Voices of a New Generation - by Christine M Su (Paperback)

About the Book

Voices of a New Generation: Cambodian Americans in the Creative Arts presents the experiences of fifteen Cambodian American artists, the sons and daughters of refugees from the Khmer Rouge regime

Book Synopsis

Voices of a New Generation: Cambodian Americans in the Creative Arts presents the experiences of fifteen Cambodian American artists, from martial arts experts to filmmakers, from fashion designers to rappers. The artists who share their stories in this book are members of the 1.5 and 2.0 generations: the sons and daughters of refugees from the Khmer Rouge regime.

Most U.S. history textbooks, if they include Southeast Asian Americans at all, lump them together, usually in one chapter. They inform the reader in a few paragraphs that there was war in "Indochina" in the 1960s and 70s which resulted in thousands of refugees relocating to the U.S. beginning in the 1980s. And while this is true, a cursory mention certainly does not reflect the diversity of experiences of these communities, or the individuals within these different communities.

Even within the discipline of Asian American studies, the curricula have rarely or barely included the experiences of Southeast Asian Americans, especially Cambodian Americans. My hope is that this book can shed light on some of these collective experiences and individual journeys and inspire us to share more.

Review Quotes

"Dr. Su's book is first and foremost a book about stories we tell and share as a community. Too often Cambodian American stories are invisible or lumped into a stereotypical larger Asian narrative of the model minority. Cambodian Americans have seen their own identity reduced to two elements: the ruins of Angkor Wat and the Khmer Rouge. Voices of a New Generation breaks those monolithic images [. . .] What is so compelling about this book is that the stories are told in first person: it reads like an intimate and well-written monologue. Dr. Su provides a short introduction for each story, giving us enough academic information without the burden of heavy academic jargon. The book is not only for those interested in Cambodian American stories, but for all story lovers, all those eager to learn about the artists' personal journeys as well as their crafts."

LinDa Saphan, Ph.D.

Associate Professor of Sociology

College of Mount Saint Vincent, NY

Christine Su is a treasure to the Khmer American community. In Voices of a New Generation, Dr. Su and her interlocutors open up for us the lives, hopes, fears, and deeds of an impressive crew of Khmer American artists. In so doing, they bring the Cambodian experience in America to life. I am so glad I got to read this beautiful book.

Paul Spickard, Ph.D.

Distinguished Professor of History

Affiliate Professor of Asian American Studies,

Black Studies, Chicana/o Studies, East Asian Studies,

Religious Studies, and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies

University of California, Santa Barbara