View source for Asian Americans

{{Short description|People of Asian descent in the United States}}
{{About|the US population of Americans of Asian ancestry|populations of Asians across the Americas|Asians in the Americas (disambiguation){{!}}Asians in the Americas|the documentary series|Asian Americans (film series)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2016}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2023}}
{{Infobox ethnic group
| group            = Asian Americans
| population       = '''Alone (one race)'''<br>{{increase}} '''20,052,323''' (2023 American Community Survey)<ref name="ACS 2023 B02015">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B02015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2024-09-21 |title=US Census Data }}</ref><br>{{increase}} 6.00% of the total US population<br><br>'''In combination ([[Multiracial Americans|multiracial]])'''<br>{{increase}} '''5,835,155''' (2023 American Community Survey)<ref name="ACS 2023 B02015" /><ref name="ACS 2023">{{cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table/ACSDT1Y2023.B02018 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=2024-09-21 |title=US Census Data }}</ref><br />{{increase}} 1.24% of the total US population<br><br>'''Alone or in combination'''<br>{{increase}} '''25,887,478''' (2023 American Community Survey)<ref name="ACS 2023" /><br>{{increase}} 7.24% of the total US population
| poptime          = 
| popplace         = [[Suburban]] and [[List of United States urban areas|urban]] areas along the [[West Coast of the United States|West]] and [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]], and in the [[Southern United States|South]], [[Midwestern United States|Midwest]], and [[Southwestern United States|Southwest]]; [[Hawaii]] and the Pacific [[Territories of the United States|territories]]
| region1          = {{flagicon|California}} [[California]]
| pop1             = 6,085,947
| ref1             = <ref name="Asian Population 2020">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html|title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States|date=August 12, 2021 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=August 17, 2021}}</ref>
| region2          = {{flagicon|New York (state)}} [[New York (state)|New York]]
| pop2             = 1,933,127
| ref2             = <ref name="Asian Population 2020"/>
| region3          = {{flagicon|Texas}} [[Texas]]
| pop3             = 1,585,480
| ref3             = <ref name="Asian Population 2020"/>
| region4          = {{flagicon|New Jersey}} [[New Jersey]]
| pop4             = 950,090
| ref4             = <ref name="Asian Population 2020"/>
| region5          = {{flagicon|Illinois}} [[Illinois]]
| pop5             = 754,878
| ref5             = <ref name="Asian Population 2020"/>
| langs            = {{hlist | [[English language|English]] | [[Languages of Asia|Several Asian languages]]}}
| rels             = [[Christianity in the United States|Christian]] (34%)<br />[[Irreligion in the United States|Unaffiliated]] (32%)<br />[[Buddhism in the United States|Buddhist]] (11%)<br />[[Hinduism in the United States|Hindu]] (11%)<br />[[Islam in the United States|Muslim]] (6%)<br />Other (1%) including [[Sikhism in the United States|Sikh]], [[Jain]], [[Zoroastrianism|Zoroastrian]], [[Tengrism]], [[Shinto]], and [[Chinese folk religion]] ([[Taoism|Taoist]] and more), [[Vietnamese folk religion]]<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023">{{cite web | last1=Mohamed | first1=Besheer | last2=Rotolo | first2=Michael | title=Religion Among Asian Americans | website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project | date=2023-10-11 | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/religion-among-asian-americans/ | access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref>
| native_name      = 
| native_name_lang = 
| image            = Asian_Americans_2020_County.png
| image_caption    = Distribution of Asian Americans by county according to the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]]
}}

'''Asian Americans''' are [[Americans]] with [[Asian diaspora|ancestry from the continent of Asia]] (including [[naturalized]] Americans who are [[Immigration to the United States|immigrants]] from specific regions in [[Asia]] and descendants of those immigrants).<ref name="c2010">{{cite web |url=https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C2010br-02.pdf |title=Overview of Race and Hispanic Origin: 2010 |author=Karen R. Humes |author2=Nicholas A. Jones |author3=Roberto R. Ramirez |date=March 2011 |work=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |access-date=January 5, 2012 |archive-date=September 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903025040/https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:C2010br-02.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> According to annual estimates from the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], as of July 1, 2024, the Asian population was estimated at 22,080,844, representing approximately 6.49% of the total [[Demographics of the United States|U.S. population]], making them the fastest growing and fourth largest [[Race and ethnicity in the United States|racial and ethnic group in the United States]] after [[African Americans]], [[Hispanic and Latino Americans]] and [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic White Americans]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/press-kits/2025/2024-population-estimates-characteristics.html |title=Vintage 2024 Population Estimates by Age, Sex, Race, Hispanic Origin |access-date=2025-07-31 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>

