The narrative that Asian Americans succeed in the U.S. primarily due to hard work and so-called “Asian” values overlooks the significant impact of selective immigration policies. Franklin Chou of Nelson Mullins highlights that these policies favor highly educated and skilled immigrants, thus inflating perceptions of success within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
Chou argues that this narrative not only marginalizes AAPI ethnic subgroups who may not fit this model, but also perpetuates harmful myths that affect how other minority groups are perceived and treated. This complex reality necessitates a closer examination of systemic structures rather than attributing success to cultural factors alone. For a more in-depth analysis, you can access Franklin Chou’s article here.