“Linsanity” and the Asian American Experience

For the past year, I’ve been following the career of Jeremy Lin for two reasons: he was originally signed by the Golden State Warriors (my hometown basketball team) and because he is an Asian American. As has become well known in the past two weeks, there have been very few Asian American professional basketball players. Consequently, I’ve watched with increasing interest (and yes, glee) his sudden ascent to NBA stardom with the New York Knicks.

But I am becoming more interested in his impact on increasing the visibility of Asian Americans as a whole in this country. He has now graced the covers of Sports Illustrated and Time Magazine. Other magazine covers may soon follow. But the point is that he has singlehandedly reminded mainstream America that there are Asian Americans in this country.

For while we Asian Americans have become fond of complaining about being stereotyped as the “model minority”, the reality is that we have actually been the invisible minority – reduced to intermittent blips in the national consciousness, as comic relief (the “Harold and Kumar” movies), cautionary tales of alienation (Cho and the Virginia Tech mass murders), or cultural stereotypes (overbearing “Tiger moms”).

Well, Jeremy Lin’s story seems to have found a special resonance with mainstream America. He is “the little engine that could” and “the ant that moved the rubber tree plant” (though he is 6’ 3”). He is the embodiment of the favorite American fable that anyone can make it if they try hard enough. He is one of us.

However, we’re learning that fame and attention can come at a cost. Witness the ESPN headline regarding “Chink in the Armor” after a recent Knicks loss in which Lin committed numerous turnovers. Other racial slurs have made it into the media, and more will no doubt follow. He is a “feel good” story for some, but for others he is resurrecting repressed feelings of race hatred and intolerance.

Most importantly, though, Jeremy Lin is bringing long overdue attention to the forgotten minority. Perhaps the CNN producers of the “Latino in America” and “Black in America” series will now consider an “Asian American in America” series. While his story has become a global phenomenon, the Asian American experience is in fact full of equally fascinating and culturally distinctive stories. Let’s hope “Linsanity” is the impetus for Asian Americans to finally find a worthy place in the American consciousness.

- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

More on Sheriff Joe

A few weeks ago, I participated in a press conference on behalf of the Asian Pacific Community in Action, a Phoenix-based non-profit health services and advocacy organization. We were one of several Asian American agencies and individuals calling for the resignation of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Since then, I have received several emails, letters and phone calls inquiring as to what Sheriff Joe has done to members of the Asian American community to deserve a call for his resignation.

My answer is not a simple one. In fact, it is as steeped in history as it is in recent events. Asian Americans have a long history of not being welcome in this country. Beginning with the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act, significant barriers have been placed upon Asian immigration. In 1924, the National Origins Act essentially closed the doors to immigration from Asian nations. This door was not substantially re-opened until the Immigration Act of 1965.

Obviously, Sheriff Joe Arpaio had nothing to do with historical American policy regarding Asian immigration, and I am not directly aware of discriminatory treatment of Asian Americans at the hand of the Sheriff’s Office. However, I would argue that his racial profiling of the Hispanic community is a salient issue for the Asian American community. As Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” With a majority of Asian Americans being foreign born, it is possible that we could be the future target of “crime suppression” sweeps.

Asian Americans have come a long way in the past 100 years of Arizona statehood. Indeed, we are now the fastest growing racial/ethnic group in Arizona, and the vast majority of us are extremely proud to be Arizona residents. However, until we all can live without fear of unlawful discrimination and racial profiling, I believe we are obligated to speak out. As Martin Luther King, Jr. also said, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” It is time for change: Sheriff Joe should go.

-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

Hello Mr. President . . .

I very recently received an invitation to a White House reception that will be recognizing Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage. It appears that President Obama and the First Lady will both be in attendance. Invitations were made to Asian American and Pacific Islander community leaders, and I’m proud to be considered in that grouping.

Will I be attending? Who could turn down an invitation that starts with “The President and Mrs. Obama request the pleasure of your company . . . ”?

In any case, if I have a chance to speak at any length with President Obama, I think I will remind him that five million Americans are currently infected with hepatitis B or hepatitis C, and that these individuals will need medical monitoring for the remainder of their lives because of their high risk for serious liver disease. I will let him know that many of these individuals are among the working poor or unemployed who do not have health insurance and cannot afford medical care. I will remind him that exemplary government programs like the Ryan White CARE Act support medical care and treatment for low-income individuals with HIV/AIDS, but no such program exists for individuals with hepatitis B or C. I will remind him that more than half of the 1.4 million individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B are Asian Americans and yet there is virtually no large-scale public health effort to encourage Asian Americans to get screened for hepatitis B or to educate physicians to offer screening to these individuals.

I think I will remind him that Title VI of the Civil Rights Act assures individuals of language access in health care facilities that receive federal dollars, yet thousands of individuals are denied these services on a daily basis in facilities throughout the nation. I will remind him that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial/ethnic groups in this country and that while health care facilities are doing better in offering culturally competent services to Hispanic Americans, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a virtual afterthought when it comes to culturally competent care.

