Noun

A myth; a belief that Asian Americans have “made it” despite obstacles. A model minority is perceived as “better” than other structurally marginalized racial and ethnic groups, as if its members have overcome adversities, do not face racism, and don’t need anti-racist support.

The “model minority” image stratifies people of color by pitting the “good minorities” (Asian Americans) against “bad minorities” (Black/African Americans). But both communities are systematically deemed divergent from the White cultural norm — or “othered.” Further, this drives a wedge in a long history of cross-racial solidarity between Black and Asian American communities.

See AAPI.

Source

Adapted from the Washington Post, article by Margaret M. Chin and Yung-Yi Diana Pan