Asian American and Pacific Islander Activism

There are many assumptions about the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population that often mask their actual participation in, and contributions to, American society. Some scholars have identified AAPIs as the “invisible Americans” because of the lack of visibility they are afforded in scholarly research, public policy, the media, and the political arena. At the same time, there is a common perception of AAPIs as a successful or model minority. Because of the perceived success of AAPIs, they have often been excluded altogether from racial discourse on social issues because it is believed that there is no need to address their needs.

While the disregard of Asian American and Pacific Islanders continues, the population has grown to become the third largest racial minority group in the United States after Latino/as and African Americans. The U.S. Census Bureau found that in 2003, there was an estimated 13.3 million AAPIs in the United States, representing 4.5% of the total population. The number of AAPIs increased nearly 50% since 1990 and doubled from 1980. Furthermore, the growth of the AAPI population is expected to continue, maintaining AAPIs as the fastest-growing racial group in the nation. The U.S. AAPI population is also extremely diverse. Through classification by the U.S. Census Bureau, the AAPI racial designation is inclusive of more than 50 different ethnic groups who speak more than 300 languages.

Despite their lack of recognition by American society, the AAPI population has a long history of political, social, and legal activism. In fact, like most minority populations in U.S. society, the gains in civil liberties would not be enjoyed today if it were not for the initiative that was put forth by the AAPI population. The AAPI population has fought to gain rights as U.S. citizens, attain equal opportunity in education and employment, and end discrimination and racial profiling. There has also been a rise in AAPI political representation that has helped to bring more attention to the needs and challenges faced by the population. Key movements in the history of AAPIs have made significant gains in the fight against basic social problems such as inequality, poverty, and discrimination.

Probably the most visible social movement among the AAPI population is when the Japanese American community succeeded in pushing for the passage of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988. The act provided redress for Japanese American internees, evacuees, and persons of Japanese ancestry who lost liberty or property because of discriminatory action by the federal government during World War II. As a result of the war with Japan, many people in the United States did not trust people of Japanese ancestry, and even Japanese Americans who were born in this country were mistakenly thought to be loyal to Japan. As a result, President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1942 issued Executive Order 9066, which began this prohibition. In 1978, the national convention of the Japanese American Citizens League adopted a resolution calling for redress and reparations for the internment of Japanese Americans. In 1980, the Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians was established by Congress, which reviewed the impact of Executive Order 9066 on Japanese Americans and determined that they were the victims of discrimination by the federal government.

...