Essay Questions

Frank Wu’s worst experience while living in the United States of America is racism. Justify this statement and provide at least one practical example.

The entire book is about Frank Wu's life, and he narrates his childhood and whole life. The worst experience Wu experience is racism. As an Asian child, he found that most children and adults misunderstood him because he struggled to assimilate to the American culture. For instance, while living in Detroit, the narrator recalls how students discriminated against him because of his ethnicity. After finishing college, the narrator continued to suffer from racism when he was practicing as a lawyer. Consequently, the narrator experiences discrimination throughout his life, and he documents the challenges he had to undergo to succeed.

Why did Wu decide to relocate to California after getting established in his law career?

According to the narrator, California was a golden state because it was mostly occupied by open-minded people who embraced diversity. Unlike other states, the level of racism in California was lower because people from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities resided there. Unfortunately, the narrator was shocked after relocating to California because he discovered that Asians are still discriminated against. The narrator was surprised that even a society with open-minded people discriminates against Asians living in California.

What is the meaning of the title ‘Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White’?

The title of this book explains that racism is beyond the mistreatment of the Black people in America. The narrator is surprised that even white people from Asia and other parts of the world are still discriminated against. The narrator is of Asian origin, but and he does not see the difference in skin color between him and other American whites. However, the narrator finds it difficult in America because he is bullied, called slur names, and even denied opportunities. Therefore, the narrator concludes that racism is more profound than what people see and think.