Rain pools in the seats arranged near a stage. Parents, under umbrellas, prepare to take photos of their children performing a traditional Filipino dance against the backdrop of
the U. S. Capitol.
An announcer thanks families for being there despite the bad weather. "Anyway, for
Asians, this is a blessing," she says of the rain.
Such sweeping statements are reflective of the Fiesta Asia event. It's a yearly festival
held in Washington, D. C., that broadly celebrates Asian heritage in the U. S. It is meant
to honor the "Asian American" experience.
The term Asian American encompasses dozens of distinct ethnic identities and countries
of origin. In our labels-obsessed era, the term has splintered the community's attitudes
toward it. Some appreciate being lumped into the large group while others question the
use of the term.
Moreover, it is not always clear who is part of this group. Many people think of Asian
Americans as those whose families are from East Asian countries, like China, Japan and
Korea. Indian Americans and Pakistani Americans, for example, can be left out. India
and Pakistan are still part of Asia, as are many other less well-known countries.
Uncertainty remains. What does it actually mean to identify as Asian American today?
Central Idea:

Part 2: thoreau’s ideas had a profound effect on a man named gandhi. gandhi, was a leader in india who worked to end british rule. he led india to independence and inspired many to non-violent forms of protest and resistance. he fought to end poverty, worked to expand women's right to vote, and built bridges between ethnic and religious groups. like thoreau, he lived simply, owned very little, and ate a vegetarian diet. in india, gandhi's form of protest was called the "non-cooperation movement." he urged indians to boycott british education systems and leave government jobs. the movement was very popular, and in part to stop its spread, the british controlled government arrested him. after a few years, he was released and became active in politics again. he inspired many to follow him on marches to protest various taxes. on one such march, thousands followed him 240 miles over 24 days to the sea to protest a salt tax. this march set the example of non-violent resistance to the government that others in the country followed. eventually india won independence from britain, in large part because of gandhi work. gandhi's model of resistance and reform was creative, appealing, and successful. as a result, dr. martin luther king looked to gandhi when the time came to find a way to resist segregation in the south. the lunch counter protests, famous for the passive response to anger, and even violence, aimed to end the separation enforced by laws in some regions of the south. king also organized walks, marches, and bus rides that were meant to bring attention to the issues facing african americans. these forms of protest were directly modeled on gandhi's, but king took them straight to the source of oppression. where gandhi's protests created awareness and built momentum, king's protests were in the face of great hatred and fear. the passive, non-violent protests were ultimately effective, mainly because the passive response to violence cast the opposition as brutes. however, change came slowly and at the cost of many lives. king remained committed to peaceful protest, however, until his death. king learned from gandhi, expanding on what worked, applying old techniques to a new problem. gandhi owed his philosophy, in part, to a new england poet who loved the woods. read this sentence from part 2: like thoreau, he lived simply, owned very little, and ate a vegetarian diet. what is the point of this sentence? gandhi and thoreau had similar childhoods. gandhi had many admirable qualities. thoreau and gandhi were very similar. thoreau had a simple life compared to others.