A Postcolonial Relationship by Hee An Choi

Author:Hee An Choi [Choi, Hee An]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781438486574
Barnesnoble:
Goodreads: 57249616
Publisher: State University of New York Press
Published: 2021-12-01T00:00:00+00:00

Internal Struggles within Asian Immigrant Groups

Along with the intersection between the black/white and the native/alien binary divides, racial triangulation, anti-Asian sentiment, and the minority/nonminority debate against Asian immigrant groups refortify the marginalization of Asian immigrant groups among racial groups. Both white and nonwhite groups treat Asian immigrant groups not as allies but as competitors. Specifically, when nonwhite groups and Asian immigrant groups try to improve their positions within the black/white binary paradigm, they often compete with and hurt each other at their own expense. At the same time, as white groups fear the success of Asian immigrant groups, they make sure that Asian immigrant groups remain second-class citizens. As both white and other racial groups see Asian immigrant groups as competitors, in some political cases, both groups coalesce with each other. “In fact, xenophobic native-born blacks often united with white nativists to oppose social justice for Asians, whether native-born or immigrant, instead of joining forces to challenge the racial hierarchy that subordinates them.”78

However, when both groups need to demonstrate their coalition work in public, such as immigrant movements and human rights movements, they expect to have collaborative efforts from Asian immigrant groups. Because it is important to show a multicultural atmosphere in these movements, the presence of Asian immigrant groups is politically necessary. However, even though the presence of Asian immigrant groups is required, it does not require any active leadership roles for Asian immigrant groups to participate. Rather, it is perceived that it is better for them to be participants, not the leaders of the movement. Still, because of their minimal participation and lack of leadership in coalitions, they receive criticism from both white groups and nonwhite groups again. Theories of racial triangulation, anti-Asian sentiment, and minority/nonminority models within black/white and native/alien binary divides are some explanations for this criticism. However, there are more complications and barriers that Asian immigrant groups experience. If black/white and native/alien binary divides, racial triangulation, anti-Asian sentiment and minority/nonminority issues are external factors that cause serious barriers for Asian immigrant groups to join this society, there are internal factors that Asian immigrant groups struggle with among themselves. Among many internal factors, two explanations will be discussed in this section.

First, Asian immigrant groups live in a dilemma between going back to their motherlands someday and staying in the U.S. permanently. They left their motherlands for various reasons, such as poverty, political freedom, study, colonial/postcolonial political situations. Whatever reason they come to the U.S., many of them have strong connections with their motherlands. Some immigrants come to the U.S. to work to support their families financially. They send money to their families regularly until their families secure better living situations, hoping one day they can return home. If they come to the U.S. to escape from their motherlands for political reasons, they keep watching their communities and connect with these communities, hoping that they can go back to their communities after political situations get better. Specifically, first-generation immigrants give more attention to concerns about political issues of their motherlands than political and social justice issues in the U.

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