A Look at Asian American Studies - Emery McKee - Ryan Caragher - Emma Rohrer - Gabe Velazquez

Why Does this Text Matter?

ANTI - RACIST STRUGGLES HAVE A WIDER SCOPE THAN THE U . S . A . As realized by W.E.B. Dubois's experiencce in Japan, there were also like minded individuals who were against white supremacy who didn't reside in the United States. Evidently, there was no need to keep the issue of race exclusively within the U.S. Support could be garnered from other nations, many who were non-white and had experienced injustices similar to the ones experienced by blacks in the U.S.

ANTICOLONIALISM , ANTI - IMPERIALISM AND THE AFRO - ASIAN CONNECTION Dubois's interaction with Okinawan intellectual-activists also gave rise to the discussion of white Imperialism and Colonialism. Both Dubois and these activists had their own perceptions about these topics, but in the end, they both found themselves to be against these ideologies. This being said, the true reason for these beliefs was the Japanese imperalist state's effort to use pan-anti- imperialist propoganda. Despite this, the Afro-Asian connection was developed, and Dubois advocated for pro-Japan Black nationalist orientation.

A " RACIAL GROOVE "

Now that a movement of pro- Japanese mentality had been formulated by Dubois, he knew that he could use this relationship to inspire change back home. By connecting the Japanese community of activists to the Black communities of the United States, he realized that the "defiant" image that these Okinawan activists presented could be appealing to activists back home and incite stronger efforts for change. Although Orichi finds Dubois's efforts to lack an analysis of both race and nation, the U.S. had never seen this type of expansion of racial boundaries through a "racial groove" between countries.

Gabe Velazquez