Becoming Refugee American: The Politics of Rescue in Little Saigon. The Asian American Experience. By Phuong Tran Nguyen

Abstract

Becoming Refugee American: The Politics of Rescue in Little Saigon is an in-depth examination on the role of a “refugee nationalist,” particularly Vietnamese refugees who were propelled into the politics of rescue. Following the Cold War, the United States viewed communism as the gravest threat to the nation. Notwithstanding, the majority of refugees admitted to the United States often originated from communist countries, with one of the most notable waves of immigration that occurred after the Việt Nam War. This war triggered a massive diaspora of Vietnamese refugees to the United States. Vietnamese refugees struggled to maintain loyalty to Việt Nam and their cultural identity at the same time being confounded by American expectations that refugees should abandon the past by acculturating into mainstream American culture. Consequently, this dichotomy profoundly impacted how Vietnamese refugees defined their own identity and self. Following the Cold War, the United States viewed communism as the gravest threat to the nation. Notwithstanding, the majority of refugees admitted to the United States often originated from communist countries. One of the most notable waves of massive immigration from a communist republic occurred after the Việt Nam War. This war and triggered a massive diaspora of Vietnamese refugees who were provided with sanctuary in the United States.