Code Switch
Why now is the time to find power in "otherness"
Apr 23, 2025
Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Vietnamese refugee and professor at USC, discusses the complexities of identity as an Asian-American. He reflects on his family's immigration story and the impact of trauma on marginalized communities. Nguyen emphasizes the importance of finding solidarity among diverse experiences of 'otherness' in today's America. He also critiques the romanticized notions of authenticity and confronts uncomfortable truths about American identity, motivating listeners to embrace empathy and resilience in the face of societal challenges.
31:22
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Quick takeaways
- Viet Thanh Nguyen emphasizes the significance of recognizing uncomfortable historical truths to understand individual and collective American identities.
- He advocates for finding solidarity among marginalized communities, using storytelling as a powerful tool for activism and personal healing.
Deep dives
Viet Thanh Nguyen's Early Life and Migration Experience
Viet Thanh Nguyen's family emigrated to the United States in the early 1970s, fleeing the devastation of the Vietnam War. They settled in San Jose, California, where they opened a grocery store to build a new life amidst the aftermath of their traumatic past. Growing up as an American, Nguyen navigated his identity as a child of refugees, grappling with the complexities of belonging and cultural heritage. His debut novel, The Sympathizer, explores themes of identity through the eyes of a Vietnamese man caught between worlds, reflecting Nguyen's own life experiences as a Vietnamese immigrant.
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