Japanese Americans are more aware of their Hapa identity

Early consciousness of identity Finding parallels through art Refusing to use a Chinese name to identify as Asian American The Hapa Project Perceptions of uniqueness Defusing myths through The Hapa Project Difficulty responding to the question "What are you?" Lessons learned from The Hapa Project Differing responses by gender to the Hapa Project Identity as a conscious ongoing process Japanese Americans are more aware of their Hapa identity Hapa as his primary identity Discomfort at being labeled by others International dimensions of hapa identity Issues of identity outside of America Imposing identity upon others Changing fortunes of "identity art" The right to say who you are Defining the term "Hapa"

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I was amazed at how many J-A Hapas participated, and certainly that’s the biggest number, but it’s also a group that is probably more aware of this, and because maybe perhaps more work has been done about it or more people are more conscious of it, they are more apt to participate in my opinion. And so probably half, at least, maybe two-thirds, were at least part J-A.

Date: May 3, 2006
Location: California, US
Interviewer: Jim Bower
Contributed by: Watase Media Arts Center, Japanese American National Museum.

arts hapa identity