A model minority is a small portion of the population whose culture is an example to other small portions of the population. As it pertains to America, Asians have been made out to be viewed as this prosperous group of individuals. This can lead to discrimination from the other subcultures within America. This idea of Asians being boxed in by this label is truly a terrible thing. They should be seen not as a model minority but as a model citizen. Whose success is an example to all whose goal is to become successful and hardworking. My interpretation of Nguyen’s quote is that he believes racism and capitalism is the reason why people are defined as Asian American instead of American. The reason for him saying racism and capitalism is the cause is  due to the competitive nature of a capitalistic society, and the competition in this situation is between race and how they acclimate themselves in the dominance hierarchy. When I think of the quote through that lens I see that he must have said it because of the history around discrimination of Asians and how he felt excluded from being a part of another country despite how well they performed. During the passage, he explained that when he was in a private high school Asians within the school described their quest for success as the “Asian invasion”. Which shows you that he already had  the mindset that he was being excluded, looking from that perspective, it is a given that with the history behind Asians in America he would come to that conclusion. This essay does not challenge my views on minorities within America because I am aware of the negative history around them and how hard it is to orient yourself within society if  you come from a different ethnic background.