Dongji Island: Illuminating Humanity in the Depths of History

A question rising from the deep: In a divided world, can human decency still endure? By Voice in Between Editor’s Note: A rescue at sea, carried out by Zhoushan fishermen, transcends time and borders. Dongji Island compels us to ask: when the world once again teeters on division, can we still hold fast to theContinue reading “Dongji Island: Illuminating Humanity in the Depths of History”

Mixed and Multidimensional: Breaking the Binary, Creating New Forms

Identity & Ethnicity Series · Essay 5By Voice in Between Introduction “My dad is a Chinese immigrant, my mom is white American. We celebrated both Lunar New Year and Christmas growing up, and our kitchen always had both chopsticks and forks.”“I never felt like I had to choose a side.” In today’s America, more andContinue reading “Mixed and Multidimensional: Breaking the Binary, Creating New Forms”

Cultural Reconnection: Nostalgia, Heritage — or Isolation?

Identity & Ethnicity Series · Essay 3By Voice in Between Introduction I want my kids to learn Chinese, to know where they come from.Every year we celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival and make dumplings. I don’t want our culture to end with my generation. In an America that increasingly emphasizes “identity diversity,” some Chinese families are choosingContinue reading “Cultural Reconnection: Nostalgia, Heritage — or Isolation?”

Label-Free: When “I Don’t Want to Be Just Chinese”

Identity & Ethnicity Series · Extended Essay II By Voice in Between Introduction “I don’t want to always be seen as ‘that Chinese person.’”“I’m just me — I don’t want to represent any group.” In the United States, an increasing number of Chinese Americans are choosing a “label-free” path of identity. They downplay their ethnicContinue reading “Label-Free: When “I Don’t Want to Be Just Chinese””

The Model Minority Trap: The Cost of Conformity

Identity & Ethnicity Series – In-Depth Essay IBy Voice in Between Introduction In our previous installment, we introduced the idea of “conforming to the label” as one of the five identity paths commonly taken by Chinese Americans. It’s a path that appears safe and rational, but often comes at the cost of emotional repression andContinue reading “The Model Minority Trap: The Cost of Conformity”

How the Younger Generation Is Redefining Ethnic Identity

Identity & Ethnicity Series (Part 4) Between Intergenerational Breaks and Hybrid Selves, They Are Writing a New “We” By Voices In Between Introduction|Tradition Is Not a Burden—It’s Raw Material In earlier installments, we mapped out ethnic identity across groups, explored five identity paths among Chinese Americans, and examined how schools and communities shape how we’reContinue reading “How the Younger Generation Is Redefining Ethnic Identity”