We Have Some Work To Do
By Katherine M. Lee
President, Council of Asian Pacific Americans
On December 5th I attended an Affirmative Action rally in Detroit that featured 15 or 20 very prominent speakers from a diverse background. One of them, who seemed to command a great deal of respect from his fellow speakers and the audience, spoke favorably of Affirmative Action, no surprise there.
He spoke of how it has helped minority students get admitted to Universities, again no surprise.
Then he said “look at the number of Asian students at the University of Michigan, they might as well take over the university, they might as well call it Asian University!” … “Asian students are known to be very good in studying hard… but NOTHING ELSE!!!”
Big surprise there.
“What did he just say???” I asked myself in disbelief!
A young Asian man sitting in front of me was equally struck by the comment. He immediately spoke up and said: “You are stereotyping the Asian Pacific Americans!”
I have to thank him for speaking up.
The speaker responded by referencing an article from the Wall Street Journal that describes what is happening in Cupertino, California where Caucasians have taken their children out of some schools to avoid competition with Asian Americans (“The New White Flight”, By Suein Hwang, The Wall Street Journal: November 19, 2005).
After the program, I waited in line to speak with this gentleman. As I shook his hand and introduced myself as President of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans, I asked him “How can I help to change your perspective of Asian Pacific Americans”.
His reply, “Oh! let me send you this article,” was more than a little disappointing.
I left with a heavy heart tinged with more than a little anger, but I didn’t realize just how much impact his statement had on me until I realized I was walking in circles looking for my car. I stopped there on the street and asked myself what to do about the anger.
Should I go back and throw some stereotypes about African Americans back at him?
Should I demand an open apology on behalf of all Asian Pacific Americans?
Should I tell him about the Association of Chinese Americans Essay Award Dinner where more than 30 Asian High School students who had been honored achieved 4.0 grade point averages while participating in three or more extracurricular activities?
I finally found my car and started home, and two thoughts came to my mind as I was driving:
First, we have to help one individual, the speaker, who should be our friend, overcome his prejudices about Asian Pacific Americans, so he will stop saying such hurtful, untrue, things about us.
Second, and far more important, we need to start doing a much better job of educating the whole community about Asian Pacific Americans. That’s the only way to defeat the stereotypes so our children won’t have to live with them.
I immediately called our Education Committee Chair, Tai Chan, and then Frank Wu, Dean of the
Law School at Wayne State University for their ideas.
I also very much need your comments and suggestions for ways to achieve both goals. Now that the anger has subsided, I really don’t think individual actions taken against the speaker would be helpful or productive, and I ask you to refrain from them.
We, Asian Pacific Americans, need to work together to overcome the stereotypes that infect even those who should be our friends. I now know more than ever that we must, and I truly believe we can.
Thank you for letting me vent.
Now, let’s get on with the job.
Disclaimer
The views expressed in the editorials are solely of the individual author and are not necessarily those of the Council of Asian Pacific Americans or its members.
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