Andrew, thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I think black exceptionalism is a FASCINATING phenomenon and it’s closely related to the varying degrees of experiences among Asian Americans. As an East Asian-American woman, I feel that have benefited from the white supremacy by the white-deemed “model minority” status. In some ways, however, I wonder whether the this exceptionalism of Asian Americans are grouped specifically to a certain cohort of Asian Americans — ones that are more light skinned/originating from East Asia, without accents, well-educated. Essentially, “white washed.” I feel that I have benefited immensely because I am a Korean-American; and my prediction is that South East Asian populations in the US are less likely to have similar benefits as I may have been given.

Racial exceptionalism among Asians-American is certainly nuanced and looks different thank the experiences of black/African-Americans, but I agree with you that it shares the same root as racial demonization.