The Intersectionality of Black and Yellow Bodies: Why Ferguson SHOULD Matter to Asian Americans

Brina Sylve

ASA 2 - A02

April 4, 2015

Week 2

 

There is an intersectionality between Asian and African American experiences in America that clearly goes un-talked about. So much so that I was more shocked and awed by fellow classmates in their responses to Soya Jung's article "Why Ferguson Matters to Asian Americans" then I was by the event and article itself, therefore I would like to address some of the arguments made by fellow classmates in correlation with my response to Jung's article.

 

First of all, for those who may not know what intersectionality means, it describes the study of systems of intersection of oppression, domination or discrimination and the interactions which constantly reinforce each other. So when I claim that there is intersectionality between Black and Yellow bodies, I am describing the experiences of oppression and discrimination that Black and Asian peoples have faced in the United States on account of their race. Although there are different presumptions made about their race, it is the fact that there are presumptions attached to the races at all is the case.

 

This intersectionality is something that Jung tries to argue that must be recognized in the article. But the possibilities of solidarity amongst Asian Americans with Ferguson are threatened by the pervasiveness of Model Minority dogma. The dogma of the Model Minority theory is described as a way to pit Asian Americans against other minority groups, to make it so that Asian Americans believe that they are not a threat to the hegemonic society and blend into mainstream culture. Thus in order to not become a threat to the hegemonic society there has to be some sort of acceptance of anti-blackness amongst the masses, which is supported by Jung when she argues that "Japanese and Chinese American organizations and leaders were active in creating the model minority myth, and they embraced anti-blackness."

 

Therefore because the nation is "moving toward two societies, one black, one white - separate and unequal" Asian Americans are thrown into this "chasm between blackness and whiteness." And in this chasm there is invisibility, rewards of non-blackness, and complicity.

 

So when my fellow classmates claim that Ferguson doesn't mean anything to them, or that race issues are only an issue between whites and blacks so Asian Americans simply have nothing to do with this issue... they are throwing themselves into the chasm. They also fail to realize that Asian American history itself, like African American experience, is inherently political. What do I mean by 'inherently political'? I mean that for centuries Asian Americans have constantly had to defend their existence and position in United States society in their struggle against inequality and discrimination. And those who fail to see how Ferguson affects Asian Americans have so embraced anti-blackness promoted by the Model Minority that they even fail to see how Asian American history is scarred with oppression and inequality but was met with RESISTANCE.

 

This same resistance must be met with the racially charged oppression that is Ferguson. There is an intersection of a desire for an end to state endorsed violence and discrimination between the Black and Asian American community, but when one falls into the chasm, this desire cannot be achieved -- making your own history or even your own death invisible.

 

 

 

Why shouldn't Ferguson matter to Asian Americans?