The Model Minority - Rithu’s Take

The term “model minority” has popped up frequently over the last couple of months. At first, I wasn’t even quite sure what that meant and wasn’t even sure that it applied to me.

“A model minority is a minority demographic (whether based on ethnicity, race or religion) whose members are perceived as achieving a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the population average, thus serving as a reference group to outgroups”

Most times this success is measured by educational, professional, and societal achievements. As a South Asian immigrant, I cannot tell you the number of times I was expected to excel above and beyond my peers in every aspect of my existence. I was a walking example of the model minority myth. These expectations were a default.

In high school, it was getting into the best universities possible. In university, it was making sure I got a post-secondary degree. Now as a working adult, it’s time to make sure that I’m married and settling down.

I sincerely believed that if I worked hard enough and met those expectations that I could overcome and accomplish anything. 

I think about the times I would jokingly say, “I want the power and influence of a mediocre white man” to my friends, but the fact of the matter is, that I do not and will not have that privilege my entire life. 

But moments like the horrific Atlanta shootings that happened earlier this year, put things into perspective.

Racism directed towards the Asian community DOES not fall under the model minority all of the time. Violence and discrimination is just as paramount as it was demonstrated during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In How White People Can Help Dismantle The Model Minority Myth, Jeff Raikes states the harms behind the myth.

“The myth harms in two ways. The first is the creation of an Asian
(American) monolith, to which any number of stereotypes can be attributed. The myth fails to recognize the rich differences within the Asian (American) diaspora based on language, cultural heritage, national origin, and religion, among other attributes. 

The second is to undergird an argument that structural racism simply doesn’t exist. That fallacy goes something like this, ‘If Asian (American) can be successful in America, then Black people should be able to do the same.’ Following this line of thinking, some people can then lay the blame for racial inequities at the feet of Black people in particular, as well as Indigenous and other communities of colour.”

In my youth, I have definitely been guilty of both of these harms. But what I have learned is that this myth is perpetuated only further divides the Asian community from the remaining outgroups of POCs. Not everything is sunshine and rainbows on this side, and the model minority only helps further the damage of white supremacy. 

Resources

• How White People Can Help Dismantle the Model Minority Myth

• “Model Minority” Myth Again Used As a Racial Wedge Between Asians and Blacks

• The ‘model minority’ myth hurts Asian Americans - and even leads to violence

• I wanted to do things perfectly: How the model minority myth affects me and other Asian people

If you want to learn more about AAPI issues, organizations, topics, and more check out Irving’s recommendations below.

• Red Canary Song

• Swan Vancouver

• Yo, Is This Racist

• made in

Black Lives Still Matter - Rithu’s Take

Annika and I had talked long and hard about doing a BLM episode on CHITTALK. I vividly remember us having this conversation one year ago back when George Floyd had been murdered. At the time, we strongly believed that time was of the essence and that we needed to act now. 

One of the ideas we cycled through was hosting a panel of BIPOC friends and people to have a Q&A/debate style episode where we discussed issues around police brutality and anti-blackness. We wanted to make sure that a variety of voices were heard on our platform and also educate those who are new to the work of social activism.

But as time rolled on, we were learning more and more every single day and it didn’t feel feasible for us to do an episode when everyone was raw, resting, and grieving. It wasn’t fair for us to ask our friends to educate others at such length without considering how gravely it could endanger their mental health.

From some of the conversations I have had with my black and indigenous friends over the last year as well as education of my own, I have learned so much about activism, allyship, and accountability really truly look like. 

One of the phrases you may have heard in the last couple of weeks; accountability versus justice. 

In an article by Kara Jillian Brown in Well + Good, she references a tweet from Bernie Sanders, in response to the verdict of Derek Chauvin, “Real justice for him (George Floyd) and too many others can only happen when we build a nation that fundamentally respects the human dignity of every person”. 

So if accountability is retroactive, then justice MUST be proactive right? How do we get to a point where justice is the norm?

Justice would be an institution in which persons of colour are not targeted for violence or inequality. One of the things we dive into in our episode with Priscilla is the importance of learning, reading, and constantly engaging in this work. 

I encourage you to be vulnerable and raw in your learning; I know both Annika and I did, so trust me when I say you’re not alone.

Resources

• Accountability is only the first step towards justice

• The verdict in Derek Chauvin’s Trial Highlights the Painful Difference Between Justice and Accountability

• Resources from Black Lives Matter

• Anti-racism resources

• My personal favourite newsletter - Anti-Racism Daily

• A Twitter Thread of Black Writing

• Saddie Baddies Resources - access to phone lines, readings and more!