6 Charts That Dismantle The Trope Of Asian Americans As A Model Minority

Question

For years, the myth about Asian Americans and their perceived collective success has been used as a racial wedge. Here's a look at some common misconceptions driven by the "model minority" myth.

Answer 1

This article accurately represents the common misconceptions surrounding Asian Americans.

1.) True: "More than 22 million people of Asian descent live in the U.S., making up approximately 7% of the nation's population" (as of 2021) Asian American population grew by 81% from 2000 to 2019 

2.) Income & Economic Data: Median household income figures cited ($78,000 for Asian Americans vs $66,000 national median). Citation of Indian American households as highest-earning ($127,000) and Burmese American as lowest-earning ($46,000). Reference to 2018 Pew study showing Asian Americans as most economically divided racial group

3.) Immigration Statistics: More than half of Asian Americans were foreign-born. Approximately 1.5 million undocumented immigrants from Asia (14% of total). ICE arrest statistics (15,000 Asian immigrants from 2015-2018)

4.) Leadership Representation: 3% leadership positions vs 7% population representation

• U.S. Census Bureau. (2019). American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates.

• Pew Research Center. (2021). "Key facts about Asian Americans, a diverse and growing population"
• Pew Research Center. (2018). "Income Inequality in the U.S. Is Rising Most Rapidly Among Asians"
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2020). Current Population Survey
• Migration Policy Institute. (2021). "Unauthorized Immigrant Population Profiles"
• Asian Americans Advancing Justice. (2019). "Inside the Numbers: How Immigration Shapes Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities"
• Reflective Democracy Campaign. (2020). "The Electability Myth: The Shifting Demographics of Political Power in America"
• The New York Times. (2020). "Examining Asian American Leadership Representation in U.S."