As an Asian-American male, I feel like I have a lot of privilege, not like white people do but more then others. I haven't gotten pulled over, People don't feel scared around me. I don't really know if people have a bias opinion on my culture or race ... If so I haven't heard of anything. Or maybe Im super unaware of these things. There are stereotypes about Asian people that are like we have " high standards", "Good intentions,"...I just asked my sister if we have any privilege as Asian American and she said that we are considered " Honorary White because of how well we do in school.
I don't know how to feel about it. Like should I feel honored? But I don't like it. It insulting actually. Apparently we are not good enough, but if we are, we are " honorary whites" not the race we are... cause that not good enough. or thats how I see it...
Linking this to my classroom I would think I would treat my students on how they act then the color of their skins. Maybe im clueless on my own biases that I don't recognized that I have them.
Your meditation on the model minority stereotype and the cross hairs you feel within it is so illuminating. It reminds me of this article: http://www.rethinkingschools.org/archive/22_02/math222.shtml
ReplyDeleteI also wonder how ethnicity within the monolith "Asian" category works. How does it hide the oppression with newer immigrant groups? How will your identity connect (or not) with different ethnicities inside "Asian?"