Asian American Mythology and Pathways to Solidarity

Asian Americans in the U.S. are often considered the ‘model’ minority due to their perceived success compared to other racial minority groups. However, this mythology creates barriers for Asian Americans in fostering solidarity with other racially marginalized groups (i.e., intra-minority solidarity) and with Asian Americans of different ethnic backgrounds (i.e., inter-ethnic solidarity). One barrier is the presumption that Asian Americans do not experience racial discrimination, suggesting racism no longer exists. Another is the erasure of the ethnic diversity of Asian Americans, ignoring the experiences of some ethnic subgroups. We argue that raising awareness about Asian Americans’ historical and contemporary experiences that contradict the model minority myth can overcome these barriers. Learning that Asian Americans have and currently experience racism can promote intra-minority solidarity. Highlighting ethnic variation in immigration patterns and experiences can promote inter-ethnic solidarity. Critically, myth-busting of this kind can create collective action movements across U.S. racial groups.