Defining "AzN"?

[John0101]

Many Asians use the term "AzN" to describe themselves as we all know. But how and when did it start (when did you first learn of the term)? What are the social and historical aspects of the term? Why is it important?

What are the pros and cons of the term "AzN" for the Asian American community? And what does it mean to you?


For me I started noticing the term around the late 90s when I first joined AsianAvenue, the term was mostly used by teenage asian kids. It seems to be apart of subculture for teenage Asian Americans of all ethnicities and nationalities as an unifying term that connects one Asian to another Asian. Even though there are differences between different ethnic Asian groups being "AzN" transcribe these differences.

AzN seems to be concentrated in Areas with high Asian population but its not local, an Asian American in Cali as well in New York could both classify themselves as AzN.

Being AzN is definally a way of identifying one-self, as the way you view your qualities such as if your male or female etc. Yet there is a coolness that is attached to the term, it takes "Asian" and adds a ring to it that comes from within the Asian American community. An outsider might view an Asian American as an "Asian" but an insider will view another Asian as "AzN".

Would you rather use the term "Asian" or "AzN" to describe yourself? Why?

[hooligan]

yO hOmIE, sUp. yOU wAnt to chEck OUt my rIdE? It's gOt A phAt strAIght pIpE thAt Adds lIkE 5 hp to mY pImpEd OUt cIvIc.

I never jumped on this AZN trend. I recognized that APIAs borrowed a lot of trends from both African American youth communities and Latino/a youths. communities. In my opinion they hella borrowed so much stuff I never viewed it very authentically to be APIA. It was just a lot of other stuff from other places. Although, some hip hop that came out during that era was really good.

[John0101]

yO hOmIE, sUp. yOU wAnt to chEck OUt my rIdE? It's gOt A phAt strAIght pIpE thAt Adds lIkE 5 hp to mY pImpEd OUt cIvIc.

ok, that stuff is apart of the teenage Asian American subculture, but does that mean you have to apart of that crowd to consider yourself "AzN"?

[Emperor_Mike]

AzN: Individuals of whole or part Asian heritage who cannot spell "Asian."

[hooligan]

ok, that stuff is apart of the teenage Asian American subculture, but does that mean you have to apart of that crowd to consider yourself "AzN"?

Given that it is a subculture kind of thing it's kind of hard to say, you know? Especially since it all depends on whether your friends will accept you if you don't or aren't 100% walking the walk and talking the talk.

[John0101]

i'm assuming a lot of people here don't consider themselves "AzN" but rather an Asian, why? Is it because people here are just older and wiser? Did you ever consider yourself "AzN", when and why did you stop?

[TB4000]

http://www.azntv.com/

If the new channel is any indication, it's much more mainstream apparantly.

[yoMAMA]

AzN is usually associated with slammed hondas and stuff in my mind.....

;)

[nameless]

ok, that stuff is apart of the teenage Asian American subculture, but does that mean you have to apart of that crowd to consider yourself "AzN"?

I think so. Like hooligan mentioned, young APIAs borrow from the AfAm and Latino communities. I always figured it was a way to maintain a minority identity, without being an invisible FOB. That being said, I think considering yourself to be 'AzN' requires the whole package - ghetto fobolous speech and attitude, the weird spelling, the clothes, cars, etc. because if you don't, you'll find yourself being viewed as either too FOB or too assimilated (neither of which receive that much respect in white or Asian society, repsectively) and having a hard time making friends with the already fully fledged AzNs.

Of course, as you get older, you know that being seen as assimilated opens more doors and the AzN Pryde 4 l1fE thing is just plain laughable. But to young kids, I think that they'd rather be viewed as the tough, feared gangsters they see in the media (or simply on the street). I have never seen a natural born 'AzN'. All the kids at my high school who were like that were all humiliated and/or aliented nerds back in junior high.

[ahsingjai]

Would you rather use the term "Asian" or "AzN" to describe yourself? Why?

I describe myself as Chinese because I'm Chinese.

"asian" is a broad term that has no idenity meaning to me.

[tapestrybabe]

love being asian??
So do i =)

i'm asian, your asian...
lets hug...

^_^