A Model Minority

Time report, his answer was straightforward: To put it plainly, they work harder. For them, education is a “ticket to success.” And in fact, the American education system has proven to be just that—a sure ticket to success. The price they paid for this ticket can be summed up in one word: excellence. Through this effort, they earned the reputation of being a “model minority” in America. But the road was not open and easy for them. They faced racial prejudice and degrading treatment. American youth mocked them, calling them the “yellow peril,” and at times even resorted to physical violence. Yet Asian Americans did not respond with anger or retaliation. They avoided complaint and protest entirely. Their only answer was to work even harder. Parents protected their children from reacting emotionally and instead channeled their energy into greater effort. In Asian families, education became almost an obsession. At home, if a son scored 80 percent, he would be asked why he didn’t get 85. If he scored 85, his father would remind him that 90 was possible. When a community faces problems, there are generally two ways to try to solve them. One way, as seen in India, is to demand and protest. This approach creates two problems at once. First, the original issue becomes even more complicated instead of being resolved. In this world,