This week’s readings contained topics that allowed me to reflect and connect with my own personal experiences. Specifically, the reading about factors influencing college choice is relatable because there are similar reasons to my own college choice experience. The theme of the week revolves around myths, and two of those myths are Asian Americans being harmed by Affirmative Action and the notion of the Tiger Mom parenting heavily influencing their child.
Allred discusses affirmative action and how Asian Americans are often sidelined in the debate when it is argued through a white/black lens. It was interesting to read how Asian American relations to whites are formed out of convenience for them. At one moment, Asian Americans are “allies” with whites when they hold us up as model minorities and victims of affirmative action. But Asian Americans can easily become a threat or “modern yellow peril” to whites when they perceive too much success. In either case, whites use Asian Americans as a vehicle to preserve their power and privilege. When Asian Americans are labeled as model minorities, it pits us against other racial groups. When Asian Americans are the “yellow peril,” the term arises because whites perceive a threat to their authority. If Asian Americans ascend up in the hierarchy, it will consequently challenge whites hold on power. Whites’ interaction with Asian Americans revolves around the power structure they seek to uphold.
I can relate to the factors that influence college choice discussed by OiYan and Byrd. Since I am a first-generation college-bound student in my family, I could not rely on my parents as a resource for the college application process. However, I did seek advice from my older sister since she went through the process herself. Although my parents were not a resource for the application process, they had a prominent role in the selection of my college choice. My parents insisted that I go to a university close to home, so that narrowed my choices within the state. These are a few of the similarities between my own experience and the findings of the study.
Question: What is the critical inflection point where white perception towards Asian Americans change from "model minority" to the "modern yellow peril?"
References:
Allred, N.C. (2007, January). Asian Americans and Affirmative Action: From Yellow Peril to Model Minority and Back Again. Asian American Law Journal.
OiYan, P. and Byrd, A. (2013). Beyond Tiger Mom Anxiety: Ethnic, Gender and Generational Differences in Asian American College Access and Choices. Journal of College Admissions.
Lee, J. (2017) APPI Data: Bachelor's Degree or Higher [Image]. Retrieved from https://thesocietypages.org/specials/cultural-lag-and-the-fallacy-of-asian-americans-as-the-model-minority/
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