Asian Superiority Essay, Research Paper

Maria E Welbourne

Eng.2

J.Corcoran

The Celebration of Asian Americans has Obscured Reality

Ronald Takaki vocalizes in his article that ?The Harmful Myth of Asian Superiority?is not to assume that all Asian Americans are indeed successful, so it?s incorrect to generalize any particular race as superior over another. I believe this is true in the US today Asians in public schools are made to be great students. This mentality fails when we realize that not all students are the same. Takaki?s persona is outraged at our own politicians using these broad assumptions to propagate why one race seems to succeed with little or no government assistance and others who cannot. Then to compare the success of Asians to the African American and saying ?If Asian Americans can make it, why can?t African Americans?? Statements such as these, add fuel to a roaring fire of resentment towards Asian Americans. Asians have been touted as successful entrepreneurs, but comparing family incomes is even more deceptive. Some Asian American groups do have higher family incomes than Caucasians. But they have more workers per family.

This “model minority image ? is homogenized and hides their many differences, as stated by Takaki. For example, while thousand of Asian students are in universities, others are on the streets, living in motels, or in gangs. A great percentage of Asians from New York City?s Chinatown live at or below poverty level.

Takaki?s purpose was to bring awareness to the reader as to the harmful labels we imply on Asian Americans. Not all Asians are successful here in the US because in their country certain licensing is not needed to be a professional. When these people come to the US with poor English are then limited to the jobs they can do. Therefore are limited to menial dishwasher, caretaker positions. This is not fair. I feel our country is arrogant when migrants come to the US. Japanese individuals earn good incomes that are comparable to that of Caucasians. But what you don?t know is that the Japanese have to endure higher education, and work many more hours.

Takaki focuses on all the unfairness that goes on in today?s marketplace and with the discrimination Asian Americans receive. His argument mainly states interesting facts that contradict what we read in the newspapers or hear on the evening news.

The author is angered and wishes for everyone to understand that Asians are not the ?Model Minority?. There is no such thing as a model minority. Immigrants? struggle hard or harder to make ends meet and become successful. His Persona is that of a frustrated individual who just read an article in the paper and has cast his rebuttal for all to see. His method of displaying his facts was effective and enlightening. But I think It would have been ideal if he would have included an opposing argument in his In general, I believe his argument was effective. Now I do have a better understanding of where he?s coming from.