Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America

work by Nguyen

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 23, 2026

Quick Summary

Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America by Viet Thanh Nguyen is a scholarly work that examines Asian American literature. It argues that the idealized portrayal of Asian America has hindered critical engagement with the exploitation of racial identity within capitalism. The book explores how race has been understood and applied in Asia, noting that while physical differences are now more significant due to Western influence, traditional notions of difference were often based on descent, religion, and language. Nguyen's broader work often delves into themes of colonialism, imperialism, Asian American identities, and the lasting trauma of the Vietnam War on the Vietnamese diaspora.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Viet Thanh Nguyen
Education and first publications
His first book, Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America (2002), examines Asian American literature and argues that the “idealization of Asian America” has prevented Asian Americans from engaging critically with capitalist exploitation of racial identity.
Read More
His first book, Race and Resistance: Literature and Politics in Asian America (2002), examines Asian American literature and argues that the “idealization of Asian America” has prevented Asian Americans from engaging critically with capitalist exploitation of racial identity.
Read More