In this pathbreaking book sociologists Rosalind Chou and Joe Feagin examine, for the first time in depth, racial stereotyping and discrimination daily faced by Asian Americans long viewed by whites as the model minority. Drawing on more than 40 field interviews across the country, they examine the everyday lives of Asian Americans in numerous different national origin groups. Their data contrast sharply with white-honed, especially media, depictions of racially untroubled Asian American success. Many hypocritical whites make sure that Asian Americans know their racially inferior place in U.S. society so that Asian people live lives constantly oppressed and stressed by white racism. The authors explore numerous instances of white-imposed discrimination faced by Asian Americans in a variety of settings, from elementary schools to college settings, to employment, to restaurants and other public accommodations. The responses of Asian Americans to the U.S. racial hierarchy and its rationalizing racist framing are traced with some Asian Americans choosing to conform aggressively to whiteness and others choosing to resist actively the imposition of the U.S. brand of anti-Asian oppression. This book destroys any naïve notion that Asian Americans are universally favored by whites and have an easy time adapting to life in this still racist society.
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This landmark work covers new research ground in documenting the significant yet unrecognized barriers of discrimination and marginalization faced by Asian Americans in the United States today. As an often invisible and silent minority, Asian Americans can at last find voice in this brilliant work that recognizes the reality of their experience. The courage, nobility, and honesty of the authors will assist all involved in the struggle for equity and inclusion. --Edna B. Chun, Broward Community College
Most Americans believe Asian Americans are content, do not suffer from discrimination, and are all in the path to whiteness. Chou and Feagin document convincingly with interview data that they are not content, suffer from discrimination, and are, for the most part, regarded as perpetual foreigners. Bravo to the authors for bringing to the fore the racial oppression endured by Asian Americans! --Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Duke University
Through a compelling analysis of white racism experienced by Asian Americans in their everyday lives, Chou and Feagin offer an insightful critique of research on assimilation that focuses on indicators of integration while ignoring the serious forms of racism examined in this book. --Leland T. Saito, University of Southern California
Most Americans believe Asian Americans are content, do not suffer from discrimination, and are all in the path to whiteness. Chou and Feagin document convincingly with interview data that they are not content, suffer from discrimination, and are, for the most part, regarded as perpetual foreigners. Bravo to the authors for bringing to the fore the racial oppression endured by Asian Americans! --Eduardo Bonilla-Silva, Duke University
Through a compelling analysis of white racism experienced by Asian Americans in their everyday lives, Chou and Feagin offer an insightful critique of research on assimilation that focuses on indicators of integration while ignoring the serious forms of racism examined in this book. --Leland T. Saito, University of Southern California
About the Author
Rosalind S. Chou spent six years working at a nonprofit camp for at-risk girls before moving to Texas in 2005 for graduate studies in sociology at Texas A&M University and to play rugby for the Austin Valkyries. Joe R. Feagin is Professor of sociology at Texas A&M University. He is author of 52 books, including Black in Blue: African-American Police Officers and Racism (Taylor and Francis 2007); and, most recently, Two-Faced Racism: White in the Backstage and Frontstage (Routledge 2007).
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By J. Furusho
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is the most comprehensive and accurate portrayal of the inherent racism prevalent in our society today. I have experienced a lot of the situations, particularly in school, K through college that this book writes about. A must read for all Asians and people of color because it raises greater awareness and hopefully more preventive measures taken to stop the systematic racism that occurs on a daily basis. Bravo to the authors on such a prolific book!
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Ernest
Format:Hardcover
The book explores the origins of the model minority concept and how it was developed by white elites during the 1960s as a way to affirm the American ideal that "anyone can make it" in order to respond to the Civil Rights Movement. Using information from Asian Americans that they interviewed, the authors refute the model minority concept by stating it is facile argument since Asian Americans come from many different cultures and national backgrounds and not all these cultures but a high value of education. Further, despite this concept, Feagin and Chou demonstrate that Asian Americans are often victims of hate crimes, are frequently discriminated against in spite of their abilities and do have poverty and unemployment rates higher than white Americans. They further assert that this concept is harmful to Asian Americans and may explain why many Asian American students commit suicide or drop out of school in high rates because of trying to live up to the stereotype. Lastly, they author conclude that this concept is a form of "divide and conquer" where America's racial minorities can fight to be America's favorite minority while white supremacy is safeguarded.
