The document discusses the diversity within the Asian American population and the challenges that presents for defining an Asian American movement. It notes that no single Asian ethnic group makes up a majority, and that Asian Americans differ in their religious affiliations, concentrations within Christian denominations, educational attainment, and household income. This diversity means that different Asian American subgroups face very different social and religious contexts. The document also examines past Asian American social movements and how the meaning of "Asian American" is interpreted differently by second-generation Asian Americans. It raises questions about what a modern Asian American movement might focus on and how Christian Asian Americans might want to engage.

1. The Asian American Movement
Problems and Prospects

2. 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%)

3. 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%

4. 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%

5. 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%

6. 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.

7. 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%

8. 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

11. 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.

12. 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)

13. 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

14. What Asian American means to
the 2nd
Generation
• Interviews with 88 2nd
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

15. What Asian American means to
the 2nd
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)

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

17. 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?

18. The Asian American Movement
Problems and Prospects