CSUSB – ANTH 365 (Prof. Hareem Khan)
Artical: The Whitening of Asia American - Personal opinion about ‘whitening opinion’
The article ‘The Whitening of Asia American’ stood out to me how white power has
dominated and impacted the interference of Asian in America based on different factors. To be
more specific, the article mentions about ‘whitening phenomenon’ that is the expansion of white
race to swallow up other non-white races. Jonathan Warren, a University of Washington sociology
professor argues ‘the idea of who is white and which group belong and don’t belong to it has been
malleable and changed’. Iris American is considered as white because of their history background.
They used to hold anti-slavery views but then they were courted by and jointed into the Democracy
and supported slavery. The change brought them to an upper-class level and to to be closer to
whitening idea, and centuries later their next generations are white.
In addition, ‘whitening phenomenon’ has another version called ‘money whitens’, which
relates to economic ladder. The idea means that economic mobility will bring an individual to be
more accepted of ‘being white’. It is seem logic because America is a nation of various races, but
white people control the most country’s power and wealth. Therefore, one who is from other race
with a high socioeconomic status would feel safe and fair as he/she belongs to one of the white’s
character.
‘Money whitens’ somehow relates to the minority myth from Lisa Park. In her article, she
argues that minority represents the American Dream of meritocracy and democracy in which drives
other races, classes, and genders under the umbrella of ‘equal opportunity’, and ‘hard working to get
justly rewards’. The myth gives all Asia American certain stereotypes as it blurs the difference among
individuals. For example, Asian students are supposed to be smart, attain high score, and be ignored
when looking for support from teachers and friends in school. Also, Asian labor force is stereotyped
as high educated, high income, and hard working. For Asia American, if you don’t fit into the myth,
where could it be your place? This thought has reminded me about Gook, a Korea American guy, a
child of the second-generation. From anthropology perspective, he does not fit into the myth. Gook
is stuck within his life among family, financial situation, discrimination, violence, and a friendship
with the little girl. Gook could define himself a loser of life, but would he call himself an American?
What does it mean to be an American, especially Asian American? Is minority myth the only way, or
could it be more diverse?
