How the Myth of “Model Minorities” Perpetuates Systemic Racism
I’m Asian (in case you didn’t know lol) so I’m considered a “model minority” here in America. That means people see me as “non-threatening,” “educated” and “well-behaved.” One of the “good ones.”
I’ve been aware of this sentiment towards my race but have always felt weird about it. Until recently, I never reflected deeper about how problematic it was, because, in a messed up way, it benefited me. However, what I didn’t fully realize was that this “benefit” was at the expense of others.
If my existence is “non-threatening,” whose is? If I’m “educated,” who is considered “uneducated?” If I’m “one of the good ones,” that implies there are bad ones. ...Who are they?
Black and Brown people are the ones who carry this burden. Don’t get me wrong, Asians experience inexcusable racism too. We are not seen as equals by many either. But Black and Brown people? They belong to a group generally perceived as “dangerous,” “poor,” “uneducated,” “criminals,” and “bad hombres.” People of all sorts have interacted with them under these assumptions starting from a very young age. Their peers, teachers, doctors, nurses, friends’ parents, bosses, landlords, neighbors, store clerks, clients, co-workers, police, random white women who clutch their purses tighter around them...
Millions live with this emotional burden their WHOLE life. And it is inescapable because they cannot change the color of their skin.
Once I realized this to its full extent, my heart shattered. I had witnessed these implicit biases being carried out throughout my entire life— in school, at the grocery store, in my neighborhood, in my own family. Not once did I say anything. Not once did I question it. I just kept my head down and accepted the status quo, like the good “model minority” I was.
2020 has forever changed me. As terrible as this year has been, it’s allowed me to reflect on myself in relation to racism here in America.
How have I contributed to sustaining the cycles of injustice and inequality in our society? What implicit biases about race have been conditioned in me? Have I been using my privilege only for myself or to help others as well? How can I be better?
These are important questions that we need to ask ourselves to help dismantle the broken societal system we have. As uncomfortable as it is, it’s our responsibility as good human beings. We cannot help solve a problem until we acknowledge that there is one. Staying silent about a problem and avoiding its existence only sustains it.
For me, silence and pretending everything is fine is not an option anymore. Fuck not caring about problems just because they don’t directly impact me. Fuck racism and the sentiment that there’s “nothing” we can do about it.
