Yellow Face

Awards represent DHH’s need for recognition, status, and confirmation of his identity. The play parodies DHH’s reliance on awards to signify his achievements and enhance his reputation as a respected Asian American artist. DHH earns a Tony Award for Best Play, the Visionary Warrior Award from the Asian American Artists Association, and the Justice in Action Award from the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund. The more DHH compromises his integrity and maintains Marcus’s false ethnic identity, the more he craves the public’s acceptance. In a late-night drunken call to attorney Margaret Fung, DHH pleads, “Do you think I’m still an Asian American role model?” and then asks if her organization can honor him with another award (34). In many ways, DHH’s reliance on his image as a role model is similar to Marcus’s appropriation of Asian identity. Marcus explains that he keeps up with his false identity “Cuz it feels good. To be part of something–bigger than myself” (64). Both DHH and Marcus desire to keep the truth hidden so they can enjoy praise and inclusion. 

The prevalence of awards also signifies the ways that Asian American identity is “performed.” At the Visionary Warrior Award ceremony, DHH becomes competitive with Marcus when the latter earns the “Most Promising Newcomer Warrior” Award.