How a Professor Sees Model Minority

Doctor Nicholas D. Hartlep, who is an assistant professor of Educational Foundations at Illinois State University, had made a statement about the model minorities in the United States in Commentary on the Model Minority . He researches model minority stereotype and teaching for social justice. Society views Asian American model minorities as a positive and a successful thing. So we ask, why do Asian Americans, those who are immigrant and those who are born here, appear to be doing so well in school and everyday life? Doctor Hartlep states that “One reason may be that the popular press and news media publish and broadcast stories that selectively omit facts and perspectives that would delegitimize the sterling stereotype” (Hartlep 1). This means that media show many different presentations involving Asian Americans only on issues related to the model minority stereotypes. He also states that “…many successful Asian Americans perpetuate the myth themselves, profiting professionally and personally” (Hartlep 1). This got me to think the other side of people’s thoughts related to model minority. Maybe other Asian Americans love to be called the model minority all the time. This can maybe profit them and make them become more professional. This is probably the reason why Asian American parents push their kids now so that they can have the better future later.

Doctor Hartlep has mentioned that “Asian Americans have been documented to be overrepresented in K-12 gifted and talented education programs and underrepresented in K-12 Special Education programs” (Hartlep 1). There has been also documentation to face serious health issues, such as high rates of cancer, physical and domestic abuse, and gang membership. Due to the model minority stereotypes, it creates false projection to Asian Americans’ traits and personality. Since people believe that all Asian Americans are model minority, the other Americans grow hate towards them. Therefore, there should be a decreasing amount towards the Asian American model minority stereotypes.