Minor Feelings

02Racism against Asian Americans isn't new, it's part of our history

Cathy Park Hong's words ring true: Asian American history is steeped in racism. It's not just a few isolated incidents, but a deep-rooted part of American culture that's shaped the Asian American experience in profound ways. Let's rewind to the mid-19th century. The first significant wave of Asian immigrants, mainly Chinese laborers, arrived in the United States. They were instrumental in building the transcontinental railroad and working in gold mines. But instead of appreciation, they were treated as second-class citizens, subjected to harsh working conditions, and denied basic rights. This wasn't just social discrimination, but institutional too. In 1882, the U.S. government passed the Chinese Exclusion Act, banning all Chinese laborers from immigrating. This was the first law to prevent a specific ethnic group from coming to the United States, showing the depth of anti-Asian sentiment. In 1917, this law was expanded to include almost all of Asia. Fast forward to the mid-20th century. The exclusionary laws were repealed, but the racism didn't vanish. It morphed into the model minority myth, a stereotype that paints Asian Americans as hardworking, successful, and compliant. It might sound like a compliment, but it's a form of racism that erases the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, overlooks the systemic barriers they face, and pits them against other racial minorities. Hong, a Korean American, shares how this history of racism has shaped her identity. She talks about the struggle of connecting with a history that's often focused on the Chinese American experience, and the challenge of living in a society that both praises and marginalizes her. Hong's parents, like many Asian immigrants of their generation, came to the U.S. after the repeal of the exclusionary laws in 1965. They were expected to work hard, keep their heads down, and not complain about the discrimination they faced. This expectation, rooted in the model minority myth, is a form of racism that continues to affect Asian Americans today. In a nutshell, Asian American history is indeed riddled with racism, from the blatant discrimination of the 19th and early 20th centuries to the more subtle, but equally damaging, forms of racism that persist today. Understanding this history is key to understanding the Asian American experience and fighting racism in all its forms.

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