The term “model minority,” referring to Asian Americans, is a stereotype depicting Asian Americans as being “the desirable classmate, the favored neighbor, [and] the nonthreatening kind of person of color,” as Viet Thanh Nguyen—the author of the article “Asian Americans are still caught in the trap of the ‘Model Minority’ Stereotype. And it Creates inequality for All”—puts it. It is an offensive term because it categorizes Asian Americans and displays an unfair standard for Asian American’s to meet.
Racism is not only referring to physical assault. The reason the label “model minority” is dangerous is because it is a subtle form of racism. It is not a violent act that inspires racial justice, rather racism could be jokes or offensive depictions which are harder to notice and may get ignored. Asian Americans are also meant to feel that these are harmless jokes and it does not change the fact that they are accepted into American society, which makes Asian Americans feel that their views on racism are invalid. The model minority stereotype also may cause Asian Americans to feel undeserved shame if one cannot live up to the “standards” of Asian Americans.
As long as Asian Americans are considered the “model minority,” it is easier for them to be blamed by Americans for taking jobs and businesses away from white Americans. The offensive term serves the corporations and economic elites who are trying to place any financial blame or blame regarding employment away from them; Americans are more willing to hold a minority group liable for their misfortune.
Nguyen is trying to imagine a world in which being “Asian American” is not necessary, but he points out that this idea contradicts the ideas of capitalism. He says, “the end of Asian Americans only happens with the end of racism and capitalism” because capitalism relies on “cheap, racialized labor.” Nguyen makes this claim since Americans have taken advantage of people of different races since the beginning of its history.
This article challenged the way I view minority groups in the U.S. because it shows racism in a different way than it is typically expressed. The author highlights less conspicuous acts of racism such as jokes, name-calling and stereotyping which are acts that do not receive publicity. This article portrays the hardships of minority groups that may be less noticeable, and it explains how racism can come in many forms.
Josh I like your point on how racism isn’t only the physical abuse that is cause but also the mental abuse one could have on someone else. I also liked your point on how the term model minority is used by the corporations and economic elites who are trying to place any financial blame or blame regarding employment away from them. When I read the passage I thought it was used as an excuse for racist to justify their despicable and vomitous actions against the Asian American community. You really shed light on this for me so thank you and good job!
I liked how you described the model minority with that specific quote from the article. It makes it easier to understand what a model minority is, saying how it would be like going to class and hoping that they would be your classmate. I also found it interesting how you mentioned racism through jokes and name-calling. Those are a few examples of racism that many people do on a daily basis, contributing to the problem of racism in our country.
I like the point you made about how Asian Americans (and other people of color) are expected to take the “jokes” made by other people lightly and not offensively. Words can be more hurtful than they seem, so even if one person thinks their “joke” is funny, the person it’s being directed toward will not interpret it the same way. Yet, at the same time, the victim of the joke is supposed to go along with it when that is not how they truly feel about the comment. Well done!