¶ … Minority as Gook, Robert G. Lee describes the divided representation of Asian Americas as both the hardworking, upwardly mobile model minority, and the shadowy figure of the Viet Cong, waiting in the darkness to destroy the American soldier. He notes that this representation of Asian-Americans found its roots in the decline of the Fordist structure of the economy, and a destruction of national boundaries. To America, Asians began to represent a return to family values, obedience, and discipline, characteristics seen in the Protestant work ethic. Notes Lee, "the Asian-American model minority is thus a simulacrum of both an imaginary Asian tradition... And an American culture for which it serves as a nostalgic mirror." Lee argues that the political Right has managed to change issues of race into issues of culture. For example, black families have been labeled as creating a "culture of poverty." With this labeling, the dysfunction of the black...
Other examples of coding race in terms of culture appeared in the 1980s, as blacks culture was portrayed as a culture of chaos and violence.
While America prides herself on her multiculturalism and acceptance of those from all lifestyles and cultures that is not always the case, as the readings and personal experiences clearly indicate. America has been multicultural or multiethnic for centuries, white Americans still are the majority in most areas, and their ideals, beliefs, and even prejudices dominate all of society. To fit in, immigrants must assimilate to the predominate way of thinking,
R's of American Racism: Representation, Rejection, and Realization Racism is a system of meaning that promotes and legitimated the domination of one racially defined group over another. Racism assigns values to both real and imagined cultural and physical differences, benefitting the dominant party and making negative claims about the subordinate, so that this dominance may be justified ideologically. The seeming illogical or even counterproductive nature of racism may be explained in
Yellowface: Orientals in Popular Culture The history of the Asian presence in America presents evidence of racism and classism. As a result, the Oriental stereotype was developed in American culture that has negatively impacted the immigration and rights of naturalization, citizenship opportunities, economic rights, and social involvement of Asian-Americans. The cultural designation of the color yellow to identify Orientals is a classic example of race identification, and the categorical ideology that
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