Park includes a number of terms in Chapter 5 that are important to understand. Some should be familiar, others are new to this Chapter. Here is a short list.
We often hear the words "model minority" applied to the very large and very diverse Asian American community. Stereotypes like that limit our understanding of Asian American realities. This short video deconstructs that myth in its depiction of the struggles of a Khmer American community, focusing on the challenges faced by one young woman on the verge of dropping out of high school.
RACE ON CAMPUS:
Debunking Myths with Data
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Discussion Questions
Topic Leader: Susan Vega García
Meeting: LMT 11.13
Please read the following & be prepared to discuss at our meeting:
Chapter 5: Why the SAT and SAT Prep Fall Short -- pages 99-121
You can always read more from the book at any time, but this is one Chapter we will focus on in our discussions for today.
Note: This chapter focuses on the idea of a "success frame" that according to the author drives students from a number of Asian American groups to get into the SAT Prep pipeline in high numbers. While there's much here to discuss, our questions for this chapter will focus on overarching issues of equity and cultural competence.
Discussion Questions
1. Chapter 5 begins with the author sharing that she first learned about the SAT when she was 7 or 8 years old, due to a friend's 12-year old sibling studying for the exam (p99).
2. Park describes how the "success frame" and heavy socialization into standardized test prep have impacted some Asian American communities disproportionately, causing even lower-income families from some groups to invest heavily in this industry.
3. What strategies does Park employ in this chapter to once again avoid stereotyping Asian Americans?
