About iChamploo

What is iChamploo?

iChamploo is a community blog that aims to increase the presence of mixed-Asians on the Internet.  Its intention is not to point fingers at those who have wronged us (although we do have a lovely rants section) but instead bring together those of us who have at point or another felt alienated by lack of community.

Why not Asians as a whole?

Mixed-Asians are discriminated against differently than non-mixed-Asians because the discrimination reaches them on different levels.  “100%” Asians do still face discrimination in America but often have a solid community they can fall back on for support.  Mixed-Asians have a hard time in this regard because discrimination can come from multiple sources – including Asians as well as fellow mixed-Asians.  We are seen as “diluted,” not “pure,” and our points of view on our Asian heritage don’t carry the same amount of validity because we are not “whole.”  We have to prove ourselves in many ways to gain legitimacy and often come across frustrating experiences that make us feel alienated and alone.

Why “Champloo”?

Champloo (チャンプルー) is an Okinawan dish that mixes together whatever ingredients on hand (usually with goya, a.k.a. niga-uri or bitter melon) to make a delicious noodle dish.  There are infinite possibilities for champloo which is why I chose the name.  The “i” part is of course to personalize it - I am a champloo.  This  community is filled with different flavors of champloo.  Okinawa is also where my mother is from and is a place filled with a growing number of mixed-Japanese children.  On another level, Okinawa faces discrimination from mainland Japan and isn’t seen as “Japanese” by many people, including Okinawans themselves.  I also chose this particular spelling (the same as in the anime Samurai Champloo) because it was easier to recognize and pronounce (wouldn’t be as easy if it was iChanpuruu, would it?)

I am a mixed-Asian too!  How can I be a part of this?

You can contribute to iChamploo in many ways.  You can e-mail us if you’d like to become a regular author or a guest writer.  You can join our Flickr group and post your pictures – they will automatically be added to the home page in our Flickr pool.  You can donate to the cause and help keep the site running.  You can partake in various discussions in our forum.  Or you can also just simply spread the word to other mixed-Asians that you know.