You know that scene in “Roots” when Kunta Kinte is being whipped because he refuses to be renamed Toby? Well, that scene ran through my head when Texas Representative Betty Brown commented about the Voter ID Bill that Asians should adopt names that were easier for Americans to deal with. It’s an extreme image to imagine in a, what is supposed to be, post-racial America but I couldn’t help but think of Betty Brown being the whip holder in this situation. During the bill testimony Brown said "Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese - I understand it's a rather difficult language - do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here?" So, instead of trying to understand and gain knowledge of another culture, Betty Brown suggest that minorities be submissive to the American culture and replace their birth names to appease the American community. Should one’s culture be given up in order to have the same rights and freedom that the majority population has?

If Asians are going to be forced to adopt American names why not change the names of European Americans or African Americans who also have names that are difficult to pronounce for those who are unfamiliar with those language and culture. Why does Betty Brown just target Asians? Some Asian Americans already adopt American names when coming into America so that it is easier for them to fit in. Losing your name is a high price to pay to live in the country dubbed as the land of opportunity. It goes back during slavery when the slaves were given the names of their masters. It continues today, as people are unwilling to learn a difficult to pronounce name and immigrants adopt American names, willingly or forced, in order to fit the social standard. Many immigrant parents will name their children simple American names as to easier live in an American lifestyle resulting in a piece of their cultural identity lost. Many Asian Americans make this name sacrifice because it is easier if you’re just like everybody else. Individuality just seems so overrated these days.

In a land that is supposed to give equal rights to all, no matter the race, ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status, it seems that there is always a reason to discriminate. It looks as if the Bill of Rights is supposed to only give rights to a certain group of people. In 1854 George Hall, already convicted and sentenced for murdering a Chinese miner named Ling Sing, was freed because the California Supreme Court established that Chinese Americans and Chinese immigrants are not allowed to give testimony for or against a white man. In 1906, Japanese scientists studying the aftermath of the San Francisco earthquake were stoned by the public. In 1907, the Expatriation Act declared that an American woman loses her citizenship if she marries a foreign national, which mainly targeted the Filipino population in America. In 1913, California ruled that aliens are ineligible for citizenship. In 1942, Franklin D. Roosevelt allowed military commanders to delegate military areas “from which and any all persons may be excluded,” mainly targeting the Japanese. These are just a few laws in the past that have discriminated against Asians and Asian Americans in the U.S. History.

This goes further than just Asian Americans adopting American names so that everyone has an easier time reading someone’s ID. This brings out so many old wounds that have been inflicted upon the Asian and Asian American community that should be healed but keeps reopening when events such as this happen. There have been apologies after apologies and monetary payments to make up for the racism and degradation that have targeted Asians. But, how do we move on from the past if people still make comments such as the one that Betty Brown made against the Asian/Asian American population?
Who is this bill supposed to really benefit anyway? Many of the politicians against this bill are saying that it will discourage minority citizens to vote because of the difficulty in obtaining a valid identification card. The CalTech study “Evaluating the Performance of Election Administration across the States: Lessons from the 2007 Gubernatorial Elections and the 2008 Super Tuesday Primary” showed that 14% of African Americans and 18% of Hispanics are more likely to be asked for proper identification than whites. It is estimated that about 12% of eligible voters nationwide are unable to gain a proper form of identification. So, the Voter ID Bill would be difficult for many to exercise their right to vote since there are many that have a difficult time obtaining proper documents in voting. While I agree that the Voter ID bill would help the Texas population in reducing voting fraud, it would also reduce the amount of eligible voters actually voting. Texas has the fastest growing Asian American population in the U.S. and with minorities being more likely to be asked for proper identification, how is this bill supposed to encourage more of their eligible voters to take action?

In this land of opportunity and equal rights why is it that minorities are still subjected to sacrifice a piece, if not all, of themselves to be the equals they dream of? Betty Brown has reopened old wounds and rubbed even more salt in them with the comments she made. While she did eventually make an apology for her comments, the damage has been done and will continue to stick in the minds of those Asian Americans she wants names changed. I don’t see how learning a name is as difficult as learning a completely foreign language. Many people take pride in the fact that America has come along way in racism and segregation. This is the image that we want to put out there for other countries to see and follow. In November of 2008 we have finally elected the first president of color and his name is Barack Hussein Obama. Some people have a difficult time pronouncing his name; shall we ask him to adopt a more American name as so all Americans can easily understand? Betty Brown has become the new poster child for ignorance and cultural insensitivity. I’d wag my finger at her but I’m sure the rest of the Asian American population is already doing so.

On a final note if Betty Brown did get her wish for Asian Americans to adopt American names mine would be Louise “Kool-Aid” Brown (according to the Betty Brown name generator on rumandmonkey.com).

Lourdes Acido—Rainbow Connection Staff