My uncle James was a decorated veteran in the Air Force and he was my father’s oldest brother. James and Eugene (my father) were very close and my father trusted James dearly. Every summer, I was put on an airplane to spend my summer with my grandparents as well as my Uncle James and his family. While stationed in Japan on a tour of duty, Uncle James married a Japanese woman named Teruko.

My Dad and his immediate family did not approve of the marriage, but they loved Uncle James and trusted that he made the right decision in marrying someone from another race. Uncle James and Aunt Teruko moved to the US and settled in Florida. Teruko spoke very little English, but she settled into her new life in America.

When it was time to start a family, Uncle James and Aunt Teruko struggled to get pregnant. They finally flew to Japan and adopted a pure Japanese girl by the name of Michiko. I (in my 9-year-old mind) could never understand why they did not simply have children of their own until I overheard a telephone conversation between my mom and Aunt Teruko. My aunt told my mother that she and James wanted an “intellectually superior child who could only come from the country of Japan.” My mother did not agree with her statement, and they had an argument over that statement. This was my first introduction to any sort of model minority myth.

My aunt Teruko never treated me badly and I believe that she loved me dearly. As we grew up and I would make my annual summer trips to Florida, I noticed that Aunt Teruko would become disappointed with Michiko’s academic performance, and she would treat her harshly because Michiko was not meeting her Japanese high academic standards. Uncle James would ask about my grades for the school year, and I would happily report that I had another successful year. Aunt Teruko would look at Michiko with disappointment and embarrassment.

As I reflect on my summers in Florida and my aunt Teruko, it made me sad to think that she believed in the myths that others shared with her about her culture and particularly, how she was perceived by white Americans. I am sure that she and Uncle James had endured a lot of hateful stares and whispering during the early phases of their relationship.

Why the term “Model Minority” was first used in 1966 in a New York Times article called “Success Story, Japanese-American Style” when white sociologist William Petersen first used the term model minority while praising Japanese Americans for achieving great success in America while enduring the most discrimination and worst injustices. According to Peterson’s article, Japanese-Americans achieved this success “by their own almost unaided effort.” Petersen also attributed this success to strong work ethics, family values, and respect for authority. Petersen also wrote about the lack of these same traits in African Americans.

Apparently, Petersen considered African Americans as a problematic race of people. What a wonderful example of a positive stereotype (a stereotype that attributes desirable traits to a group of people. The physical, mental, and physiological damage committed against the African-American race is difficult enough without comparing us to other races and cultures living the “American Life.”

When I read that article, I did not know which assumption was more damaging to humanity. Assuming that Asian Americans are more successful than any other minority. My question is, “How do you define success in America, and why should we have to be measured against it?” The second, and more insulting assumption is that Asian Americans’ success is based on their own efforts. It seems to blame the individual alone for not trying hard enough to be successful in America.

The Model Minority completely erases and ignores diversity, equity, and inclusion in America. This model encourages people of different races and cultures to work against each other. I must see my Japanese-American counterpart as the enemy that is working against me to be successful. This model seems to encourage social inequity while attempting to erase racism and discrimination that has been leveled against African Americans for centuries.

My Aunt Teruko’s behavior towards African Americans was always perplexing to me. She loved my uncle James and severed her ties with her own family when she married a black man. I can only imagine the pain that she had to endure while living in a different country and not knowing much of the language. I believe that the summers with her helped dispel stereotypes of what equality looked like in America. In the minds of white Americans, they see Teruko and Michiko as a mirror of intelligence, hard work, and temperament.

But we all need to remember, “There is no partiality with God (Romans 2:11).