Asians in the Ivory Tower: Dilemmas of Racial Inequality in American Higher Education - Robert T. Teranishi
Current Issues in Asian and Pacific American Eduction - Russell Endo, clara C. Park, and John Nobuya Tsuchida
Unraveling the “Model Minority” Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth - Stacey J. Lee
The Deathly Embrace: Orientalism and Asian American Identity - Sheng-Mei Ma
The Hyphenated American - John C. Papajohn
Model-Minority Imperialism - Victor Bascara
Chains of Babylon: The Rise of Asia America - Daryl J. Maeda
In Defense of Asian American Studies - Sucheng Chan
Playing the Race Card - George J. Sefa Dei, Leene Luke Karumanchery, and Nisha Karumanchery-Luik
Asian American Dreams - Helen Zia
You experience life through a smaller lens based on life experiences
- where they’re from
- upbringing
- religion
- peer encounters
- sexuality
According to scholars at the Frameworks Institute, framing is how people make sense of and process information about the social world by developing mental shortcuts. These shortcuts derive from our prior experiences (including second-hand experiences) and shape how we see the world. These mental shortcuts rely on “frames”, or small sets of internalized concepts and values that we use to make meaning out of unfolding events.
White Racial Frame
1. Racial Stereotypes (a beliefs aspect)
- Who has power? Who makes the stereotypes?
- People of color internalize this White Racial Frame
- “He chose to whiten himself and his company because he would maximize his success” -Frank, a CEORacism in the PoC communities creates tension and hate.
2. Racial Narratives and Interpretations (integrating cognitive aspect)
- News reports of a black man looting and two white people finding food during Katrina.
- Depending on who is giving the narrative, racial stereotypes and language
3. Racial Images (a visual aspect) and language
- White men with guns > colored people with guns
- Terrorism as a brown-only occurrence. Timothy McVey of the Oklahoma bombing.
- KKK
- In the fight for unity and human freedom, the same people who demand equality and freedom are branded dangerous and evil.
- Yul Kwan told he wasn’t “the image of an American hero” on Survivor
4. Racialized Emotions
- People of Color are angry, irrational, and overemotional.
- White people are painted as angelic and logical.
- Emotional disconnection between oppressor and oppressed. No grasp of reality between cultural lines.
5. Inclinations to Discriminatory Actions
- Remarley Graham
- People are primed to make these ideas a reality when it’s a false idea.
The Material Reality
Material racial inequality exists among so many qualities of life, wealth, income, property ownership, unemloyment, life expectancy, infant mortality rate, healthcare access, poverty rates, educational attainment, etc. We are actors in a system and while individual people may not have extreme ideas, the small ones add up to a general racist society.
Counter Frames
- White crafted “liberty and justice” frame.
a. Relies on language within American constitution and how it applies to the oppressed.
b. Neo-Conservative Right uses this to support a Reverse Racism argument
- Anti-oppression counter-frames of Americans of color
- Well developed by black community
- Lack of a counter-frame within APIA community because we lack a common understanding of history.
- Home-culture frames that Americans of color have drawn on in developing their counter frames.
Comfort of living in a community where people come from the same place.
Clashes with mainstream American culture.
The “Diplomatic” Method: Try having an intelligent conversation, or even a heart-to-heart. Suggest some readings that may enlighten them.
The “Boundaries” Method: Set clear boundaries with your friends. If they cannot respect them, retaining a “close” friend that thinks it is acceptable to demean you, for any reason, after you have explained that their actions are hurtful, is not a friend worth having.
“This Ain’t My Job” Method: It is a burden to try and convince people that racism exists. It is not your job to convince them because hegemonic ideology will contradict your points, making them all look illogical. Walk away.
