←Recommendations of A Is For American

Yes, there's wit and humor and a lot of sly-side glances but there's also heartbreak. The part about "carrying your American ID with you wherever you go" is currently a truism in America today. As our country slides back into putting people in racial boxes (and arresting them for it), it is all too timely.

This monologue may have been written during the Covid pandemic, but it’s just as relevant today. Lucy Wang uses a variety of Asian stereotypes to call out racism in this no-holds-barred satire. Wonderful opportunity for an Asian American actor to nail an audition while making some important points.

08.11.25 - Lucy Wang lets you have it with both barrels here with this darkly funny screed about being Asian American in our currently-having-a-meltdown melting pot of a country. Between coronavirus and the political virus diving us up, things can seem sickly bleak. But just take Lucy's spot-on funny advice and you'll breeze right through your day, no matter where you'll get (possibly) locked up? quarantined? separated? You get the point.

“A Is For American” is a sharp, poignant monologue that brilliantly captures the intersection of racism, identity, and survival during the pandemic. With wit and insight, Wang delivers a powerful reflection on the challenges faced by Asian Americans, making this piece both timely and thought-provoking.

Tightly crafted, evocative, and empathetic, this monologue is all-too relevant, inviting conversation and awareness, through expressive character, compelling voice, and through content that delivers a punch.

Such a great monologue yields power, logic, and authentic patriotism. During the most critical days of the Coronavirus, Asian Americans faced a backlash of vile hate from some other Americans, showing their ignorance (wilfully or not) or using such a world health crisis as a simple excuse to express racism and hate. Wang's monologue is witty, enlightening, and profound: Wearing Kevlar shows the seriousness and harm that such hate can wreak. Bravo.

A powerful monologue that confronts racism and being an Asian American in the midst of it.

Monologues are hot right now, and when I read good ones like this, I understand why. They're not easy to write, but when they're successful, they pack a punch. A is for American alludes to the country's bigoted history but does so in a way that pulls people together. The bits about Hawaii are hilarious.

A little sass and a whole lot of anger in a few pages.

Wang's monologue comically and proudly shows how to cope when bigoted assholes question your existence. You either beat them at their own game by being more like them than they expect, you distract them and run away to fight another day, or you fight.

I watched and enjoyed Barkada Theater's video production of "A is for American" on Facebook.