Introduction

Ethnic diversity has been bon tremendousincrease in United States. Thepresence of Asian American community in thiscontinentgives a lifelineto vividlyunderstand ethnicity concept in America. Asian Americans are the most isolated race in America and are treated as pure strangers who cannot adopt the American nature. Asian American population has been on a tremendousincrease which rose from less than a million to over 14 million from 1960 to date.
However, this is a smallpopulation as itcountsonlyless than 6% of United States population. Thispopulationtraces their origin from southeast, Far East andalso from India. Asian Americans haveforseveral decades received a lot of skepticism from theother American population. This could be possiblybecause of thesmallpopulationsizeandtheperceptionsthatit is a strangecommunity (Takaki, 1998, p 12-35).

Discussion

Asian American was treated as a strangepopulationpossiblybecausethey were treated as illegalimmigrants to America. There are alsonumerous of stereotypes that define Asian America as strangepeople as opposed to their fellow Americans from Latin and India. In otherwords, thepopulation has beenstereotyped as perpetualforeigners. The ethnic group is alsohardworkingandseems as one of themostsuccessfulraces in America. This has resulted to them receivingsome of the fiercest reception from thenatives (Takaki, 1998).
The Asian Americans are generallyperceived by the European Americans as people from an “exotic” landaway from their land. Perpetualforeignerstereotypedefinesthe Asian Americans as peoplewhorarelyunderstandsandembraces American culture. The ethnic hatred spreads even to theyoungonesborn in United States as theorigindwellersbelievethateventhoseborn in America will not speakthe American English norunderstand US culture. It is forthiscoursethatthey are not perceived as trueAmericans (Takaki, 1998, p 94 – 116).
Since timeimmemorial, Europeans viewedthe Asian cultureandachievementpurelyexotic. Theyconsideredthe Asians character as an abnormality as far their traditionsandbeliefs were concerned. Thishappenedearly before the United States was createdandcontinuedeven after its emergence. In essence, theperpetualforeignerstereotypedepictsthat America as a landonlyforthewhitepeople. Thisbelievesheightenedbothracismandethnicity in America.
Asian Americansare themainvictims of theperpetualforeigners’ stereotype. Thismadethe European American mistreat the Asians in allfronts. Racismand ethnicity became a menace in United States anddiversity has neverbeenembracedas a result. Stereotypes of Far East Asians havebeenthecause of racismand ethnic brutality on Asian Americans (Takaki, 1998). This has beenpublicized through media, theatre, currentevents, legislationsandothercreativeexpressions. This has ensuredthatthestereotypereachesthewhole American populationthusmakingitdifficult to curbthemenace.
Thewhite Americans, as a result of perpetualforeignerstereotype, feelsthatthey are therightfulownershavesubjectedthe Asian Americans to stressful lifestyle. Over the decades, Asian Americans has been a target to violenceandotherinhumanactsdue to their raceor ethnic affiliations. One of themostnotableevents is the Rocksprings massacre, Watsonville riotsandthePearlHarborattacks (Takaki, 1998, p 269-326).
Thediscrimination has alsoescalated to higher levels as it has reachedeventhehighlytrainedprofessionals. Forinstance, in 2012 somewhite Americans boycotted Asian ownedbusinesses in Dallas. Asian Americans havereceivednumerous of racismand ethnic crimes which in adversecasesresulted to murder.
The Asian American has alsosuffered immensely due to theperpetualforeignerstereotype. This was escalated by thecoldbloodmurder of Vincent chin. Vincent chin was an Asian America engineerwho was killed by two whiteworkers after accusing him of being behind their woes. This is after theythoughtthat Vichin was a threat to their source of livelihood. Mattersevengotworsewhen a judgesentencedthemurderers to probationand a fine of $ 3,780 (Takaki, 1998).
Hate crimes against the Asian American havealsobeenexperienced as a result of thesestereotypes. Yellowperilracism has beenpracticed against the Asian Americans and has beenviewed as scapegoatsforeconomicproblems in United States. This has beenescalated by the entrepreneurial nature of the Asian Americans. To instillfearandhatred upon the Asian Americans, YellowPerildefinesthe Asian Americans as people out to destroythewesterncivilization in some tactics such as war, immigration, andeconomics among others.
Thisnotion has alsohadothereffects on politicalandeducationalfronts. Althoughthe Chinese economy is on a steadyrise, yellowperilstilldepictsthe Chinese as a threat to the American economy. In theeducationsector, the Asian Americans facediscrimination in terms of minimaladmissions as a result of theyellowperilperception. Theyassertthatthe Asian America studentstakeawayseats from otherEuropean Americans(Takaki, 1998 p 335).

Conclusion

In conclusion, racismand ethnicity is a menace in United States. However, the Asian Americans havesufferedadverselyas a result. Embracingdiversity would be a betteroption as it would lead to greaterheights of improvements. In recentyears, thestereotype of perpetualforeigners has extendedeven to religion. This can be evidenced by therecentassertionsthat Obama is a secret Muslim. Nevertheless, it is hightimethatthe Americans realizetheessence of embracingdiversityand shun ethnicity, racismandothervices that do not foster their unity (Takaki, 1998).

Reference

Takaki, R. T. (1998). Strangers from a different shore: a history of Asian Americans (Updated and rev. ed., 1st Back Bay ed.). Boston: Little, Brown.

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