In addition to addressing the model minority myth, the authors assert that most white Americans have historically, and currently, seen Asian Americans as different and inferior. They write that Asian Americans are often excluded from white social groups and are made to feel inferior for maintaining their culture. In response to this, the writers note that many Asian Americans do not protest this discrimination for the fear of white retaliation and for the feeling that if they conform, they will be eventually accepted. Moreover, some Asian Americans have accepted white dominance as a fact of life. Because of these feelings, many Asian Americans abandon their ethnic heritage, marry white spouses, use surgery to look Caucasian and adopt the dominant white ideology, which causes many Asian Americans to develop pro-white sentiments while developing anti-black and Hispanic views.
So the book does not end on a pessimistic note, while noting that Asian Americans have not developed a strong counterframe to the dominant white ideology, the writers explores some of the ways that some of their interviewees have fought back against white supremacy, which can serve as a guide for Asian Americans to develop a racial consciousness and fight white racism.
I highly recommend this book. With the increase of immigration from Asian and Latin American countries, sociologists need to move beyond the white-black binary analysis which has been dominant in the past and show how other racial groups have been affected by the dominant white racial ideology. The use of interviews make this book every easy to read. This is a much needed book in response to the view of most Americans that Asian Americans are honorary white model minorities that prove that anyone can make it in American society.
In addition to addressing the model minority myth, the authors assert that most white Americans have historically, and currently, seen Asian Americans as different and inferior. They write that Asian Americans are often excluded from white social groups and are made to feel inferior for maintaining their culture. In response to this, the writers note that many Asian Americans do not protest this discrimination for the fear of white retaliation and for the feeling that if they conform, they will be eventually accepted. Moreover, some Asian Americans have accepted white dominance as a fact of life. Because of these feelings, many Asian Americans abandon their ethnic heritage, marry white spouses, use surgery to look Caucasian and adopt the dominant white ideology, which causes many Asian Americans to develop pro-white sentiments while developing anti-black and Hispanic views.
So the book does not end on a pessimistic note, while noting that Asian Americans have not developed a strong counterframe to the dominant white ideology, the writers explores some of the ways that some of their interviewees have fought back against white supremacy, which can serve as a guide for Asian Americans to develop a racial consciousness and fight white racism.
I highly recommend this book. With the increase of immigration from Asian and Latin American countries, sociologists need to move beyond the white-black binary analysis which has been dominant in the past and show how other racial groups have been affected by the dominant white racial ideology. The use of interviews make this book every easy to read. This is a much needed book in response to the view of most Americans that Asian Americans are honorary white model minorities that prove that anyone can make it in American society.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
One of my graduate classes required me to look into "Asian Issues", so I bought a few books on amazon and this one really captured my attention. It was easy to read, it gave great examples/real life experiences, I could hardly put it down. It is also a great length if you are a busy person who wants to read a book that just gets to the point. I definitely recommend this book for all people. We should all strive to learn more about the issues people face, especially the often ignored/looked over Asian issues. Hope you enjoy this book as much as I did.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than I knew (and I'm Asian)
If you're worried that this book will not be accessible for people who know about social rights, but aren't Asian, I don't think you should worry that much. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Rachel
5.0 out of 5 stars
Amazing
I'm doing research on positive racial identity in multiethnic multiracial Asian children. This book was/is an amazing resource for my study in specifically naming the stereotypes... Read more
Published 6 months ago by risingsong
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book
Super fast delivery. brand new book as described. Will def. do business w/ again.
Published on February 2, 2009 by Phi Nguyen
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