In this episode of Harrisonburg 360, the Female Gaze, we aim to give insight into the diversity of the female immigrant experience by highlighting two resilient women who immigrated to the United States- Lynn Buchanan from the Phillipines and Hiba Ali from Syria. Hiba is an immigrant from Syria who describes her experience coming to the U.S as a woman who had just gotten out of a domestic violence situation with her husband. Hiba also describes her strong connection with Syrian culture, with an intense urge to stay in touch with her roots even in a new country. While Lynn also had to find ways to become more independent after the death of her husband, she differs from Hiba in that in many ways, she chose to assimilate more to American culture. By sharing the stories of these women, we hope that we highlight not only the strength and connections of the female perspective and experience, but also the diversity and uniqueness among them.

Links for this episode:

For Lynn’s full interview: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/slalitv/16/

For more information about Syrian Culture: https://www.everyculture.com/Sa-Th/Syria.html#ixzz6rI0arsra

For more information about domestic violence: https://www.thehotline.org/stakeholders/domestic-violence-statistics/

For more information about assimilation: https://www.britannica.com/topic/assimilation-society

Harrisonburg 360: The Female Gaze was produced by: Elainah Elkins, Electra Ellis, Gabriela Powell, and Jordan Zapp

In this week’s episode, “Just Assimilate,” we will compare and contrast the story of two immigrants living in Harrisonburg at different times. We also make connections to work by Nicole Chung and an interview with Thu Huynh. This podcast episode features discussions of topics such as food availability, diversity, racial tension and discrimination. 

Interviewee Biographies: 

Mikey Riesenburg

•  Mikey Riesenburg is an adopted immigrant from South Korea who has lived in Harrisonburg, Virginia for his entire life. He graduated from James Madison University in 2009 where he studied History. Currently, he runs a Korean inspired restaurant in downtown Harrisonburg.

Thu Huynh

• Thu Huynh is a Vietnamese Immigrant who came to America in 1988 to flee from the harsh economic conditions and oppressive government in Vietnam. She followed her brother, who was already living in the US, to Harrisonburg, VA.

References: 

• Chung, N. “Just Assimilate Her into Your Family and Everything Will Be Fine…”. 1 Oct. 2018, https://longreads.com/2018/10/02/just-assimilate-her-into-your-family-and-everything-will-be-fine/
• Keppel, P. “Inside the Kitchen with Chef Mikey Reisenberg of Mashita”. 15 December, 2020,  https://blog.virginia.org/2020/12/inside-the-kitchen-mashita/
• Cheng, K & Perez, K. “Mashita, the Korean Food Truck, Opens Downtown Storefront.” The Breeze, 24 Oct. 2019, https://www.breezejmu.org/culture/mashita-the-korean-food-truck-opens-downtown-storefront/article_66e8076e-f5aa-11e9-9b1d-0760a6327d38.html 
• Mitchell, K. “Mashita.” i Love My Burg., 10 Feb. 2020, https://ilovemyburg.com/tag/mashita/ 
• Thu Huynh (Am Thu Kieru Huynh), interviewed by Theresa Staropoli, March 17, 1993, 8-8. Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University.

Music:

• “Affection.” Royalty Free Stock Audio, Special Effects and More, www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/affection-bxz2g2oz8k69tat9h.html.  
• “We Are Millenials.” Royalty Free Stock Audio, Special Effects and More, www.audioblocks.com/stock-audio/we-are-millenials-hb4f1xgf_0hk4brm9cq.html.  

Producers: 

• Sarah Hann: Audio Editor
• Hannah Meeks: Host 
• Amber Reid: Content Editor 
• Patrick Mullaney: Interviewer

This episode was created in order to highlight the narratives of two immigrants from Vietnam and Mexico; Que Hang Pham and Willie Chavez. In this episode, we draw attention to Que Hang and Willie’s different experiences as emigrants, specifically noting Que Hang’s experiences navigating the American education system, as well as the educational experiences of Willie’s children. Referencing Dina Nayeri’s “The Ungrateful Refugee,” we hope to establish the differing experiences had by immigrants as they establish new lives in the United States and navigate the American education system.

“The American Dream” podcast episode was inspired by those who helped make it possible, specifically Que Hang Pham and Willie Chavez, Dr. Fagan, and the JMU libraries’ special collections and digital specialists. It was their guidance that gave us the privilege of sharing the voice of Que Hang Pham and her story. This episode was produced by Lizzy Kubica, Jasmine Frank, DJ Monsale, and Sean Walsh.

Que Hang is a Vietnamese immigrant who came to America with her family at the end of the Vietnam war. She was an 8 year old girl doing her best to transition into American life. Her and her family rebuilt their lives from the ground up. Que Hang utilized her new opportunities to seek out success in her education and adult life.

Bibliography

Nayeri, Dina. “The Ungrateful Refugee.” The Guardian, 4 April 2017, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/dina-nayeri-ungrateful-refugee Accessed 23 April 2021.

Chavez, Willie, oral history conducted by Theresa Staropoli, 10 February 1993, The New Cultural Pluralism in the Shenandoah Valley, SdArch8, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

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