Learning Processes Blog #3

I am still finding Takaki rather interesting, but after thinking about the discussion we had about the book a few weeks ago, I do look at it a little differently. Someone brought up the point that they wished it was organized by era of time rather than by ethnic group, and I tend to agree with that. I find it hard to situate myself in history as I’m reading about one group, and then have to rewind thousands of years when I flip to the next chapter. I also remember someone pointing out how Takaki seems to really only be telling one side of the story and that we cannot take what he says as truth. Though I did not take it as an absolute truth before, I now definitely read this book with a bit of skepticism.

One trend I notice in this book is the idea that the non-whites build up our nation just in time for the whites to take it over, claim it for themselves, and kick everyone else up. I especially noticed this in the chapter “Searching for Gold Mountain” which states “Indeed, the Chinese built the agricultural industry of California.” What? I had never even heard of Chinese playing a role in this before! In the next chapter, “The ‘Indian Question’” I found it humorous (and sad) to read the part that states: “The ultimate goal […] was the eventual assimilation of Indians.” The reason I highlighted this and starred it is because…they were here first. So how can we expect them to assimilate to us? I continue to enjoy my reading of Takaki!