Considering Ferguson as Asian-Americans

Recently, as Ferguson has remained in the spotlight of both America and our campus, we have seen a trend in those who identify themselves as neither white nor black of being unsure how to involve themselves in this polar, complicated situation. The conversation surrounding this uncertainty is not intended to take the focus off of the division that has been highlighted in the events of the past few months. Rather, we hope to open a dialogue for students who identify as neither white nor black, and we specifically encourage Asian-Americans who are still seeking a place in this pertinent discussion.Especially in the Ferguson conversation, the historical narrative of racial tension in America is primarily composed of black-white relations, which makes sense in that our nation's most egregious account of racism was whites enslavement of blacks. Today, the racial makeup of the United States is indeed much more diverse, and thus the general discussion of race in our country naturally involves a greater scope of perspectives. We urge Asian-American students to remember and consider that race, including events unique to black-white racial history, do pertain to them.There is no excuse for Asian-Americans to take a sideline approach to Ferguson or other racially charged issues in America. In the last several decades, the stereotype of Asian-Americans that has developed is that of a group of hardworking and submissive people. Such logic has in turn defined Asians as the "model minority," an idea that is simply a myth and an example of racial profiling. Refusing to participate in the discussion only continues the myth.The premise on which this racial categorization is built remains the same, and racial profiling of any form is wrong. Past and present accounts of the racism against minorities—from Black-Americans to Asian-Americans, in addition to Latino-Americans, Native Americans, Arab-Americans—significantly influence the historical narrative of this country, and these instances have directly impacted anyone related. There are certainly varying extents to which discrimination has played a role in these respective communities, but the fact remains that racialized history still applies and pertains to all those involved. Ferguson matters because race matters.Solidarity across ethnic communities is not a revolutionary idea and can in fact be seen in the United States throughout the mid-twentieth century. On Nov. 26, 2014, Jack Linshi published a Time magazine that noted a series of such instances of Afro-Asian solidarity: Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese-American activist who fought closely alongside Malcolm X; W. E. DuBois urging black Americans to stand with Indians fighting colonial rule throughout the 1920s; and US student groups from all racial backgrounds supporting liberation movements throughout the Vietnam War. Such examples, especially those of Afro-Asian solidarity, are not commonly depicted throughout history, but these instances provide integral proof of the power and significance of unity amongst different people of color in working toward racial equality across the board.Experiences within the ranging communities of color indeed vary, but understanding the threads of overlap can only accelerate progress. As Dean Salcedo spoke about in assembly last week, it is necessary for each of us to recognize our individual privileges. As Asian-Americans, we must acknowledge both the positives and negatives in the duality that surfaces when our identities are placed against the background of black-white dichotomization: as Linshi states in Time, "the benefits of non-blackness and the burdens of non-whiteness."In last Saturday's assembly, Dr. Wade addressed the idea of racial inheritance by noting that both whites and blacks in America today assume the legacies and consequences of the 400 year-old racial narrative of our country. The current manner in which American history is taught in schools and discussed today places little emphasis on the role that Asians have had on our country before the twentieth century, other than very specific instances like the Chinese Exclusion Act. This creates a situation in which Asian-Americans assume an undefined role for a substantial portion of American history, but the truth is we inherit a critical role in the conversation of race today. Many Asian-Americans develop a bicultural identity by extracting and fusing values from both their family's heritage and their daily American reality. Yet, though we can pass on language and identity, it is impossible to pass on a set of experiences–living anew in a foreign country is an integral part of the immigrant experience, but the firsthand challenges can only be understood by the generation of immigrants that paved their own paths in this country.Due to issues like language barriers and lack of knowledge regarding Western cultural norms, the immigrating generation experiences the greatest amount of racism. This begins to explain, on an elementary level, why it can be difficult for second generation Asian-Americans to connect with Ferguson on a personal level. It is critical, however, to remember that experiences as a bicultural American reflect whether or not our nation is upholding its claims as a "melting pot" for people of all races and cultures. Asian-Americans thus have a voice in the conversation that must be considered in conjunction with the black-white perspectives that populate our historical and contemporary dialogues on race. As stated above, whites and blacks certainly do inherit a legacy from their families with regards to the American racial narrative. This inheritance applies to Asian-Americans, too.As discussion regarding Ferguson pushes forward, we ask Asian-American students to reject the choice of assuming a sideline attitude toward the subject of race in America.Though it is essential for students to be aware of the recent factors that influence current situations, it is equally, if not more, pressing to be educated on the historical context that frames race in America. Race does not exist in a vacuum. It must be placed in historical background, in this case the racialized history of America. Asian-Americans must harness the perspective of living as a minority in a white country in order to reinforce the importance of racial equality. Yet, we must also remember to seek appropriate, respectful opportunities to enter the race conversation in the United States: a conversation that had been brewing for centuries before most of our families ever came to the United States.As Asian-Americans, we are not white, and we are not black. But we are a race, and for that reason alone, it would be ignorant of any of us to isolate ourselves from a movement that pushes equality toward reality.  Race matters.