Now a word about the “undead”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently released a blog post about how to prepare for an attack of zombies. Tongue firmly in cheek, the CDC is trying to attract the attention of the general public regarding preparations for a real emergency. Apparently, they are succeeding. This particular blog post was so popular it crashed their server. I guess the public has an appetite for news about the undead, and, I guess the normally staid scientists at the CDC actually do have a sense of humor.

The Asian Pacific Community in Action is taking a more traditional approach to emergency preparedness. Through the leadership of APCA Special Projects Coordinator, Ms. Yen Nguyen, we have recently organized a coalition of Asian American and Pacific Islander community members around emergency preparedness. This coalition will work to better prepare the AAPI community for emergencies of all kinds (e.g., biological terrorism and natural disasters) in a manner that is culturally responsive. However, it should be noted that we make no promises about preparations for attacks of zombies. You’ll have to contact the CDC about that.

To find out more about our emergency preparedness initiative, contact Ms. Yen Nguyen at (480) 626-3065 or at yen@apcaaz.org

-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

Tiger, tiger shining bright

An article recently published in New York magazine is all the rage among Asian Americans on the Internet. The article, “Paper Tigers: What happens to all the Asian-American overachievers when the test taking ends?”, offers insight into being a member of the “model minority”. The author, Wesley Yang, examines life’s options for high performing Asian American students, and he doesn’t necessarily paint a pretty picture. He cites the racial bias that makes it more difficult for Asians to be admitted into Ivy League schools, and he references the “bamboo ceiling” that keeps Asian Americans from rising to corporate upper management because while technically skilled, they are often perceived as lacking the charisma and networking skills associated with leadership positions. He provides the data below:

“According to a recent study, Asian-Americans represent roughly 5 percent of the population but only 0.3 percent of corporate officers, less than 1 percent of corporate board members, and around 2 percent of college presidents.”

While I find the content of the article interesting, I think it is perhaps more significant that the piece made it as the cover story of New York magazine. I would suspect that Amy Chua, the Tiger Mom (Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother), has much to do with this, since Yang’s article is also a rebuttal to the extreme work ethic espoused by Chua.

If nothing else, this article has stimulated discussion within the Asian American community and perhaps will provide a point of reference for mainstream Americans in viewing Asian Americans as individuals with needs that sound startlingly American – upward mobility at work, social lives, and an ability to feel comfortable in your own skin.

-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director