Asian Americans Should NOT Be Considered As Perpetual Foreigners

It’s a matter of racism

They are Americans First and Foremost

Although many Asian Americans are descendants of immigrants who came to the United States in the 1800’s and early 1900’s, they regularly find that some Americans think of them first as foreigners or immigrants. Because people of Asian backgrounds do not have the same facial features as people whose heritage is from Europe, White Americans often do not consider them as full Americans. That should NOT be the case.

Some Americans of Asian ancestry have been in the United States for at least five or six generations. They are as American as almost anyone in the country. Even young Americans of Asian descent experience being treated as if they are immigrants.

Americans of Asian heritage are Americans first and foremost. They were mostly born in the United States and have lived here their entire lives. They went to American schools and learned American history. They speak English just like anyone else who was born in the United States. Their feelings and thoughts are as Americans. They have family members who fought and died for this country. They deserve to be considered as “regular” Americans instead of as foreigners or outsiders.

Chinese immigrants were a main force in building the infrastructure of the United States with the building of the railroad. They provided a lot of the labor which brought the country together with the completion of the transcontinental railroad. Yet Chinese people were excluded when the 100 year celebration of the railroad joining together at Promontory Point in Utah was commemorated. Their descendants made sure that the contributions of the Chinese were noted when the 150 year commemoration was held in 2019.

World War II brought lots of hatred to immigrants and American citizens of Japanese ethnicity. With the United States at war with Japan, there was a lot of racism shown toward people who were Japanese by birth or by heritage. After President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066, around 120,000 people were removed from their homes on the West Coast of the United States. Most were unjustly incarcerated in camps during the war years. This was due to prejudice and discrimination coupled with war hysteria and a lack of competent government leadership. It has been considered as one of the most egregious acts ever against the Constitution.

Asian Americans have faced a lot of discrimination and racism over many years. They continue to face some racism, especially during the pandemic. After Donald Trump repeatedly blamed China for the coronavirus, Americans and immigrants of Asian background faced more racist rants and even hate crimes. Trump would not stop his rhetoric which has caused racism toward innocent people.

There are many Asian immigrants who have come to the United States in more recent years. The fastest growing ethnic minority group at the present time is of Asian background. There are many Asian countries, and there is a great diversity among Asians. There are a lot of Asian immigrants, but most people of Asian background in the United States are likely to have been born in this country.

Racism has been allowed to continue for so many years. It is time to consider Americans of Asian descent as full Americans without discriminating against them because of their physical appearance. Racism is unjust and unfair. It is time to end racism.

[Source: The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles, www.thejapaneseamericanstory.com]