To the Editor,
We are the silent curve-breakers, the cram-school-goers, the hard workers. We are the ones who are bound to get the 6 on the math test because, “Come on, you’re Asian. You’ll be fine.” We are the “model minority.”
What some ignorantly label “positive stereotypes” still hurt. The “model minority” myth dismisses the hard work and sacrifice of Asian students as the norm, but simultaneously condemns Asians as “curve-breakers.” It ignores the overwhelming diversity of Asian experiences, with English-as-a-Second-Language Filipino immigrants, for example, facing entirely different challenges to success than third-generation Chinese-Americans. In the broader context of race discussion, it supports a false historical hierarchy used to lord the academic and economic success of one racial group (Asians) over others (blacks and Latinos). It invokes an oppressive stereotype by implying that while Asians are supposed to achieve, blacks, Latinos and other minority groups are not. Finally, it allows us, Asians and Asian-Americans included, to use common phrases and rhetoric as weapons, tools to make clear presuppositions of the behavior of an entire racial group and strip any deviations of our Asian identities. It presumes that we will be quiet. We will be the “models” of perfect behavior. We will not disturb the status quo.
On February 28, The Phillipian published a series of Commentary articles under the headline: “Diversity at Andover: More than Just a Number.” Co-authored or co-signed by 24 students, the articles lamented both the lack of visible black and Latino leadership on campus as well as the unspoken stereotypes that alienate these students of color. The spread was a collection of stories, all genuine, thought-provoking and — at times — challenging to read; for many students it is no easy task to confront the fact that we are not past racism and discrimination on this campus.
In the aftermath of the articles’ publishing and the flurry of conversation that ensued, the widely diverse black and Latino student community came together to confront their experiences as “More Than Just a Number.” Discussion of racial diversity intensified, including talk about a list of requests from the administration, the expansion of affinity groups and more. And while all this was happening, we could not have been the only Asian and Asian-American students who felt struck with a sense of confusion and uncertainty. In fact, we were not.
Reaching out to other Asian students and faculty members for their opinions on the “More Than Just a Number” spread, we found that as other minority groups had been inspired to express their experiences and opinions, Asian students quietly simmered with a mixed bag of emotions. Some were apathetic, unsure why we believed Asians should be involved in the discussion at all; after all, Asians don’t face the same issues of under-representation that black and Latino students do. But most striking were the reactions of the many, ourselves included, who found themselves frustrated that we had not spoken up for ourselves. That we had not made ourselves seen as a minority group and a group with unique, but similar, challenges. That we had rested as the quiet minority, the “model minority,” and let ourselves remain in the background of this fiercely important discussion. To be sure, we were inspired by our black and Latino peers for finding a platform from which to speak out and create meaningful change. The frustration was born from our struggle to find the strength and the will to seize a platform of our own.
With this issue of The Phillipian, we hope, finally, to establish a public platform for Asian and Asian-American voices. We wish to highlight the microaggressions that are all too common to the Asian and Asian-American population, the misconceptions that frustrate and exclude us from acceptance as equal members of our community, the myths that at times silence us and hold us back from the discussion as another minority group on campus.
Janine Ko ’14
Soha Sanchorawala ’14
Daniel Wang ’14
Benjamin Yi ’14
Meera Bhan ’14
Co-signed by:
Mihika Sridhar ’16
Janani Hariharan ’14
Andrew Wang ’16
Andrew Zheng ’15
Alexandria Ma ’17
Rani Iyer ’15
Sonya Chen ’14
Catherine Hoang ’15
Tyler Lian ’16
Qiqi Ren ’15
Alessa Cross ’16
Jaleel Williams ’15
Zainab Aina ’14
Jason Young ’15
Thomaia Pamplin ’14
Devontae Freeland ’15
Michael Ohakam ’15
Kayla Thompson ’15
Thea Rossman ’15
Poonam Kamdar ’14
Kai Kornegay ’14
Iman Masmoudi ’14
Armaan Singh ’14
