Summary

In "The End of White Innocence," Hong says as a mother, she finds herself remembering her childhood more actively. Rather than attempting to give her daughter the life she had, she works to give her the experiences she missed. She considers her parents’ reasons for immigrated, their decision to move from the east to west coast.

As a student, Hong felt coming-of-age stories lacked inclusivity, failing to account for the adolescent experiences of immigrant children. She then examines innocence in literature, the supposed relationship between purity and childhood, and the artistic New Sincerity movement. She cites the exclusivity of Wes Anderson's work. Referencing Moonrise Kingdom, Hong argues that Anderson fails to acknowledge the cultural moments in which his films are set. While Anderson's representations of 1965, for example, are peaceful, 1965 was defined by racial violence.

Hong recalls wearing...