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Constance Wu’s Reflections on Crazy Rich Asians

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Activity: Forever Foreigners? Asian American Ethnic Groups 

Race and Ethnicity

  • Time frame: 15 minutes
  • Setting: Online, face-to-face, or writing assignment
  • Source: Chapter 9 (Learning Outcome: 9.4) from
    Race and Ethnicity: Sociology in Action,
    edited by: Kathleen Odell Korgen and Maxine P. Atkinson
  • Contributor(s): SunAh M Laybourn

Doing Sociology 9.4 Constance Wu’s Reflections on Crazy Rich Asians 

In this exercise, you will consider Constance Wu’s thoughts--listed below--on the groundbreaking film Crazy Rich Asians. Wu, who starred as Rachel Chu in the film, was born in Virginia and is the child of Taiwanese immigrants. 

Write your answers to the following questions: 

  1. Two weeks before Crazy Rich Asians was released in 2018, Wu commented on the significance of the film on Twitter. In her post, she points out that Crazy Rich Asians “is the first Hollywood Studio film in over 25 years to center an Asian American’s story.” What is the difference between a film including an Asian American story and a film centering an Asian American story? 
  2. Wu explains that she never expected a role like this one: “Before CRA, I hadn’t even done a tiny part in a studio film, I never dreamed I would get to star in one...because I had never seen that happen to someone who looks like me.” Why is it important that people see actors who look like them starring in films? Why does this type of representation matter? 
  3. At the end of her post, Wu—addressing her Asian American fans—notes that “CRA won’t represent every Asian American.” Why do you think she includes this acknowledgment?

Note to Instructors: 
This is a brief exercise that can be assigned as homework or groupwork, and for discussion in class or online.

Sage College Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)