Disrupting the model minority myth to support Black Lives Matter
By: Lydia Guo
Tags: BlackLivesMatter, Model Minority Myth, Asian Culture, Model Minority, Asian American

Originally posted on the Facebook group “subtle asian traits”

I am grateful for how Black Lives Matter highlights the systemic racism deeply entrenched in our administration, law enforcement, and communities in the United States. I cannot speak to the experience of being Black in America — I will never be able to fully comprehend how much discrimination and injustice Black people face in America. I am by no means an expert in matters of race and politics, but I hope that my post can foster more discussions on why Asian-Americans or Asian Pacific Americans need to be a better ally for Black and Latinx communities.

I am a Chinese-American woman who grew up in Mason, Ohio. For most of my childhood, I was surrounded by a 90%, cornhole playing, spray-tanning white community. In 4th grade, a student asked, “Can you speak English?” and before I could reply, “Duh, I was born here,” the teacher started class and I silently glared at him for the rest of the year. In 7th grade, someone joked, “Haha, Chinese people eat dogs. Oh my god, did I offend you, Lydia?” Through gritted teeth, I merely replied, “Nope.” I could continue the list of aggressions and microaggressions I faced growing up as a minority in extra-white Ohio, but at each and every turn, I always silently accepted the racial slurs. Why didn’t I fight back and call out their racism?

Growing up, I was always told by my immigrant parents to keep my head down and just focus on my studies. My East Asian appearance allowed others to assume that I was good at math and played piano or violin. As a child, I remember feeling frustrated that others would make assumptions based on my appearance, but they were positive assumptions, right? So I stayed silent, accepting and internalizing racist stereotypes that perpetuate the model minority myth.

The model minority myth has been championed by many Asian-Americans as a positive stereotype and reflection of Asian-American success by white America. In actuality, the model minority myth is a dangerous excuse for Asian-Americans to remain silent in an attempt to accept the status quo. In actuality, the model minority myth allows institutionalized racism to confine Asian-Americans within a set of prejudiced stereotypes.

But the status quo is unacceptable. Institutionalized racism affects Asian-Americans but hurts Black and Latinx communities far more. We as Asian-Americans must use our privilege to act as allies to other people of color. Silence is a privilege that we can no longer afford. In order to combat institutionalized racism in police brutality, disproportionate COVID-19 deaths, and countless unnamed issues that affect people of color, Asian-Americans must disrupt the model minority myth and use our voice in allyship with Black and Latinx communities. Now, more than ever, we must stop hiding under the model minority myth to speak out against racial injustice and enact change.

Taking action can come in a variety of forms — our daily interactions, protesting, signing petitions, donations, reaching out to politicians, learning more from Black activists, and more. Here are just a few of many great resources to explore:

MORE FOR ASIAN AMERICANS

20+ Allyship Actions for Asians to Show Up for the Black Community Right Now

It’s time for Asian Americans to unite in solidarity with black Americans

It’s time for Asian Americans to shed the ‘model minority’ myth and stand for George Floyd

Asian Americans Advancing Justice

WAYS TO TAKE ACTION

(specific links to petitions, policymakers, and fundraisers are listed in these compilations)

100 ways you can take action against racism right now

Official George Floyd Memorial Fund

Minnesota Freedom Fund

I Run With Maud

Justice for Breonna Taylor Petition

Campaign Zero

Reclaim the Block

National Bail Out