In white America's stereotyping of people of color, where most groups are written off as lazy and inferior, Asian Americans are lauded as the good minority--in fact the model minority--and praised for their industriousness, mathematical and scientific achievements, and material wealth. In her intimate memoir, They Called Us Exceptional--and Other Lies That Raised Us Prachi Gupta explains why this stereotsype is maybe more curse than blessing.
This designation is relatively recent. In the not so distant past both America and Canada, striving to become white nations, enacted Asian immigration bans. When these bans were lifted there was a preference for Asians with high educational attainment and professional skills. Indian Americans became one the most educated, wealthiest immigrant groups in America, validating the model minority myth. "They called us exceptional. We fulfilled the prophecy."
One of the pernicious effects of the model minority myth was to keep on subjugating Black people, on portraying them as inferior (the Asians became successful. Why couldn't you?) to justify treating them as such.
Another was the pressure on the children of the highly successful Asians. Being on a pedestal carries with it a fear of the humiliation of falling off it or having one's children do so. With Gupta the pressure began early and was intense. Science and math (her brother's strengths, but not hers) were the only legitimate pathways. The Ivies and the most prestigious careers were the only legitimate destinations. And there was also the pressure to make the family look perfect, even if under the surface it was highly dysfunctional.
In They Called Us Exceptional Gupta shares with readers how the pressures harmed her, not only in her childhood and teens, but well into her adult life.
On a purrrsonal note, I'm having a fabulous weekend. Saturday was No Kings Day. Bailey and I observed it by going door to door for Troy Jackson in Bangor. It was cold but sunny. We had some really good conversations with voters. We had a really excellent lunch at Paddy Murphy's--a really cozy restaurant in downtown Bangor. Bailey treated me to fried clams and onion rings. (Thanks, Bailey!) We looked around some of the cute downtown shops. I finally found a watch that fits. I've been without one since last winter. Then we picked flowers 💐 in Orono. Saturay after our Governers breakfast Eugene and I went leaf peeping. The foliage was gorgeous! We stopped at a thrift shop. Eugene bought me a lion Squishmallow and an incredible brand new backpack with matching soft lunch box and pencil case. Cat decorated of course. He got us subs for lunch. Three restaurant meals in two days! I'm for sure living la dolce vida!!! Finally the day warmed up and I got to read outside near my beautiful 💐.
A great big shout out goes out to Bailey and Eugene and the people who took the time to converse with Bailey and me.
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my Galaxy
