533 - Why Are Children Of The Vietnam War Still Searching For Their Roots? - Derek Powell

What does it mean to bridge two distinct cultures forged during a time of war?

In this episode of The Vietnamese Podcast, host Kenneth Nguyen sits down with Derek Powell, an Air Force Academy graduate, former corporate executive, and board member of the Amerasian Coalition. Born in Cần Thơ, Vietnam in 1971 to a Vietnamese mother and a Black American Air Force serviceman, Derek shares his journey of growing up in Riverside, California, navigating dual heritages, and returning to Vietnam as an adult to reconnect with his family.

Derek opens up about the power of code-switching, the unique experience of attending the Air Force Academy, his emotional reunion with over two dozen family members in Saigon, and the ongoing mission of the Amerasian Coalition to preserve oral histories, support reunification, and build community for children of the Vietnam War.

Inside the Episode:

Roots in Cần Thơ: Growing up with a Vietnamese mother and Black American Air Force father in military-adjacent Southern California.

The Military Journey: Attending the Air Force Academy, navigating identity among minority cadet groups, and mastering code-switching in corporate spaces.

Returning to Cần Thơ: Flying to Saigon with Warner Bros. in 2005 and walking into a hotel lobby filled with 30 long-lost family members.

The Amerasian Experience: Discussing the spectrum of Amerasian stories, Operation Baby Lift, DNA reunification, and overcoming social stigma.

The Amerasian Coalition Mission: Scaling advocacy efforts, archiving oral histories with university research centers, and connecting the global Amerasian diaspora.

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

Visit https://www.vietnamstorybank.com/ today for more information!

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