The Importance of Ending the Asian “Model Minority” in the name of Solidarity with Indigenous Australians
TW: This article discusses sensitive historical and political issues for Indigenous and Asian Australians
Even to this day, one of the most infuriating opinions my parents hold is their disdain toward Indigenous Australians. My mother has never given more than an iota of thought to Indigenous communities, but when she has it has emanated from a place of condescension and derision.
“I worked hard to get to where I am, why can’t they?” she would say.
My mother has fallen victim to the myth of the Asian “model minority” — and who is to blame her, or other Asian migrants who may share similar (albeit more subtle) views. I also fear that she may not be in the minority amongst other Asian-Australians of all generations.
My mother didn’t grow up in a learning environment where she was taught about the atrocities committed against Indigenous Australians or their ongoing struggle for conciliation and equality in modern Australia. Unlike me, she has never attended civic history lessons to learn about the “White Man” that brought disease to Australia, committed genocide, and launched the “Stolen Generation”.
Like many migrants in the latter half of the 20th Century (incl Mediterranean Europeans), when my parents arrived in Australia they migrated to a fairly urbanised country — they barely interacted with Indigenous Australians.
Arguably, much of the experience of Asian-Australians like my mother and myself in contemporary Australia has been marred by the notion that we are a “model minority”. In a similar way to the experiences of Asian Americans, the myth of Asian-Australians is of a meek, bookish, and industrious community. Controversially, it is a myth that is arguably accepted by Asian-Australians themselves with a degree of pride.
But this myth has not only contributed indirectly to the detriment of Indigenous Australians, it has distracted us from realising that though our experiences are vastly different, we both experience racism and should stand in solidarity as a result.
The myth is real
Though not as widely addressed in Australia as in the US, there is little doubt that Asian-Australians (incl South, East, and Southeast Asian Australians) have a label of “model minority” placed upon us. We see this particularly clearly in the media coverage of high school rankings, especially in New South Wales where high academically ranking “selective schools” are often dominated by Asian-Australian students. Here, Asian-Australian students are often portrayed as “brainy” and “overachievers”. This, and other stereotypes of Asians as being overly industrious contribute to the perception that Asian-Australians are “good migrants” and law-abiding citizens, according to La Trobe University academic Tseen Khoo.
As Asian-Australians some of us implicitly take pride in this myth, and give ourselves a solid pat on the back. Anecdotally I sense that we hold ourselves in contrast to other low-socioeconomic groups, especially Indigenous Australians, due to our newfound success and “model” status. This is particularly the case for Asian migrants who were once refugees (e.g. Vietnamese, Sri Lankan, etc.). Though I cannot speak for all Asian-Australians some of us may think “I came from nothing and made something of my family, why can’t others?”
But we must remember that we have had vastly different experiences to Indigenous Australians. Our success is no doubt partly due to our hard work ethic, but it is also aided by the fact that our communities have not been decimated by disease or displaced by genocidal policies in the same way Indigenous communities have.
Nobody is saying that we haven’t had our fair share of difficulties. I’ve spoken openly about my views of the systemic racism that many Asian-Australians still feel in the form of the “bamboo ceiling” or the adverse effects of the “model minority” label. I’m not discounting how policies like the “White Australia Policy” left a lasting negative perception of Asian-Australians.
But we need to be honest with ourselves. Objectively speaking, some of us (not all Asian Australians) and our families are coming from a heavy position of privilege relative to Indigenous Australians. Our experiences may be different but racism is the crux of the battle we are both fighting. And it’s for this reason that I encourage other Asian-Australians to reflect on the privilege that they carry, to critically evaluate the “model minority” myth we may take pride in, and extend a hand in solidarity to Indigenous Australians.
Moving toward a better future
I don’t, however think that all Asian-Australians have been duped by this “myth”. I also think and strongly feel that change is occurring. All around me I see in Gen Y and Gen Z Australians in particular, gain a new reverence for Indigenous communities. These generations are arguably more privileged than their parents or Gen X counterparts because they are no longer faced with a battle to survive. We are fortunate that our cousins, siblings, and parents fought that battle for us.
As a result of this and a more cohesive education curriculum, I see many Asian-Australians in these generations rising up to reach out to charitable causes and calling for stronger steps toward reconciliation. Importantly, I hope that in NAIDOC week this week, and every other week of the years to come, we make solid strides toward reducing racial inequity together.
What you can do to live in solidarity
Let’s walk together toward a future of solidarity. Here are ways we can all help:
- Get Educated: Knowledge is power. Whether it’s going to a museum, reading books like “Dark Emu” or “The Yield” just taking a greater interest in Indigenous affairs, get educated on the past, present, and future of Indigenous Australians.
- Get Involved: There are hundreds of volunteer groups of all sizes across the country that support Indigenous Australians either directly or indirectly. No matter your commitment level there’s something for everyone. Click this link to find some of them. I personally have been volunteering for Weave as a tutor in Waterloo/Redfern for two years and have enjoyed every moment of it.
- Educate Your Families: This is possibly the hardest step to take but it’s worth trying at least. Our families may have dated and often racist views but they’re part of the voting and taxpaying public too. Where possible drip-feed information to them.
“Kevin’s Dead” is a blog about improvement, connecting with the world, and doing away with passivity. In this blog you’ll find the musings of an Australian-Chinese millennial who is tired of being faceless and being another “Kevin”.
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