Asian American Advocacy blog post by admin

Are Asian Americans Seizing A Moment In Mass Media? Key Data and Recent Events Suggests, Yes.

Photo Credit: The New York Times

The Ascent of Asian Americans: Invisible No More. Research Shows Asians Are Fastest Growing Racial and Ethnic Group in the US

The moment is seared into my memory. There I was on a crisp, fall morning enjoying my first cup of coffee at Cafe Cluny, my favorite West Village bistro in Manhattan, as I flipped through the New York Times and landed on an open letter by Michael Luo, then reporter and editor for the paper. It read, “An Open Letter to the Woman Who Told My Family to Go Back to China.” As I begin to read the letter, I was astonished in so many different and nuanced ways. As an Asian American myself, my initial reaction was anger. My face became hot and my palms begin to sweat. I realized while reading the article, that painful and often confusing childhood memories in the same vein, were being triggered.

Full New York Times article here.

My other reaction was one of astonishment, and then, reluctant cynicism. As difficult as it was for me to believe this type of offensive behavior still persists in 2016, it served as a sobering reminder of an existent segment and mindset of America’s population.

The national outpouring and reaction to Luo’s letter were swift and immediate, while social media spun a tornado around the topic resulting in visibility that was extensive. The New York Times even posted a reactionary video and supporting video series exploring the topic of race surrounding Asian American identity.

Why do I mention all of this? Because as I was sitting all alone in the middle of the bistro it hit me: I begin to question if Luo’s letter would have received as much visibility and attention a decade ago? My guess is, probably not.

I have a theory and it goes something like this: Over the past several years, Asian Americans have gained remarkable momentum in the mass media. If you look at the demographic statistics, there is an undeniable parallel between an increase in population growth, uptick in visibility and an increase in Asian American activism.

In short—there is strength in numbers. Asian Americans are starting to understand they wield, real influence and power.

Let’s take a look at the data. By 2040, nearly 1 in 10 Americans will be Asian American according to a 2015 report by the UCLA Center for the Study of Inequality and Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies. And, according to Pew Research Center, the U.S. Asian population grew 72 percent between 2000 and 2015, from 11.9 million to 20.4 million. What’s more is according to Selig Center for Economic Growth, Asian Americans had an estimated buying power of $825 billion in 2015, which is expected to grow to $1.1 trillion in 2020.

What do these figures and statistics on Asian Americans mean and could they have an impact on American society at large? The answers to those questions remain to be seen.

What we do know is that looking forward, Asians are projected to become the largest immigrant group in the country, surpassing Hispanics in 2055, according to Pew Research Center.

In the meantime, here is a brief, interactive timeline that captures some of the more recent and notable events for Asian Americans in the mass media.