Not Your Model Minority

Dr. Sarah-Soonling Blackburn is an educator, speaker, and professional development specialist. Growing up in a mixed race, Asian and White family, and spending most of her childhood in various countries in Asia, ideas of belonging have always had salience for her. From the classroom to Learning for Justice, her work has focused on the things that help students feel seen and included. She joins us to discuss the myth of the Model Minority and helps contextualize the role of Asian American identities in our collective understanding and education about race and America. 
With a bit of a history lesson, Dr. Blackburn gives us a greater understanding of how this myth is not only harmful to Asian Americans, but to all people of color, and how it is directly tied to anti-Black racism in our country. She also offers deep reflection about what solidarity building can really mean and what we all have to offer in the fight to dismantle White supremacy culture.
LINKS:


Time cover - "Those Asian-American Whiz Kids" 

Learning for Justice

Paula Yoo - From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry: The Killing of Vincent Chin and the Trial that Galvanized the Asian American Movement


Cathy Park Hong - Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning


Erika Lee - The Making of Asian American


Elizabeth McRea - Mothers of Massive Resistance


Dr. McRea on our podcast - White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy


Jeff Chan - We Gon’ Be Alright


Other resources that have shaped our learning:

The Asian American Justice and Innovation Lab

See Us Unite 

The PBS Series - Asian Americans


Code Switch Post - The Model Minority Myth 


Angry Asian Man 

Bianca Mabute-Louie

Dr. Connie Wun

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The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits.
This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits.
Music by Kevin Casey.