Race and Ethnic Relations (Essay Sample)

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Race and Ethnic Relations
Introduction
Asian Americans have emerged as a distinct pan ethnic and robust classification of the American ethnic configuration. The forms of settlement and adaptation are unique on basis of economic, political, and social situations. As other migrants to America, they have undergone discrimination and prejudice from the receiving nation and that has defined their assimilation patterns and place in the stratification in America. This essay looks into the advancement of Asian Americans in the United States and triumph over discrimination to acquire a firm position in the stratification structure.
Summary
Asians migrated to America between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The Chinese arrived first followed by Japanese, Koreans and Filipinos. Majority were unskilled labourers but subsequent immigrants are educated, highly skilled and earn better lives than majority of Americans. The Japanese immigrants formed a niche in California economy through farming. The 1965 liberalized immigration law made it possible for more Asians like Indians, Koreans, and Vietnamese to move to America. Filipinos constitute a larger number of immigrants as a result of colonization and labour needs. They were recruited as agricultural workers and were initially not considered American citizens but nationals. World War II was a huge influence on immigration of Asians into America.
Although Asians constitute only 4% of America population, the number is bound to rise due to supportive economic and cultural factors (Marger 255). California State is home to majority of Asians and they also reside in Texas, New York, and Hawaii. In socioeconomic level, Asian Americans rank high in income, occupational prestige, socioeconomic status, as well as education levels. The status is different among the Asian groups in terms of economic polarization, educational levels, occupation, and incomes. Chinese and Japanese exhibit economic and educational advancement more than Vietnamese or Filipinos. Asians Americans indicate high rates of business ownership exceeding all Americans (Marger 259).
Furthermore, Asians have the innate superiority among other ethnic groups in terms of intelligence and skills (Marger 263). Asian Americans are known for cultural factors especially their emphasis on cohesiveness of family and education. They are hardworking people and motivated to upward mobility. Koreans are known for industriousness and control of emotions and impulses enabling them achieve economic success. Their Confucian values justify work ethics and educational success. However, Asian Americans are hardly interested in politics and participation in politics is limited. They are increasing in numbers which opens a door for potential power in campaign donations as well as solidifying a political base to repel discrimination (Marger 266).
Asian Americans were also victims of discrimination and atrocities like physical and social abuse. The anti-Asian heritage speaks volumes of Asian immigrants being subject to abuse, fraud and chicanery, and legal debauchery where laws prohibited testimony of Chinese in suits involving whites. Historical events like Sino phobia, the anti-Japanese movement, and Japanese interment indicate the long journey and fight against discrimination (Marger 268). Asian immigrants were not eligible to citizenship until the 1952 federal legislation that overturned the situation. In present day, prejudice on Chinese is nailed on social class where the less educated and poor are commonly prejudiced. Americans prejudice Asians on intermarriage and disapprove possibilities of an Asi...