Ronald Takaki vocalizes in his article that “The Harmful Myth of Asian
Superiority”is not to assume that all Asian Americans are indeed successful,
so it’s incorrect to generalize any particular race as superior over another.
I believe this is true in the US today Asians in public schools are made to be
great students. This mentality fails when we realize that not all students are
the same. Takaki’s persona is outraged at our own politicians using these
broad assumptions to propagate why one race seems to succeed with little or no
government assistance and others who cannot. Then to compare the success of
Asians to the African American and saying “If Asian Americans can make it, why
can’t African Americans?” Statements such as these, add fuel to a roaring
fire of resentment towards Asian Americans. Asians have been touted as
successful entrepreneurs, but comparing family incomes is even more deceptive.
Some Asian American groups do have higher family incomes than Caucasians. But
they have more workers per family. This "model minority image “ is
homogenized and hides their many differences, as stated by Takaki. For example,
while thousand of Asian students are in universities, others are on the streets,
living in motels, or in gangs. A great percentage of Asians from New York
City’s Chinatown live at or below poverty level. Takaki’s purpose was to
bring awareness to the reader as to the harmful labels we imply on Asian
Americans. Not all Asians are successful here in the US because in their country
certain licensing is not needed to be a professional. When these people come to
the US with poor English are then limited to the jobs they can do. Therefore are
limited to menial dishwasher, caretaker positions. This is not fair. I feel our
country is arrogant when migrants come to the US. Japanese individuals earn good
incomes that are comparable to that of Caucasians. But what you don’t know is
that the Japanese have to endure higher education, and work many more hours.
Takaki focuses on all the unfairness that goes on in today’s marketplace and
with the discrimination Asian Americans receive. His argument mainly states
interesting facts that contradict what we read in the newspapers or hear on the
evening news. The author is angered and wishes for everyone to understand that
Asians are not the “Model Minority”. There is no such thing as a model
minority. Immigrants’ struggle hard or harder to make ends meet and become
successful. His Persona is that of a frustrated individual who just read an
article in the paper and has cast his rebuttal for all to see. His method of
displaying his facts was effective and enlightening. But I think It would have
been ideal if he would have included an opposing argument in his In general, I
believe his argument was effective. Now I do have a better understanding of
where he’s coming from.