The Asian American Experience
Suggested Topics - Paper #2
Due Date: Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Assignment: Write a 4-6 page typed, double spaced, critical analysis paper, on one of
the following paper topics. You may also devise your own paper topic, but must have it
approved by me before submission. Any outside sources must be properly documented
using Chicago Manual of Style format. If you are quoting directly from the text, indicate
the appropriate page number from which the quote was taken. Include a title page with
the last four digits of your social security number or student identification number (no
names).
1. Read Jamilah King’s “The Subtle Bigotry That Made Jeremy Lin the NBA’s Most
Surprising Star” and “Different Racisms: On Jeremy Lin and How the Rules of Racism
are Different for Asian Americans” (http://therumpus.net/2012/03/different-racisms-onjeremy-lin-and-how-the-rules-of-racism-are-different-for-asian-americans) by Matthew
Salesses. In a 4-6 page essay, draw parallels between the bigotry used to exclude and
marginalize Asian immigrants in the 19th and early 20th century with the bigotry that
helped to make Jeremy Lin “the NBA’s Most Surprising Star.”
The only sources that you will need to use and cite in your paper are Ronald Takaki’s
Stranger from a Different Shore, Jamilah King’s article from Colorlines, and Mathew
Salesses, “Different Racisms: On Jeremy Lin and How the Rules of Racism are Different
for Asian Americans.”
2. In the title story of Don Lee’s collection of short stories entitled, Yellow, when Danny
Kim says to his wife, Rachel, “No stereotype is innocent,” she replies, “Racism’s not the
problem. It’s you.” Do you agree with Danny or Rachel? Or both? Is Danny’s
perception the problem or is it society? How does the title of this short story related to
this issue?
3. Discuss the stereotype of the “model minority” in relation to Amy Chua’s work, Battle
Hymn of the Tiger Mother. Evaluate Chua’s book in terms of whether or not her theories
on parenting promote or refute the myth of the model minority.