my dad's father survived and left with the retreat of American armed forces.
My dad said his childhood was spent being beaten and bullied by children and adults, a scrawny auburn haired boy who only knew Saigon as home. My mom was fortunately adopted by another vietnamese person, my grandma the monk. I knew my parents loved and missed Vietnam but they appreciated the resources that leaving as refugees provided them. And they were lucky. Now, almost 50 years later, we have to worry about loved ones being deported for not being the desirable kinds of Americans -- not unlike the mixed " " babies. The US government can decide was the citizen or the baby not wanted or desirable - not the result of love, labor in times of chaos, mutual interests (compassion, loneliness, fear, etc). Look up these articles on wikipedia and beyond and learn about the Bụi đời or the civilians who had to grow up mixed and lost.
Shout out to the for not letting history erase the most vulnerable and standing up to suppressive powers.
Collage: me
Audio: look up Vietnamese New Wave, the documentary! I loved seeing the refugee teens and adult finding their new wave cool in spite of everything.
