Reporter’s notebook: How Minnesotans perceive Asian people and notions of success
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Recently released polling data found Minnesotans think it’s harder for Black, Hispanic or Indigenous people to succeed here compared to people who are white or of Asian descent.
The survey found about 2 in 5 Minnesotans think being Black or Brown makes it more difficult to be successful in Minnesota, while only about 1 in 5 say the same about being Asian.
The results around Asian Minnesotans were intriguing. It felt like a small but important difference in perception that was worth exploring. I talked to some local researchers about it and it led to some discussions about how Minnesotans view race and opportunity.
I asked Richard Lee, who teaches psychology and Asian American studies at the University of Minnesota, to take a look at the data.
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‘You don’t see the full story’
A little background first: About 3,400 adults in Minnesota were polled from July to November last year as part of an effort by the local nonprofit Center for Economic Inclusion to track progress on closing racial gaps in employment, income and wealth.
Lee and I spent a lot of time talking about the model minority myth that started in the ‘60s that led white people to see Asian people as harder workers than other communities of color.
Lee noted this stereotype doesn’t just negatively affect other minority groups. It can also be harmful to how Asian Minnesotans may see themselves.
“So these perceptions, like these stereotypes, which really capture the model minority stereotype, really have serious, negative mental health implications, which, when you look at this data here, right? You don’t see that full story,” he said. “It just looks like, oh, Asian Americans see that it’s a little easier for them to be successful. But at what cost?”
Interestingly, the survey showed people of Asian descent also felt being Asian made it easier to succeed.
Since success wasn’t defined, Lee said it’s possible the responses from Asian respondents reflect how aware they are of stereotypes associated with their race.
‘Two contrasting stereotypes’
The survey did not measure discrimination, though in recent years Asian Americans have been experiencing exponentially more hate crimes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“So in people’s heads, they’re holding two contrasting stereotypes of Asian Americans,” said Lee. “They’re not American, and therefore they’re dangerous. And yet, look at how successful they are, and we can’t let them be treated unfairly in college admissions. What a crazy paradox to have to navigate as an Asian American.”
Another point from Lee: In this survey, Asian Minnesotans saw other groups as having a harder time than them at higher rates. Lee says that indicates a high sense of cross-racial empathy and solidarity.
I also spoke with Lee Pao Xiong, director of Hmong Studies at Concordia University St. Paul, about why the Hmong experience in Minnesota differed from other racial or ethnic groups.
“I think it was the infrastructure that was in place to help Hmong, I mean, to help Hmong people integrate into American society, right? And so you got the church supporting the Hmong community. Really helping Hmong to thrive. You got the community coming together and forming associations, right.”
The Hmong community still has its struggles, but Xiong notes that Hmong people have seen high-profile successes in state politics, education and in the local business community in the 50 years since Hmong people first came as refugees.
There is some really interesting research happening at the U of M and Concordia St. Paul about the impact of the model minority myth and its effects in the state.
The survey connects to that: If we better understand how we perceive race and ethnicity, we can get to the point where we can separate myth and reality.
