Racism Against Asian-Americans

“Michael, you’re Asian. Shouldn’t you be good at math?”
Questions similar to the previous stated are never ending occurrences that summarize my upbringing as an Asian-American.

I roll my eyes and politely state that race does not automatically equate a certain level of intelligence. As a response, I often receive a scoff and a passive aggressive “whatever.” On another account, I remember a peer who had stated that “racism against Asians does not exist” and my jaw dropped agape. Racism against the Asian-American community existed throughout the later half of American history and is indirectly normalized in modern society through appropriation of Asian culture, stereotypes, and media portrayal.

Throughout the latter half of American history, the Asian-Americans at the time had been discriminated against severely.

This discrimination initially began with the Naturalization Act of 1790, allowing free white-men of “good character” naturalization while excluding Native Americans, indentured servants, free Blacks, and Asians. In addition to extreme acts, the Chinese Exclusion Act, signed in 1882, had prohibited the Chinese from entering our country. Another example of the racism Asian-Americans faced occurred during World War II due to the war’s propaganda and the slurs that came about as a result of the war. The historical background of Asian-Americans and racism not only left scarring tendencies, but managed to transcend into modern society within a lower degree.
Our progressive society is accompanied by two concepts that the population has the tendency to confuse: cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation. In layman's terms, cultural appropriation continues to disenfranchise a group; in contrast, appreciation which shows respect for the culture. An example of appropriating culture would be when an individual would get a tattoo of Asian script because “it looked cool” for an “aesthetic” when they have no clue as to its

meaning.
In addition, Asian portrayal in modern media emphasizes and allows Asian stereotypes to be accepted and perceived as normal. Examples of such stereotypes include, but are not limited to, superior academic success, shyness and compliance, and radical cultural practices. Throughout my childhood, I have always had stereotypes used against me and people used them to assume my character and lifestyle. Also these stereotypes harm the Asian community in media as majorities normalize the blatant racism, such as having Asians acting as nerds and freaks. However this action is counteracted in shows such as Fresh Off the Boat, where the primary focus of the show is on a strong willed Asian-American family living everyday life in Florida against societal expectations of Asians impressed upon them. Coupled with the blatant stereotypes, Asians are either perceived to be extremely rich or poor, due to the assumption of their careers.
The racism against Asian-Americans in our society prolonged for decades and our ancestors allowed the act to facilitate and move into our generation. The harm that exists to this day through appropriation and stereotypical media portrayal can negatively affect future perceptions of the Asian community and the underlying degradation will differ from what this community stands for.