The inception of the “model minority” started in the mid 1960s (specifically 1966) . It is in reference to a social construct that pits Asian Americans as model minority for their values on education, being apolitical, family solidarity/filial piety, and their self sufficiency. This construct is simultaneously a criticism on black Americans highlighting their “failures”. There creates the argument, “if Asians can make it, why not Blacks?”
During the 1980s, the model minority myth was exacerbated by now lumping all Asian groups together as a weapon to further support white prerogatives and anti Black rhetoric. Utilizing the model of Blacks being identified as evil and Asians seen as saints since their cultural morals almost aligned with the religious white population. By both encouraging that Asian Americans can remain in a position above Black Americans by withholding from American political affairs, civil rights rhetoric, and to continue being that model while also introducing oppressive narratives such as most asians are apolitical therefor have no motivation to involve themselves in political affairs. Or their morals on respect and education because they are so self sufficient means they are now socially pressured to maintain those identities. This myth is further challenged with conservatives creating racially motivated divergences between asian Americans and the black population siding with asians for encourage opposition to what they might consider “black nationalism”. This helps propel their agenda and also simultaneously maintaining these xenophobic, racist social constructs aimed at minority groups whether they are the model minority or not.
Some sidenotes: I think the whole “if one minority group makes it why can’t blacks” is total and utter bs because they are comparing the achievements of groups of people who entered the United States in the mid 19th century vs the racist structures set in place against black Americans/African slaves for over 400 years. There were also multiple advantages including asians coming to the States because of economic opportunities vs blacks being the product of slavery as an institution of power. On the contrary, it is also unfair to asians because while they weren’t forced to come here, many did so making huge compromises which could result in their deportation, continued xenophobia against them, racist/sexist rhetoric against them, and lumping them together as a whole rather then individualizing the various groups that entered from different countries in Asia. Being forced to survive by maintaining the model minority myth in order to continue gaining favor (by this I mean in comparison to the attitudes towards blacks) is also not fair to Asians and I can only imagine the amount of pressure that existing to maintain those identities pushed on them for the true motivation which was pro white nationalist gain.
Hello Nina, Your side note was so powerful. It is true that different minorities had to face different circumstances and unequal treatment. Society shouldn’t push their expectations on a group of people because of race. Your DB was great!
I definitely agree with your side note. Vastly different circumstances that different minority groups faced makes it unreasonable to compare the groups in any capacity. I think it goes both ways, and comparing the experiences of two groups doesn’t really serve any real purpose. They should each be taught as they are, without any comparisons to the experiences of other groups.