Racial Conflict in the United States of America : A Deconstructive Perspective on Native Speaker by Changrae Lee

Written about the time of the Golden Venture incident, Chang-rae Lee’s Native Speaker makes a particular reference to that incident, whereby implying that particular immigrants, on the grounds of their racial identities, are mistreated and considered as aliens by some Americas. While some whites discriminate against immigrants, there is widespread ethnic tension between Korean Americans and African Americans. Significantly, racial conflict between Koreans and blacks and the racist attitude of some whites toward immigrants are mirrored in the relationship between the Korean-American protagonist Henry and his American wife Lelia. That is, due to their different racial identities they do not understand each other and they always argue. However, toward the end of the novel, Henry and Lelia come to understand each other. While ethnic conflict between Koreans and blacks and certain whites’ discriminatory attitudes toward immigrants is serious one, the novel suggests the unimportance of racial identity. In other words, the novel concludes that there is no discriminatory treatment of immigrants and, in fact, every one is a native Speaker in America. In the novel there is no message of how racial conflict could be resolved. However, this essay suggests that by investigating how the tension between Henry and Lelia is resolved, one could suggest a solution for the ethnicity problem in America and in real life.

Kenneth Schweiger Congratulates at a Student at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A student is shown on stage shaking hands with Kenneth Schweiger, a New York Trade School administrator and receiving an award at a commencement ceremony for the New York Trade School. Photograph is black and white.

George E. McLaughlin Speaking at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

New York Trade School superintendent George E. McLaughlin speaks at the school's 1953 commencement ceremony. Black and white photograph.

Bennett Archambault Portrait

Portrait of Bennett Archambault who was a speaker at the evening school graduation of the New York Trade School in 1949. From a press release attached to the portrait: "Walter Weir, Inc., 250 West 57th Street, New York 19, N.Y., John Black, Public Relations & Publicity Department, Plaza 7-0140, May 23, 1949, For Release: Friday, May 27, 1949, BENNETT ARCHAMBAULT: Member of the Board of Trustees, New York Trade School, and Treasurer, The M.W. Kellogg Company, who reviewed the school's long history and drew an impressive picture of its future, in an address at the 68th Annual Evening School Graduation, held last night (May 26) in the school building on East 67th Street, New York." Black and white photograph.

Student Receiving Award at New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A student (right) is shown shaking the hand of an administrator and accepting an award at a New York Trade School commencement ceremony. Photograph is black and white.

Group photo at New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony, 1959

A group of administrators from the New York Trade School pose at the 1959 commencement ceremony held May 19, 1959. Original caption: "Front: (left to right) Wm. F. Vanderbeek - Kenneth Schweiger - Bernard Rosenstadt - Ralph D. Cole - George E. McLaughlin - Herbert Brod - Edward Hansen. Back: (left to right) James Wright - Lawrence Levenstein - Ronald B. Smith - Roy Wall."

Student being congratulated at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A student is being congratulated at a New York Trade School commencement ceremony. Administrators and other important persons can be sitting on the stage behind him. Photograph is black and white.

George E. McLaughlin Speaking at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A George E. McLaughlin, a New York Trade School administrator, is pictured speaking along with others on dais at the May 1958 commencement ceremony of the New York Trade School. Photograph is black and white.

Group photo at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A group, possibly administrators, pictured at a New York Trade School commencement ceremony. Photograph is black and white and contains some writing in red ink on it.

Speaker at a New York Trade School Social Event

A speaker is pictured along with other important guests on the dais at a New York Trade School social event. Black and white photograph.

Student receiving diploma at New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

A student is shown on stage shaking hands with an administrator at a New York Trade School commencement ceremony. A diploma can be seen in his left hand. Black and white photograph with some damage from folding in upper right hand corner.

Group Photo at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

This is a group photo mainly comprised of the school's administrators taken at the 1958 commencement ceremony of the New York Trade School. Original caption reads, "Back Row - Left to Right: William F. Vanderbeek, Robert H. Scholl, Gurdon Simmon, Miss Marie Kaye, and Peter H. Vermilye. Front Row - Left to Right: Gilbert G. Weaver, George E. McLaughlin, John Clarke, Enders M. Voorhees, Ralph Cole, Frank Casino and Charles Leidig." Black and white photograph.

Student Receiving Award at a New York Trade School Commencement Ceremony

Bernard Rosenstadt, an administrator at the New York Trade School, hands an award to a student at the school's 1957 commencement ceremony. Black and white photograph.

Charles W. Merideth at Commencement Ceremony

Charles W. Merideth, sixth president of City Tech, is shown at one of the College's commencement ceremonies. The date of the ceremony is unkown. Charles W. Merideth was the sixth president of the City Tech. He was formerly installed on October 19, 1990. Before coming to City Tech, Merideth had a long career in science and higher education. Under Merideth, the College expanded the number of baccalaureate programs offered by the College.

Charles W. Merideth at Commencement Ceremony

Charles W. Merideth is shown in graduation regalia at a commencement ceremony for the New York City Technical College. The date of the ceremony is unknown. Charles W. Merideth was the sixth president of the City Tech. He was formerly installed on October 19, 1990. Before coming to City Tech, Merideth had a long career in science and higher education. Under Merideth, the College expanded the number of baccalaureate programs offered by the College.