How does the model minority myth enable Asian American assimilation and invisibility? Perhaps more important is: how are Asian Americans wittingly or unwittingly enabling the model minority idea and thus contributing to our own invisibility?
Asian Americans
Aziz Ansari confronts racism on Saturday Night Live
An eloquent, to the point piece from Aziz Ansari from last night’s Saturday Night Live. He names the racist insurgency emerging today with seriousness and humor. Nicely done, Mr. Ansari.
NYTimes: Aziz Ansari’s Monologue on ‘Saturday Night Live’: Transcript
NYTimes: Hey, Steve Harvey, Who Says I Might Not Steal Your Girl?
From Eddie Huang, a spot-on commentary on the predicament of Asian Asian American life in White (and sometimes Black) America.
#MyAsianAmericanStory: Speaking Out Against Political Nonsense
Maybe I shouldn’t be surprised by anything that happens in American politics anymore especially since presidential politics in the U.S. has entered a new level of silliness, but I was taken aback by Jeb Bush’s use of the derogatory and inflammatory anchor babies label against Asians. I get his desire to out-Trump Donald Trump these days, since he is lagging in the Republican primary polls under the scorching heat of Trump-Ra. But let’s call it as it is: he probably didn’t want to offend (perhaps even further) Latinos/as who he will need to have a chance in hell to be elected president, so he picks on Asians and Asian Americans thinking (in a not so well-thought out way) that maybe no one will care–after all, Asians are pretty quiet and compliant, aren’t we?#MyAsianAmericanStory is one small way of expressing that Asian Americans are no longer willing to let such slights go by unanswered. Asian Americans: Invisible no longer– let’s hope so.
For more on the #MyAsianAmericanStory, take a look at this L.A. Times piece.
And today’s New York Times editorial is one of the better ones I’ve read in a long while. The editorial board provides an insightful critique of the Asian anchor babies comment. Good for them.