All in all, I was disappointed in the workshop. I know that the speaker was unable to make it and ECAASU did all that they could to adjust, but the opportunity to discuss and really dissect white supremacy and racist framing in today’s society was squandered. The anger and frustration that I know bubbles in our community needs a way out, and I was hoping that we would be able to light the spark that starts the fire that will lead to real and tangible CHANGE. Instead, crucial topics were glossed over, racial stereotypes and police profiling was briefly mentioned, and the pictures that could have ignited great conversation were pointed at and then passed over. When addressing the Pete Hoekstra ad, the elements of fear mongering and using Asians as an indistinguishable people were not mentioned whatsoever. It’s extremely important that we tie these racist acts to the violence of the past and present. What about the attacks on students in Philadelphia? What about Vincent Chin? Danny Chen? Senseless violence and brutality deliberately aimed towards people of color as a result of white racial framing? I’m sure that this could have been something spectacular and unforeseen events occurred.
Couldn’t disagree more. I’m not even sure why I even follow you, Mayweather.
The media does focus a lot on race no doubt interwoven with Jeremy Lin’s whole story of being undrafted, being cut from two teams, etc. But I also feel like this is another case where other people of color don’t think Asians don’t face prejudice or racism. Mayweather doesn’t go into the context and bigger picture. Basketball—the NBA is a mainstream sports environment dominated by black and white men and where Asian males in society are many times stereotyped emasculated, seen as nerdy, unathletic, etc. But here comes comes Jeremy Lin, who has been reportedly been faced with racist taunts during games by opposing fans, achieving great things no Asian Americans have really conquered when it comes to the NBA despite all that. Just like Obama when he became the first Black president to get elected to office. Jeremy Lin has made a landmark in history.
This is why we can’t have nice things because sometimes we can’t even support each other and instead pit people against each other (both white and POC). We all have individual and unique experiences in all different levels, but a lot of what different POCs face in America are similar in the grander scheme of things.
THIS.
Great article
Register for
Listen to the Silence: Find Your Roots, Derive Your Identity
Where: Cubberley Auditorium
When: Saturday, February 18, 2012
Mission Statement
The United States is one of the world’s most diverse nations with a wide array of nationalities, races, ethnicities. Because of this, one’s identity can easily come into question. It is not only important to remember our roots, but also to not be afraid to take pride in them. When asked to check a box identifying our ethnicity, many of us feel constrained by the limited options available to us, such as with the 2010 Census. Many found this difficult because our individuality cannot possibly be contained by any general classification. An identity is like a fingerprint: no two are the same.
At this year’s Listen to the Silence conference, we hope you will come to a better understanding of your own identity and the identities of those around you, and how that guides your efforts in advancing equality in your communities. Almost two-thirds of Asian Americans were born in a foreign country, carrying parts of their homeland with them to their experiences in America. We all have our own stories and experiences, seen through the lenses of our respective generations, where we grew up, our gender, sexuality, so there clearly is no formula for this so-called “identity.” However, even though we come from different walks of life, there are many different aspects of self that we all share, united by common causes. With this, we can find a common ground to unite in solidarity, build coalitions within and beyond our ethnic communities, and together, be active participants in advocating for social justice.
Keynote: David Monkawa
David Monkawa is a “2.5” generational Japanese American, born in Japan to a Hawai’i-born Nisei father and Japanese immigrant mother. Culturally growing up as a third generation Sansei, Monkawa became angry at all of the ”accumulated historical oppression against JA’s and working people” throughout history, his own family included. He channeled his angry energy into motivation to help change the system, wanting to help bring the best compensation possible for those wronged. He became Co-Chair of the Nikkei for Civil Rights and Redress (NCRR) in the late 1980s and early 90’s. He is inspired most by youth becoming socially aware and committing themselves to bring about fundamental structural change in theUnited States. Monkawa studied at California Institute of the Arts, currently works as an Asst. Organizing Director for the California Nurses Association, and has three children.
Workshops
9:30 - 10:45 AM:
Born to Gamble? The Hidden Addiction (NICOS Chinese Health Coalition)
A Shattered Reflection: A Lack of Cultural Education (TECC)
Stereotypes and Racial Profiling: Asian Americans in Popular Culture (Alternative Spring Break - Asian American Issues)
Powerlessness: On Reclaiming a Damaged Identity by Overcoming Natural Disasters in the Asian Pacific Rim (Stanford Pilipino American Student Union)
Tracing our Journey- the Vietnamese American Experience (Stanford Vietnamese Student Association)
Bravery In and Out of Combat: The 442nd Regimental Combat Team (Stanford University Nikkei)
2:00 - 3:15 PM:
Asian Frat Boys & Sorority Girls - How Asian American Greek Life Has Shaped Our Identities (Lambda Phi Epsilon Fraternity Inc.)
