Asians Around Appalachia: Archie Spradlin

Born in Bangkok and growing up in both Honolulu & West Portsmouth, Archie Spradlin is an amalgamation of a diverse set of identities that have shaped his unique cultural experience. From fusing classic Thai dishes with an Appalachian spin to owning a Polynesian food truck in the middle of Ohio, Spradlin is not confined to just one of his many communities. Rather than assimilation, he reshapes the Appalachian narrative through a merging of his heritages, not letting any go unnoticed in his life. However, Spradlin's expansive identity also came with its own set of challenges. Read his interview below to learn his story; an inspiration for AppalAsians who want to belong, even when they constantly feel othered.

Archie Spradlin [Source: The Columbus Dispatch]

Interview

1. Growing up in both southern Ohio and Hawaii, where did you find a sense of place in two drastically different areas of the United States?

   Living in southern Ohio during the 70's as a young child, it wasn't until I was about 7-8 years old that I became aware of differences in physical appearances and that I was different than the other children.  I looked different and at that time the other kids would ask me why I looked different and why my skin was brown?  It was a feeling of going from being part of the group to being and feeling like an outsider.  Up until that experience I had felt included and never thought about how others viewed me as a person.  My mother and father did a great job at turning my feelings of exclusion into one of feeling special.  My father knew I loved watching Bruce Lee movies and other martial arts movies such as Chuck Norris, so he signed me up into Karate at age 10.  This gave me purpose, discipline, humbleness, and self-defense capabilities and diving into the Asian culture.  We then moved back to Hawaii, Maui this time for a new life.  When I got to Maui, I felt like I belonged because most people looked like me.  Until I began elementary school at Waihee Elementary.  The local kids identified me as different as soon as they saw how I was dressed and then immediately when I spoke with a southern Ohio accent!  I looked like them but I sounded and spoke different, like a Haoli.  It took almost a year before the other kids accepted me for one of them as I learned the Hawaiian culture and sharing my Thailand culture and food with them.  So, in recounting my childhood from two drastically different cultures or southern Ohio to Hawaii, I experienced discrimination from both but through time and sharing my culture, they eventually accepted me in southern Ohio and Hawaii where I was able to make many friends I still keep in touch with today.  Acceptance from me and others took time and it wasn't easy but kindness and acceptance overcame any differences we had.  The good experiences far outweighed and bad experiences I endured.

2. Being a part of so many cultures from Appalachian to Thai to Hawaiian, what does identity mean to you?

   I always joke whenever I'm asked this by saying "I'm 10% of everything!".  Because I do not physically appear to be a Caucasian / white male, I consider myself Asian/Hawaiian because this culture is what I closely identify with as far as appearance, food, tradition.  Identity, in my opinion, is who you are as a person.  What you believe, what you know, how you respond to others, your associations, and the way you live your life.  

3. Can you tell us about one of your stories related to being an “AppalAsian?”

   As a child for a few years living in southern Ohio, once the local kids felt comfortable with us and became friends with, they found out that my mother liked squirrel and dove meat to make various stir fry meals.  At that time, no one was eating that sort of food.  The local neighbors would hunt and kill squirrels and doves and bring them to my mom who would prepare and cook them.  Once the locals tasted our food, they were hooked!  We had a freezer full of squirrels!  They loved the food.  Back then you couldn't find any Asian restaurants like today.

   
   

4. What is one Appalachian / Asian American related policy issue that’s important to you and why?

   Probably making sure AA's are equalized in state and federal resources such as business and educational opportunities as well as cultural awareness programs which through my personal experiences, discrimination or acts of discriminatory behavior whether personal or institutional are from lack of knowledge and lack of understanding culture.  By shared experiences from both sides is what brings about harmony.  That's why may heart will always be in Hawaii.  It is a melting pot of many cultures which make up the Hawaiian culture we all know of today.  The United States as a whole will move to that someday but we all have to embrace the fact that our differences do not hinder us but make us great.

5. What is one piece of advice you would give to “AppalAsians” struggling to fit in?

   First of all, your difference is NOT a weakness but a strength.   As human beings we are all inherently curious, otherwise we would not walk out our front doors!  A good starting point as what I did was start with food.  "Breaking bread" with others different from you is a good start because we all need to eat.  Offering food and accepting from others has always been a way of mending differences.  It worked from our family in the 70's southern Ohio when racism was open.  It worked in Hawaii when we added the Thai culture to an area that never experienced it.  Today, I share a mixture of Asian-Hawaiian culture from my "Chubby Hawaiian Grill" Food truck on my time off, bringing that culture to those who may never experience it otherwise.