The Asian American Movement Problems and Prospects

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Ethnicity No Asian ethnic group takes up the majority Chinese: 23% Filipino: 18% Asian Indian: 19% Japanese: 7% Korean: 10% Vietnamese: 11% (Total top 6: 88%)

Population Diversity: Ethnicity

No Asian ethnic group takes up the majority

Chinese: 23%

Filipino: 18%

Asian Indian: 19%

Japanese: 7%

Korean: 10%

Vietnamese: 11% (Total top 6: 88%)

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Religion Christians have the largest plurality but not the majority (Lien and Carnes 2004) (PNAAPS 2001) Protestant: 26% Catholic: 20% Buddhist: 15% Hindu: 6% Muslim: 2% No religion: 19%

Population Diversity: Religion

Christians have the largest plurality but not the majority (Lien and Carnes 2004) (PNAAPS 2001)

Protestant: 26%

Catholic: 20%

Buddhist: 15%

Hindu: 6%

Muslim: 2%

No religion: 19%

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity Among Asian American Christians, Evangelical Protestants have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review) Evangelical Protestant: 43% Catholic: 37% Mainline Protestant: 17%

Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity

Among Asian American Christians, Evangelical Protestants have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review)

Evangelical Protestant: 43%

Catholic: 37%

Mainline Protestant: 17%

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity Among Asian American Christians, Filipinos have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review) Filipino Christian: 39% (using top 6 groups) Korean: 21% Chinese: 13% Asian Indian: 10% Vietnamese: 9% Japanese: 8%

Population Diversity: Within Asian American Christianity

Among Asian American Christians, Filipinos have the largest plurality but not the majority (Park, under review)

Filipino Christian: 39% (using top 6 groups)

Korean: 21%

Chinese: 13%

Asian Indian: 10%

Vietnamese: 9%

Japanese: 8%

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Christianity Within Asian American Ethnic Groups Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different faith contexts (Park, under review) Chinese Christians: 20% Protestant, 3% Catholic Korean Christians: 69% Protestant, 11% Catholic Filipino Christians: 18% Protestant, 69% Catholic South Asian Christians: 2% Protestant, 1% Cath.* Vietnamese Christians: 13% Protestant, 20% Cath.

Population Diversity: Christianity Within Asian American Ethnic Groups

Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different faith contexts (Park, under review)

Chinese Christians: 20% Protestant, 3% Catholic

Korean Christians: 69% Protestant, 11% Catholic

Filipino Christians: 18% Protestant, 69% Catholic

South Asian Christians: 2% Protestant, 1% Cath.*

Vietnamese Christians: 13% Protestant, 20% Cath.

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Nonreligious Within Asian American Ethnic Groups Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different nonreligious contexts (Park, under review) Chinese nonreligious: 58% Korean nonreligious: 13% Filipino nonreligious: 6% South Asian nonreligious: 20%* Vietnamese nonreligious: 18%

Population Diversity: Nonreligious Within Asian American Ethnic Groups

Different Asian American Ethnic Christians face radically different nonreligious contexts (Park, under review)

Chinese nonreligious: 58%

Korean nonreligious: 13%

Filipino nonreligious: 6%

South Asian nonreligious: 20%*

Vietnamese nonreligious: 18%

The Differences Between Defining an Asian American Movement relative to other minority groups Population Diversity: Educational Attainment, Household Income Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different educational attainment rates Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different household income levels

Population Diversity: Educational Attainment, Household Income

Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different educational attainment rates

Different Asian American Ethnic groups have different household income levels

Bamboo Ceilings Source: 80-20 Initiative, Data: EEOC 2002 statistics Asian Americans have respectively a 55%, 41% and 30% chance to be promoted to the manager level in private industries, universities and the Federal government.

Source: 80-20 Initiative, Data: EEOC 2002 statistics

Asian Americans have respectively a 55%, 41% and 30% chance to be promoted to the manager level in private industries, universities and the Federal government.

Social Movements and the Asian American Movement Racial Social Movements do not require participation of all ethnic groups to succeed politically (but is it fair?) “ Strong” Social Movements have specific agendas and a limited number of foci. “ Strong” Social Movements adapt to changing circumstances (rather than focus on repeated agendas)

Racial Social Movements do not require participation of all ethnic groups to succeed politically (but is it fair?)

“ Strong” Social Movements have specific agendas and a limited number of foci.

“ Strong” Social Movements adapt to changing circumstances (rather than focus on repeated agendas)

Social Movements and the Asian American Movement Asian American Movement in the 1970s to 2000: largely political and largely east Asian AAM 1970s: end the Vietnam conflict and provide healthcare to refugees AAM 1980s: justice for Vincent Chin AAM 1990s: justice for Wen Ho Lee

Asian American Movement in the 1970s to 2000: largely political and largely east Asian

AAM 1970s: end the Vietnam conflict and provide healthcare to refugees

AAM 1980s: justice for Vincent Chin

AAM 1990s: justice for Wen Ho Lee

What Asian American means to the 2 nd Generation Interviews with 88 2 nd Gen AsAms: “What do you think of when you hear the phrase ‘Asian American?’” “Who is included?” At least 8 definitions of “Asian American” Tension between “multiculturalist” and “racialized” conceptions Multiculturalist: my ethnic culture allows me to succeed, I am proud of my heritage Racialized: mainstream society puts me in a box; I have to choose to be non-Asian or face exclusion

Interviews with 88 2 nd Gen AsAms: “What do you think of when you hear the phrase ‘Asian American?’” “Who is included?”

At least 8 definitions of “Asian American”

Tension between “multiculturalist” and “racialized” conceptions

Multiculturalist: my ethnic culture allows me to succeed, I am proud of my heritage

Racialized: mainstream society puts me in a box; I have to choose to be non-Asian or face exclusion

What Asian American means to the 2 nd Generation (Caveat) Due to campus experiences of Asian American evangelical groups, “Asian American” sometimes means “Asian Evangelical” Due to campus and media experiences generally, “Asian American” can exclude South Asians (might also apply to evangelical Protestant circles also)

Due to campus experiences of Asian American evangelical groups, “Asian American” sometimes means “Asian Evangelical”

Due to campus and media experiences generally, “Asian American” can exclude South Asians (might also apply to evangelical Protestant circles also)

Racialized Identity Point: “Asian American” is an artificial term with real life consequences Socially imposed but co-opted by groups and individuals

Point: “Asian American” is an artificial term with real life consequences

Socially imposed but co-opted by groups and individuals

Considerations Given ethnic, religious, and class diversity Asian Americans have a variety of agendas and contexts Limited cooperation should be expected What would an Asian American movement agenda consist of (political presence? Cultural awareness?) What role would Christian Asian Americans want from their churches in such a movement?

Given ethnic, religious, and class diversity Asian Americans have a variety of agendas and contexts

Limited cooperation should be expected

What would an Asian American movement agenda consist of (political presence? Cultural awareness?)

What role would Christian Asian Americans want from their churches in such a movement?

The Asian American Movement Problems and Prospects