Seira Narita: Week Three Readings for ASA 115

The readings required for week three included "Unsuitable Suitors: Anti-Miscegenation Laws, Naturalization Laws, and the Construction of Asia" by Deenesh Sohoni and "The Historical Problematization of ‘Mixed Race’ in Psychological and Human-Scientific Discourses" by Thomas Theo. The readings provided apply to the theme of "Criminals, Deviants, and Outcasts-Passing as Privilege, Authenticity, and Tragedy" as these authors review and analyze the history of interracial relationships and immigration in the formation of racial and ethnic categories that still exist in our contemporary society. One point consistent across both readings was that the maintenance of these racial and ethnic groups contribute to upholding a social system where those who can be identified as higher in the hierarchy receive benefits and privileges. Intermarriages and immigration would ultimately break down the categories as the boundaries would get blurred as more people of mixed race are born. 

In "Unsuitable Suitors: Anti-Miscegenation Laws, Naturalization Laws, and the Construction of Asia" by Deenesh Sohoni, the author highlights the history of the legal system in the United States that transformed the perceptions of Asians to be a single broadened category rather than the racially distinct groups they once were. The court systems may have played a major role in "racializing" Asians by labelling what was considered “Asian” (599), but the media also contributed to this when the model minority myth developed in the mid-1960’s. Media had turned their attention to Asian Americans when articles were being released that gave rise to the notion that Asian Americans are a model minority, suggesting that they are a hard-working, self-sufficient, and obedient group that was able to achieve group success. Lumped together, one could argue that Asians have fared better than other racial minorities in the US, such as Latinos or African Americans, based on certain indicators used to gauge success. However, scholars have pointed out that the use of these statistics is often over exaggerated, inflated, or also fails to disaggregate the various differences within the Asian American community that disguises great socioeconomic differences within Asian Americans. These ultimately overlook the inequities within and among the different groups within Asian America, which generalizes the success of this very diverse group. So what types of systematic changes can help to shift the present balance of power between racial groups?