Asians, the next White man?

Recently, I have noticed at the mall and various Christian events the increase of an Asian presence. I for one have been excited. In the summer of 2000 I spent five weeks in China. It was an eye opening experience and was a very important part of my personal journey. I very much enjoy learning about Asian as well as black cultures. With that in mind, I have enjoyed the growth of Asian cultures in California. With that background I have noticed some interesting things. Asian folk have been able to participate in the consumption of fine American/European products such as, luxury cars, nice homes, and Abercrombie and Fitch clothing. Some people might exert the stereotype that Asians are smarter and are better at math. There are several problems with this idea. First when we use the word "Asian" we are talking about folks from: China, Japan, North and South Korea, Cambodia, India, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Taiwan, just to name a few... Also, Pacific Islanders are a lot of times grouped together with Asian folk statistically. That is why according to the US Census, "Asians and Pacific Islanders are more likely than non-Hispanic Whites to have earned at least a college degree, but are also more likely to have less than a ninth-grade education." Second, I don't believe that Asians or smarter than other folks, truly I believe it is an issue of economic disposition and skin color. Many who do come from China, Japan, Taiwan, or South Korea have to have some money. I mean could I just pick up all my stuff and move to Mexico, get a job, and/or have a successful business? Probably not, and I would guess it is the same for you. Further, due to the Chinese exclusionary acts, several people who were aloud to come over where already educated. So in a sense the first Asians, were in a sense, the "cream of their crop." Now Asians are accepted and not accepted for various reasons. Skin color and economics are factors why people like Asians or might call them a "Model Minority." Reasons why people may not like Asians, they have different facial features, differ in religious affiliation, and have a language that does not resemble English. When I was a teenager I heard a speaker at UCLA say that society's stratification according to color is White, Asian, Latino, Native American, and then Black. In essence I believe Asians (Chinese, Japanese, Indians, South Koreans, and Philippinos) are ahead of the game because of economic background, business experience, reasons of immigration, and sometimes color. Notice how much of a difference the immigrant experience is for the majorty of people who come to seek political asylum. Now the question is, are they the next white man? Are they the ones with money, the fine things in life, privilege, the ones to pass up poor folks, and the next folks in charge? A good friend of mine once said, "Economics is the new racism." If certain Asian groups have a economic advantages, with that comes the possibility of disenfranchisement. That is truly the case for any individual or people group. There is always someone poorer than you. The only problem is that there are a few things that make Asians distant from dominant culture. Like mentioned before, Asian folks know the struggle all too well like the brown and black man. Asians can still be seen as a threat and although they may wine, dine, and live amongst white folks they are still not "white." They also are not, like many of us, what Spike Lee has described African Americans as "gate keepers." An example, in the movie "Do the Right Thing" after the neighborhood had torched down Sal's Famous Pizzeria the people in the streets were looking for whatever else was a symbol of "the establishment." They turn to a Korean shop owner and he starts to scream, "Me not white, me black! Me black!" Although the Korean shop owner had more of an economic advantage than the Black folks in the neighborhood, he still knew what it was like to be in place where he was seen as different. Ultimately, Asian folk may not be the next "White man", but to it simply pin this just on Asians is unfair. Really any of us with some privilege have the potential to be part of a majority culture that can oppressive or negligent. This is not to say that there plenty of folks part of the dominant culture how are part of change (disclaimer for cool white folks-love ya.) Anyone of us could be part of a larger blob of a culture who with(out) knowing, can be contributing to a system that looks out for it's own. With privilege comes responsibility. Jesus says, "It is easier for a camel to enter the eye of a needle than a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." Privilege can mean more resources but also can be a barrier.