Art, Activism, and the International Hotel (Stanford Asian American Activism Committee)
Dyrty Talk (Queer & Asian @ SJSU)
Asian Americans in Politics and Activism (Stanford Taiwanese Cultural Society)
find hardboiled’s roots. derive the significance of ethnic press (hardboiled, UC Berkeley)
Combating Human Trafficking at the Frontiers of Vietnam (Pacific Links Foundation)
Behind the Curtains- Domestic Violence in the Asian American Community (Sigma Psi Zeta)
3:30 - 4:45 PM:
Where My Queer Asians At? (Queer and Asian at Stanford (Q&A))
Catching the ”Silent Killer” in the API community (Stanford Team HBV)
Character Improv and Comedy (UC Berkeley / Theatre Rice)
Agent Orange in Vietnam, Chemicals in America (VIET Fellows)
Making the News (AAGSA)
Wage Theft (Chinese Progressive Association)
API Movement Building and Asian American History (Stanford Dept. of Asian American Studies)
As some of you know, I am extremely involved with the higher education campaign (especially in New York). The organizations I work with most, Save Our SUNY and New York Students Rising, focus on the public education systems in New York City and New York State. When I was at the White House AAPI Initiative briefing earlier this month, I asked the higher education panel about how the failures of America’s higher education institutes affect the APIA community. The response I mostly received was that “higher education is an American issue, not solely an Asian American issue”.
I don’t think that’s right. As I replied back to the panel, the issues of college affordability, program cuts, financial aid, and the quality of the education we receive is very much an APIA issue. By blanketing problems as “American problems”, the crucial factors of how race and ethnicity play into the situation are ignored.
Let’s think back on this year: we’ve had students deliberately not marking ‘Asian’ in order to get into college. We’ve had anti-affirmative action bake sales. We found out that Asians are statistically the most bullied in schools. Asian American studies programs are being cut nationwide.
Speaking on what I know best, the fight to preserve funding for New York’s state schools is just as much about preserving an accessible education for communities of color. By raising tuition in an institution (City Universities of New York for example), blocks out potential students from low income communities. CUNY, which used to be free, was and is sometimes the only chance for people to go to college. The same can be said for California’s CSU system.
Education is a right, not a privilege. It shouldn’t be something that we have to fight for, but reality shows that the road to education access is long and hard. We have great legislation like the DREAM Act that challenges existing notions of who “deserves” an education and fights for our people.
So now let me turn this question to you: do you think higher education is purely an American issue?
Open your eyes. Learn, get involved, and MOVE.
That is precisely how I feel when I consider my own journey, my own family’s travels. For here I am now, standing in a new country. Not as an expatriate or a resident alien, but as a citizen. And as I survey this realm — this Republic of Privilege — I realize certain things, things that my mother and father might also have realized about their new country a generation ago. I realize that my entry has yielded me great opportunities. I realize, as well, that my route of entry has taken a certain toll. I have neglected my ancestral heritage. I have lost something. Yes, I can speak some Mandarin and stir-fry a few easy dishes. I have been to China and know something of its history. Still, I could never claim to be Chinese at the core.
Yet neither would I claim, as if by default, to be merely “white inside.” I do not want to be white. I only want to be integrated. When I identify with white people who wield economic and political power, it is not for their whiteness but for their power. When I imagine myself among white people who influence the currents of our culture, it is not for their whiteness but for their influence. When I emulate white people who are at ease with the world, it is not for their whiteness but for their ease. I don’t like it that the people I should learn from tend so often to be white, for it says something damning about how opportunity is still distributed. But it helps not at all to call me white for learning from them. It is cruel enough that the least privileged Americans today have colored skin, the most privileged fair. It is crueler still that by our very language we should help convert this fact into rule. The time has come to describe assimilation as something other than the White Way of Being.
Shit White Guys Say to Brown Guys
Here’s a cute little website from PBS about race and whether or not it’s a social construct!
