Hey Arnold! Hey Mr. Hyunh (Huynh)!

I should have posted this earlier on, like during the Holiday season. I've been wanting to share this episode with people for a long time now. It's the Christmas Special of Hey Arnold! from back in the late 90's. What makes this episode so controversial is that the story centralizes on the Vietnamese character of the story, Mr. Hyunh's, history; themes of war, displacement, and "leaving family behind" (in Mr. Hyunh's case, he stays behind in Viet Nam giving up his daughter to America, to American G.I.'s hands while the helicopter flies away). It's pretty darn touching.



When I first watched this episode, I didn't know what to think. "Could this my family's story as well?" I didn't ask my parents back then about their history. I was either in elementary school or middle school. My mind was still focused on video games, computers, riding my bike around, pokemon, etc. Now, when I watched it for the first time since then, I get butterflies and tear-eyed. It really hits home. I thought the people behind Hey Arnold! had an innovative idea of displaying race on screen in such a "multicultural way", while taking place in an urban setting.

The characters in the show are all from different racial, ethnic backgrounds; from the immigrant-filled house Arnold lives in to his friends at school playing football, baseball on the streets. Of course, Arnold, the main character, is white; the show is from his perspective, centers him as the protagonist. He unites Mr. Hyunh's war-torn family at the end. Gran Torino anyone? Last Samurai anyone? etc. etc. It is a common racial formula depicted on screen. But hey, this cartoon was way ahead of its time capturing the diverse composition of city-life I still think. Check it out, ya'll.

note: When I first watched Hey Arnold! I thought he looked so much like my dad's friend, Mr. Tai. lol