Portrays the many-sided legacies of exclusion and discrimination. The stories, columns, essays, and commentaries in this title tackle such problems as media racism, criminality, inter-ethnic tensions, and political marginalization. As a group, they make a case for the centrality of the Asian American historical experiences in US race relations.

If there is an overriding theme of these stories and essays, it is the multi-faceted adaptation of ethnic Asians to the common American culture, the intriguing roles that they play in our society, and the quality of their achievements to contribute to a better society. Bill Wong's high school journalism teacher took him aside during his senior year and told him he would have to be "twice as good" to succeed at his chosen profession. Succeed he did, and "twice as good" he is. As Darrell Hamamoto remarks in his Foreword, "'Chinaman,' Chinese American, Asian American; any way you slice it, Bill Wong is one straight-up righteous Yellow Man." Writer and journalist William Wong has been regional commentator for The News Hour with Jim Lehrer and a columnist for the "San Francisco Examiner", "Oakland Tribune", and "Asian Week", among other publications.

Series Foreword
by Darrell Y. Hamamoto Acknowledgments Introduction 1. Hometown: In the Shadow of San Francisco American Dream, Chinatown Branch
A "Manong" with Magical Hands 2. Family: From Agrarianism to Cyberspace Finding Sacred Ground
Traditions: Old and New
"Rock On, Mr. President" 3. History: From Exclusion to Confusion Conquering Frontiers and Barriers
Wong Is an American Name
The "Forgotten Holocaust"
Healing Wounds, or Opening Them?
The Price of Memories 4. Immigration: Huddled Masses Still Searching for Gold Mountain
Second-Class Citizenship
Downsize Your SUV
Se Habla English 5. Identity and Acculturation: Visibility Invisible A State of Mind
So That's Why I Can't Lose Weight
Yellow Chic
A Tumultuous World in Transition
"We Lost a Country"
Who's a Bonehead Now?
Paradise Lost
Minnesota Chow Mein
Best Friend or Best Meal?
Violating the Crustacean Creed
Parenting, Chinese Style
The American Nightmare 6. Anti-Asian Racism: Forever Foreigner "The Boat People Own Everything"
Learning from the Vincent Chin Case
Escaping Racism: No Way Out
The Golden State of Bigotry
Swastikas in the Sunset
Un-American Christians
I Am a Gook 7. Class: Yin and Yang Picking on the Most Vulnerable
New Global Capitalists
An Obnoxious Status Quest
The Rich Can Be Nice Too
Exploiting Our Own 8. Affirmative Action: The Myth of Meritocracy Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Calling for Magician Administrators
The Selfish Versus the Altruists
When Values Collide 9. Gender: He Said, She Said The "Hottest" Dating Trend
Special Assets
Hiding Behind a Cultural Defense
The Hero of Asian Men 10. Race Relations: Why Can't We All Get Along? Just Who Is the Victim Here?
Playing Together
Plenty of Blame to Go Around
Middleman Myopia
Yellow Pride Versus Multiculturalism
Beyond Black and White 11. Politics: A Seat at the Table Right Man, Wrong Time
Race and Ideology: Bumping into Each Other
An Asian American "Mr. Fixit"
Riding a Yellow Wave
A Common Human Affliction
A Question of Loyalty
Trolling for the Big Fish
Scientific Scapegoat 12. Crime: Bang, Bang, You're Dead "It Makes You Feel Special"
The Model Minority Criminal
Born to Kill
Boyish Appeal 13. Stars: I AM Somebody Colorblind Casting
Forbidden in More Ways Than One
The Connie Chung Syndrome
Kowtowing to the Queen
Disposable Commodities
Mercenaries
The Politics of a Bond Film
Money Talks
The News Media: Only Getting Part of It
Everybody's Child Publication Credits Index