Affirmative Action

This week, I read “Isn’t that what the case is about, the discrimination against Asian Americans?” by Wayne Au. Au talks about how Asian Americans have been used as a “racial wedge” in political and legal battles over affirmative action. Basically, instead of protecting our communities, our identities are sometimes used to divide and maintain systems of inequality.

Affirmative action is meant to address past and present discrimination by giving historically marginalized groups more access to opportunities, like education and jobs. Not everyone starts at the same place, and these policies try to account for that. Without them, barriers that have existed for generations would keep minority groups from succeeding.

Some people say affirmative action hurts Asian students, but Au explains that this idea is misleading. Asian American identities are often used to support a colorblind system that reinforces racial hierarchies. We aren’t being protected; we’re being used to push a bigger political agenda.

Growing up as an Asian student in a mostly white, rural area, this reading resonated a lot with me. My racial identity developed in isolation. I didn’t have other Asian students to talk with or share experiences with, which made it harder to process moments of discrimination or exclusion. I felt pressure to fit in, to assimilate, and to succeed on the dominant culture’s terms. At the same time, there is this idea of meritocracy, the idea that success comes purely from talent and hard work, which also ignores the fact that not everyone starts in the same place, and unequal conditions shape the outcomes of effort and achievement.

Reading Au’s article made me think about how important community and shared language are in shaping identity. If I had grown up around more Asian peers, I might have felt less isolated and less pressured to navigate these expectations alone. Policies like affirmative action don’t just benefit individual students; they help create conditions where everyone can have a fair shot, even if the process isn’t perfect.

Let's also talk about the model minority, the idea that Asian Americans are naturally hardworking, smart, and successful. On the surface, it might seem like a compliment, but it’s actually harmful. It erases struggles and creates constant pressure to be perfect. Students who are struggling can easily go unnoticed because people assume we “always do well.” That pressure can cause stress, anxiety, and make it hard to ask for help when you really need it. 

Additionally, the model minority myth is often used to undermine the experiences of other marginalized groups by suggesting that systemic racism can be overcome simply through hard work. In reality, this narrative ignores structural inequalities and reinforces harmful divisions between communities of color. This part of the model minority myth is especially harmful because it gets used as a comparison tool. When people point to Asian American success as proof that “anyone can make it,” they are often implying that other marginalized groups (particularly Black and Latino communities) are responsible for their own struggles. This shifts the focus away from systemic issues like unequal school funding, housing segregation, employment discrimination, and mass incarceration, and instead places blame on individuals or cultures. It also ignores the very different historical and social contexts that shape each group’s experiences. For example, policies like immigration laws, and access to generational wealth have not impacted all communities in the same way. By flattening these differences, the model minority myth erases the role of structural racism and makes inequality seem like a result of effort rather than opportunity.

On top of that, this narrative creates tension between communities of color by positioning one group as a “success story” and others as “failures.” This weakens solidarity and makes it harder for groups to come together to challenge the systems that affect them all. Instead of recognizing shared struggles and advocating for systemic change, the myth encourages division, comparison, and competition. Ultimately, protecting the very inequalities it claims to disprove.

Affirmative action, on the other hand, is actually a positive thing. It helps level the playing field and creates opportunities for students who might otherwise face barriers. It encourages schools and workplaces to value diversity, not just in numbers, but in perspectives and experiences. For students like me, it means that communities can feel seen and included, and everyone has the chance to learn from each other. Affirmative action isn’t about giving anyone an unfair advantage; it’s about creating fairness where inequality has existed for a long time.