6/10 rethinking schools......."Superachievers" vs "Superpredators"

"Superachievers" vs "Superpredators": How the Racist Love of the Model Minority Is Weaponized against Black and Asian American Students.

By Wayne Au 

( click the author to read the article)

The author's main point:

That systemic racism holds up one race in a positive light to shame other races and invalidate the presence of racism in America.  A positive light that hides within it a infra-red laser that is slowly burning a hole in the "host race" damaging it all while it is using it for "dirty work".  Intentionally causing racial tension among the non white cultures.  All negative attention/action is diverted and shared among non white races, who are all suffering the same mistreatment, instead of directly routing to the systemically racist system that created all this mess in the first place. It is not even good to be the model minority, it suffers the same painful existence in silence, because lets face it being an achiever, may not be "heaven" is better than being a predator in America.

Why I choose this article:

I understood ethnic studies to be the study of races and culture and the history that comes with them.  I supported learning about non white culture and the history of exploring this world. I supported including this in our education foundation.  I will be honest I did not fully understand the ideology of ethnic studies until I read the article last week for home work, The Academic and Social Value of Ethnic Studies (sleeter).  This article stood out to me after watching the Precious Knowledge documentary. The video brought the article to life.  It was this video that helped me process all that ethnic studies is about and the powerful impact it can have as a part of the education curriculum.    I read this article and I am so interested in the idea of spreading cultural awareness and historic race  truth.  

Just a few things that stood out in this article for me were: 

1.  It must be recognized that the Chinese and other Orientals in California were faced with even more prejudice that faces the Negro today....The Orientals came back, and today they have established themselves as strong contributors to the health of the whole community." ---------  Chinese Americans are moving ahead on their own- with  no help from anyone else because they are willing to work at any job, "don't sit around" moaning about their situation, are good citizens with strong families and they are obedient and hard working at school and employment.----- all while implicitly suggesting that Black people were the opposite.

This is the model minority, the Asian race known for their intelligence and family morals among other positive titles they are allowed to carry.  But is it fair to compare the races to shame and mentally abuse another race.  Did these articles mention that most Chinese immigrants are degree holding professionals with families that are allowed to come to America to utilize their achievements obtained abroad.  That wealthy immigrants from Asia were also allowed entry once they funded a business or some other capitalist dream, therefore given certain privileges upon arrival that would "protect" them from the poverty in America.  Asians not necessarily happy about being the "model" but not opposed to the limited access to privilege (not the real privilege by the way the non-white privilege) 

DO WE SEE A COMMON THEME IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS........ another distraction, lies and hiding the truth.

2. Further, by both tacit and explicit implication, so-called "problem minorities"- especially Black Americans- just need to stop complaining, take note of Asian American success, and simply realize that racism is not really a problem.  This the model minority stereotype was born in 1966 of racism, white supremacy, and anti-blackness.

This article was so interesting and I was flabbergasted at how much systemic racism hides in everything!  I was amazed at how what I thought was a positive light being shined on a race here in America was a good thing.  Only to find out that that same light is only allowed to shine on this non-white population for the benefit of systemic racism.  A ploy to deter the anger and blame for oppression of black Americans.  The stereotype of the good hardworking Asian model minority has not stopped them from being seen as a threat to American whiteness, at times turning the "praiser" into the "abuser." Asian Americans become a target of violence and bullying due to titles they did not ask to have or in many cases want!

3. Asian Americans do not ask for help, since needing help means they are imperfect and potentially misaligned with social, community, and even their own expectations of themselves as Asian Americans.  Asian Americans are less likely to report bullying or seek mental health supports.  One Asian American psychologist stating "we(Asians) self harm, quietly continuing to do our homework even though we are super depressed.  Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Asian Americans ages 15-34

For Asian Americans, the model minority stereotype is literally killing them.   I grew up with this stereotype, that Asians are super intelligent and all they care about is education and super high achiever jobs.  I assumed that they did not like or cherish anything else.  I never imagined an Asian person having "fun", growing up just always serious and professional.   I had to check myself after reading this and realize that I too play a role in this beast called systemic racism.  I now want to learn more about Asian history to understand the culture and look into what they enjoy and do in leisure.  I feel stupid that I never asked anyone Asian what they do for fun in their culture.  I am realizing that the internet has exposed many of our children to the joys of Asian culture, K-pop, Kawaii figures and stuff, hello kitty collections and also anime.  This is just a few cherished hobbies and interests that Asian people enjoy in their culture.  I am excited to learn about more. 

America is operating on LIES and MISINFORMATION in so many areas that I don't understand how we are the superpower of the world!  How do we lead above other Nations that are in line behind us when we are all delusional by allowing the lies to dictate how we run things.  Lies that most people seem to be able to identify but not hold up to be accounted for.  Are we all victims of America,  have we had the horse blinders on for so long that we can not even see that majority of whites are not a part of the systemic plan(capitalists)  and therefore are fighting to keep intact the very thing that will eventually exclude them ( non capitalists whites) too.  How do we uncover these deeply ingrained lies and hidden messages that encompass the "American Way of Life" so that we can see the truth behind Capitalism and who it is really helping.

I now have a stronger desire to know about those who make America what it is.  I want to know the truth about the people I have the pleasure of meeting.