Unfair Perception That Asian Americans Face In Today’s Society (Cathy Park's Works Analysis)

Throughout American history, Asians have faced unrealistic expectations from their fellow American citizens. Whether it be the model minority myth, Orientalism, or other beliefs, Asian Americans have often been the victims of unfair stereotypes generated by whites in this country. Through their books Minor Feelings and Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian, Cathy Park Hong and Sui Sin Far are able to exemplify these unfair stereotypes, while also articulating how these beliefs often differ from an Asian American’s opinion of themselves and their place in American society.

Through her essay “United” in her book Minor Feelings, Cathy Park Hong is able to express the unfair perception that Asian Americans face in today’s society. In her essay, Hong describes a situation where she faced these unfair perceptions by saying, “‘He also said that Asian Americans are next in line to be white’” (Hong, 18). Being “next in line to be white” implies that Asian Americans are next to receive the privileges that white Americans experience in modern-day America. Additionally, being “next to receive” shows that while Asian Americans still are currently not as privileged as whites, they still would rank highest on the hierarchy of American minorities. This would suggest that Asian Americans do not face comparable struggles as their fellow minority groups, invalidating and diminishing the feelings and challenges experienced by Asians in America. Also, the fact that this opinion is coming from a random stranger at one of Hong’s readings exemplifies the widespread nature of these beliefs. It shows that anyone in the country could share a similar belief, with the white stranger acting as a stand-in for white America as a whole.  In a similar manner to Minor Feelings, Sui Sin Far is able to describe the unfair perception Asian Americans receive in her novel “Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian.” When discussing her time in California, Far describes how she was treated by white citizens due to her mixed-race status. Reflecting on her conversations, Far states that editors believed that if she wanted to succeed, she must “dress in Chinese costume, carry a fan in my hand, wear a pair of scarlet beaded slippers, live in New York, and come from high birth” (Far, 230). These comments are evident of the rampant spread of Orientalism throughout America. Due to Far’s mixed heritage, her editors attempt to get her to embrace the common stereotypes of Asian Americans such as dressing in “Chinese costume” and wearing “a pair of scarlet beaded slippers.” Embracing these Asian American stereotypes would allow for Far to distance herself from her mixed-race heritage, signaling her as solely an Asian American. This falls in with white America’s unfair perception of what people from Asian descent should look like. These unfair perceptions of Asian American culture push forward the white-centric belief that those who are Asian are Asian, and those who are white are white, there is no in-between. Conforming to these unfair stereotypes would result in Far losing her cultural identity, assimilating into white America’s beliefs. Just as Hong portrays society’s perception on racial tension faced by Asian Americans, Far demonstrates the unfair beliefs that people have on the identity of Asians in America.

Through her own beliefs and experiences, Hong juxtaposes how Asian Americans are perceived and how she feels about herself and her place in American society. In “United” Hong articulates her own feelings regarding Asian status in America by stating, “When I hear the phrase ‘Asians are next in line to be white,’ I replace the word “white” with “disappear.” Asians are next in line to disappear” (Hong, 35). The repetition of the words “Asians are next in line” draws attention to the idea that Asian Americans are on the cusp of change in America. Whether that be change be positive or negative is determined by someone’s point of view, with many white Americans feeling that Asians are on the cusp of a civil rights breakthrough in America. However, by replacing the word “white” with “disappear,” Hong signifies how her opinion of her own social standing in America differs from white society. While white Americans feel that Asian Americans are on an equal level in terms of privilege and status, Hong feels that this is not the case. Rather, she believes that her identity is vanishing, having been so diminished by white ideals that she, as an Asian American, no longer has a place in American society. Instead, she’ll fade away into white America, losing her identity as an Asian American forever. In a similar fashion to Hong, Far contrasts her own definition of her identity and place in America with the perception that society has of Asians in the U.S. When describing her identity, Far states, “‘You are you and I am I,’ says Confucius. I give my right hand to the Occidentals and my left to the Orientals, hoping that between them they will not destroy the insignificant ‘connecting link’” (Far, 230). Through this passage Far is able to portray her own idea of her identity within American life. Serving as the “connecting link” between the “Occidentals” and the “Orientals” refers to Far’s mixed-race heritage as an Eurasian. This means that while Far is certainly in touch with her Asian heritage, her identity is also made up of European ideals and beliefs, going against the stereotypes that Far’s editors, and white America as a whole have held. Additionally, Far refers to Confucius, a Chinese philosopher. By using another symbol commonly associated with Asian culture she echoes the earlier sentiments of Asian stereotypes such as “Chinese costume” and “scarlet beaded slippers” that were mentioned by her editors. However, instead of using Confucius to reinforce a racial stereotype, she uses Confucius’ teachings to advocate for her own sense of self. While Far could easily adopt the stereotypes commonly associated with Asian Americans, she instead follows Confucius' philosophy of “I am I” allowing her to establish her own identity as a Eurasian despite the beliefs of white America. Like Hong, Far uses her own experiences and beliefs to contrast white America’s perception on Asian Americans, with her own feeling of identity.

As seen through Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong and Leaves from the Mental Portfolio of an Eurasian by Sui Sin Far, American society often has an unfair perception of what life is like for Asian Americans. These unfair perceptions can be seen in society’s attempt to ignore that racism occurring to Asian Americans, while also attempting to control how Asian Americans identify themselves. Through the expression of their own personal experiences, Hong and Far both show that these perceptions are often false, and the racial experiences of Asian Americans and their self-identification usually differ from the beliefs of white America. Overall, Cathy Park Hong and Sui Sin Far both demonstrate the unfair and unrealistic beliefs regarding Asian Americans, and how these beliefs are not indicative of the experiences of Asians throughout American society.