The term “model minority” was first used by sociologist William Peterson in an article. Peterson concluded that the Japanese culture, with the family values and strong work ethic, enabled Japanese Americans to overcome prejudice and avoid becoming a “troubled minority.” In other words, it refers to the Asian-American community as the ‘exemplary’ racialized community, by attributing the successes of them to Asian culture and values.
The myth of Asians as a model minority, based on the image of the success of a few elite individuals, has a very negative effect on the general population of Asian Americans. Various mental health concerns and psychological afflictions, such as threats to cultural identity, helplessness, feelings of marginalization, loneliness, hostility, and the perception of discrimination, remain uncorrected and hidden under the veneer of the model minority myth. Both the social and psychological forces to conform to the stereotype of the model minority exert inordinate pressure on Asian Americans.
The minority model thesis had become the general perceptions of the Asian American community that it had become a racial stereotype. The thesis not only served to silence Asian Americans’ claims for ongoing racial discrimination, but it often exaggerated and recast the success stories of Asian Americans as foreign threats. Racial discrimination can deprive minorities of fair opportunities in the United States and exaggerates the opportunities that have been available to minorities.
Besides, this also oppresses other racialized communities, ignores the persecutions to the Asian community such as class, gender, or diverse ability, and making us believe that excellence automatically leads to equality, which I believe is false.
Nguyen wrote that “the end of Asian Americans only happens with the end of racism and capitalism” because capitalism needs cheap labor, and because of the racist people. Nguyen believes that capitalism and racism are the root cause of this.
This essay makes me remember Huey Newton, the co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party, an organization that emerged in 1966 against racism and inequalities towards the racialized community in Oakland California. Huey was sentenced to six months in jail and 18 months of probation in 1967 on one charge. Around 5,000 protesters took to the streets to support Newton. One of the photos in this demonstration is Richard Aoki holding a sign: “Yellow Peril Supports Black Power.”
The expression portrayed the Asian-American community as a threat to the country’s white citizens. Later, the Asian American community appropriated this derogatory nickname and used it in their fight for rights. Richard Aoki was one of the activists who mobilized publicly and a legitimate member of the Black Panther Party and represented the alliances between racialized communities.
It is important to consider the past. Let’s remember our history to join forces between racialized communities, instead of dividing ourselves.
2 thoughts on “Blog 5”
Comments are closed.
I find it interesting that you mentioned the “Yellow Peril Supports Black Power” slogan. I read an article about the resurgence of it following death of George Floyd. It talked about how the slogan has become controversial in it’s modern use. Where it was once a way for Asian Americans to show solidarity, some now say it detracts from the BLM movement by mistakenly equating Asian and Black struggles.
I agree with you in your introduction. Often times this idea of the model minority leads some to feel as you put it, marginalized, and helpless. I can recall my junior and senior years of high school, where friends and family would pressure me to pursue a career in the medical field. I definitely remember feeling angered about this pressure, because of the stigmas surrounding Asians and their career paths.