Lastly, I think I will thank him profusely (and offer a fist bump) for his leadership and vision on the Affordable Care Act and let him know that our agency is actively supporting its continuation. Having said that, I will let him know that the same political will exerted on the ACA will be more than sufficient to address the continuing health disparities related to hepatitis and language access. I will humbly offer my assistance, proffer my business card, and then wander off in search of hors d’oeuvres.

- 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

And the winner is . . .

It’s official. Asians and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial groups in Arizona. New 2010 Census data indicates that those of only Asian race increased by 91.6% between 2000 and 2010. Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders increased by 87.9% for the same period.

In comparison, the White population increased by 20.5%, the Black population by 63%, and the American Indian/Alaska Native population by 15.9%. Individuals of Hispanic or Latino origin increased by 46.3%.

As additional 2010 Census data becomes available, I will provide updates.

-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

The Saga of Wong Kim Ark

As discussions intensify regarding American citizenship as a birthright, I am reminded never to take U.S. citizenship for granted – particularly as an American of Japanese descent. For a very long time, individuals of Asian descent faced almost insurmountable barriers to becoming American citizens – either through naturalization or birth.

The Naturalization Act of 1790 afforded U.S. citizenship only to immigrants who were “free white persons.” In 1870, naturalization laws were changed to include persons of African nativity and descent. However, individuals from Asia were not allowed to become naturalized American citizens until the 1943 passage of the Magnuson Act.

And while the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution passed in 1868 ostensibly conferred citizenship to all individuals born in the United States, for Asian residents, this birthright to citizenship had to be determined by the Supreme Court.

In 1894, Wong Kim Ark, an individual born in the United States of non-citizen Chinese parents, was denied re-entry into this country after a trip to China. He was detained at the Port of San Francisco on the basis that he was not a bona fide American citizen. He successfully sued for re-entry at the federal district court level; however, the United States government took the case to the Supreme Court, which eventually determined that Mr. Ark was a citizen by virtue of his birth in the United States – even though his parents were not and could not become citizens (due to the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882).

Sadly, the specter of birthright citizenship restrictions has recently reappeared. This is a shame. For all the pain and suffering brought about by racist immigration policy to those of us with Asian roots, it appears that our Hispanic brothers and sisters are now being similarly targeted. Has history taught us nothing? Are we doomed to repeat our failings? This country was founded on the principle that we are all equal under the law. We still struggle to get this right at times, but we’ve made significant strides in civil rights over time. A return to restricted birthright citizenship will set us back, all of us — Hispanics, Asians, all of us with immigrant roots — more than 100 years.

Many, many people – including myself – owe Wong Kim Ark a debt of gratitude for his efforts over a century ago to fight for his American citizenship. Let’s hope his efforts were not in vain.

- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day – A Model for the Asian American Community?

February 7th was the 11th anniversary of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day. HIV/AIDS has had a disproportionate impact on the Black community in this country.

Here’s quote from the CDC website:

“By race/ethnicity, African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV in the United States. At the end of 2007, blacks accounted for almost half (46%) of people living with a diagnosis of HIV infection in the 37 states and 5 US-dependent areas with long-term, confidential, name-based HIV reporting.”

State, local and national organizations have created and implemented activities focused on motivating African Americans to get tested and learn their HIV status, as well as educating communities about the importance of prevention. No doubt these efforts have saved lives.

It would seem high time that the Asian American communities across the nation organize a similar day related to hepatitis B. Asian Americans constitute more than 50% of all individuals chronically infected with hepatitis B, yet there is little national attention to this problem. I have contacted a colleague of mine with the CDC Viral Hepatitis Division about the possibility of replicating a national HBV recognition day in the Asian American community. I will keep you posted as to his response. However, it should be said that regardless of the CDC interest in this initiative, Asian American communities throughout the country should organize and act.

- Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director

New Census Numbers on Asian Americans in Maricopa County

While we wait for the Census 2010 data to become available, the U.S Census recently released new “American Community Survey” data for the period 2007 - 2009. The American Community Survey (ACS) continuously gathers detailed data on a sample of U.S. residents. Previously, some of this data was gathered through the “long form” of the decennial census, but is now gathered on an ongoing basis through the ACS.

The new ACS data for the period 2007 – 2009 estimates almost 4 million residents of Maricopa County. Among those identifying as “Asian alone”, there are 119,076 individuals, or almost exactly 3.0% of the total county population. For the sake of comparison, the “Asian alone” number for the 2000 Census was 66,445. Thus, there was a 79% increase in the number of individuals identifying themselves as “Asian alone” in Maricopa County. The county as a whole experienced a 28.6% population increase for the same time period.

The ACS provides detailed Asian subgroup data if the subgroup has an estimated population of 20,000 or more. Data regarding selected subgroups is provided in the table below.

American Community Survey – Maricopa County, 2007 - 2009

Individuals interested in reviewing the recent ACS data can access this data on the U.S. Census website at http://factfinder.census.gov.


-Doug Hirano, MPH, APCA Executive Director