Welcome to DAY 4 of the 5-Day Equity Challenge - Stereotypes and the Impact of Assimilation

“In the midst of advocacy against racism, this was a very convenient tool. Elevating Asian Americans as a model minority essentially absolved white systems from taking real accountability for the inequities they've created." ― Richard Lee

Day Four

Stereotypes and the Impact of Assimilation

Stereotyping as a form of potent racism often falls under the radar. Members of the AAPI community frequently find themselves labeled as “model minorities.” While users of this term might intend to compliment Asian Americans, the derogatory connotations of the label effectively dehumanize the entire community and emphasize a failure to see its members as human. Today’s content will focus on the many ways in which this stereotype can harm the AAPI community.

READ

How the Model Minority Myth holds Asian Americans Back at Work (5 Minute Read)

For decades, the model minority myth has kept Asian Americans out of important equity conversations and held members of the community back from equal opportunity in academia, the workforce and necessary government welfare.

Why I Stopped Believing in 'Putting My Head Down' and Assimilating as an Asian American (5 Minute Read)

Less than 24 hours after I came to the U.S., my name had changed to Jason. I would not come to realize what I lost that day until decades later.

LISTEN

"Asian Enough" A talk with Kamala Harris (32 mins)

A conversation with Democratic U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris about the recent rise in anti-Asian hate, how government leaders should address racism in America, and growing up with Indian and Jamaican roots in Northern California.

"Too Foreign for Here, Too Foreign for Home" (60 mins)

Bohan Phoenix is a musician who hails from Hubei, China. This episode touches on so many emotionally charged topics! We discuss COVID-related discrimination directed at people from Wuhan, finding self-acceptance through hip-hop and Asian support for BLM. Bohan also opens up about the artistic challenges of being authentic without exoticizing yourself and relearning to embrace Asian culture.

WATCH

I Am Not Your Asian Stereotype (9:38 mins)

Bad driver. Math wizard. Model minority. In this hilarious and insightful talk, eighteen-year-old Canwen Xu shares her Asian-American story of breaking stereotypes, reaffirming stereotypes, and driving competently on her way to buy rice.

What Pacific Islanders Want You to Know (5:23 mins)

"I had to teach myself about myself".

REFLECT

Reflect

How do stereotypes harm members of the AAPI community even if they are seemingly complimentary?

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