KQED's Forum
Viet Thanh Nguyen on the Lasting Impact of the Vietnam War 50 Years Later
Apr 10, 2025
Viet Thanh Nguyen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and USC professor, shares his journey as a refugee from Vietnam and the ongoing impact of the Vietnam War. He reflects on the trauma experienced by individuals and communities, emphasizing the resilience of the Vietnamese diaspora. Nguyen discusses lessons from the past, the cyclical nature of history, and the artistic legacy shaped by these experiences. His latest essay collection explores the role of artists in political discourse, shedding light on identity and cultural heritage.
57:51
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Quick takeaways
- Nguyen reflects on his childhood as a Vietnamese refugee, highlighting the internal conflict of identity shaped by cultural alienation and community.
- The podcast emphasizes the lasting emotional scars of the Vietnam War on Vietnamese American identities, illustrating how trauma and memory influence generational narratives.
Deep dives
Refugee Experiences and Identity
Viet Thanh Nguyen reflects on his childhood as a refugee from Vietnam, highlighting the complexities of growing up in a Vietnamese community in San Jose, California. He describes the challenges faced by his family, who worked tirelessly in a grocery store, and the emotional distance created by their struggles. Nguyen discusses his feelings of alienation, revealing how being surrounded by the Vietnamese culture in the store contrasted with the American culture outside, leading to an internal conflict about his identity. This journey of self-discovery is intertwined with a broader narrative about the shared trauma of Vietnamese refugees, emphasizing that individual experiences cannot easily be separated from national history.
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