This is an interview-style YouTube video (Chris Collins) featuring Michele Wong McSween discussing how The Joy Luck Club (a book introduced to her by her mother) came into her life. Michele recounts being at UC Berkeley, feeling disconnected from her Chinese heritage, trying to blend in with peers, and how her mother introduced the book during a pivotal time.
Take me to the time where this book comes into your life. What's going on?
I'm at UC Berkeley and I have a real lack of connection to my Chinese heritage. A lot of it stemmed from being teased, not wanting to stick out, wanting to look like my blonde haired, blue eyed friends. I think a lot of people feel that way who look different on the outside, and I wanted to feel American. So I tried everything I could to just try to blend in and put that Asian ness, hide that Asian ness so that I could just fit in and not stand out. So it was a really pivotal time in my life. So when this book came along, who.
Introduces you to it?
It was my mom.
What did mom see that she thought this would heal or help?
I think.