Although this term had historically been used for all the indigenous peoples of the continent of Asia, the usage of the term "Asian" by the [[United States Census Bureau]] denotes a racial category that includes people with origins or ancestry from [[East Asia]], [[South Asia]], [[Southeast Asia]], and [[Central Asia]]. It excludes people with ethnic origins from [[West Asia]], who were historically classified as "white" and will be categorized as [[Middle Eastern Americans]] starting from the [[2030 United States census|2030 census]].<ref name="autogenerated1" /><ref name="Middle East" /> [[Central Asians in the United States|Central Asian]] ancestries (including [[Afghans|Afghan]], [[Kazakhs|Kazakh]], [[Kyrgyz people|Kyrgyz]], [[Tajiks|Tajik]], [[Turkmens|Turkmen]], and [[Uzbeks|Uzbek]]) were previously not included in any racial category but have been designated as "Asian" as of 2024.<ref name=":5">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-29 |title=Revisions to OMB's Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity |url=https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/29/2024-06469/revisions-to-ombs-statistical-policy-directive-no-15-standards-for-maintaining-collecting-and |access-date=2024-12-22 |website=Federal Register |language=en}}</ref>

The "Asian" census category includes people who indicate their race(s) on the census as "Asian" or reported entries such as "[[Chinese Americans|Chinese]], [[Indian Americans|Indian]], [[Bangladeshi Americans|Bangladeshi]], [[Filipino Americans|Filipino]], [[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]], [[Indonesian Americans|Indonesian]], [[Korean Americans|Korean]], [[Japanese Americans|Japanese]], [[Pakistani Americans|Pakistani]], [[Thai Americans|Thai]], and Other Asian".<ref name="centech"/> In 2020, Americans who identified as Asian alone (19,886,049) or in combination with other races (4,114,949) made up 7.2% of the US population.<ref>{{cite web |title=Table 1 – Population By Race: 2010 and 2020 |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial/2020/data/redistricting-supplementary-tables/redistricting-supplementary-table-01.pdf |website=United States Census Bureau |access-date=16 August 2022}}</ref>

Chinese, Indian, and Filipino Americans make up the largest share of the Asian American population with 5.5 million, 5.2 million, and 4.6 million people respectively. These numbers equal 23%, 20%, and 18% of the total Asian American population, or 1.5%, 1.2%, and 1.2% of the total US population.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://asiamattersforamerica.org/articles/asian-american-population-in-the-united-states-continues-to-grow |title=Asian American Population in the United States Continues to Grow Origin: 2020 |author=Caitlin Brophy|date=December 23, 2020 }}</ref> Vietnamese Americans are the 4th largest Asian American population, and Korean Americans are the 5th largest with both populations making up 8% of the Asian American population respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Shannon |date=2024-08-06 |title=Korean Americans: A Survey Data Snapshot |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/2024/08/06/korean-americans-a-survey-data-snapshot/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenwood |first=Shannon |date=2024-08-06 |title=Vietnamese Americans: A Survey Data Snapshot |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/2024/08/06/vietnamese-americans-a-survey-data-snapshot/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

Although migrants from Asia have been in parts of the contemporary United States since the 17th century, large-scale immigration did not begin until the mid-19th century. Nativist immigration laws during the 1880s–1920s excluded various Asian groups, eventually [[Asian Exclusion Act|prohibiting almost all Asian immigration]] to the continental United States. After immigration laws were reformed during the 1940s–1960s, [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965|abolishing national origins quotas]], Asian immigration increased rapidly. Analyses of the 2010 census have shown that, by percentage change, Asian Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/23/149244806/u-s-census-show-asians-are-fastest-growing-racial-group|title=U.S. Census Show Asians Are Fastest Growing Racial Group|newspaper=NPR|access-date=2016-10-26|archive-date=December 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171224074819/https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2012/03/23/149244806/u-s-census-show-asians-are-fastest-growing-racial-group|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Terminology==
{{Main|Race and ethnicity in the United States}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Asian peoples in the United States ([[2020 United States census|2020 census]])<ref name="2020USCensus">{{cite web|url=https://census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html|title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census|date=August 12, 2021|publisher=U.S. Census Bureau|access-date=September 18, 2021|archive-date=October 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211007112207/https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/detailed-race-ethnicities-2020-census.html|title=Detailed Races and Ethnicities in the United States and Puerto Rico: 2020 Census|publisher=[[United States census]]|date= September 21, 2023|access-date=October 21, 2023}}</ref>
|label1 = [[East Asian Americans|East]], [[Central Asians in the United States|Central]] and [[Southeast Asian Americans|Southeast Asians]]
|value1 = 4.26
|color1 = #E8BF88
|label2 = [[South Asian Americans|South Asians]]
|value2 = 1.74
|color2 = #BF947B 
|label3 = Some other race
|value3 = 94.00
|color3 = Lightgray
}}

As with other [[Race (human categorization)|racial]] and [[Ethnic group|ethnicity]]-based [[Ethnonym|terms]], formal and common usage have changed markedly through the short history of this term. Prior to the late 1960s, people of various Asian ancestries were usually referred to as ''Yellow'', ''[[Oriental]]'', ''Asiatic'', ''[[Brown (racial classification)|Brown]]'', ''[[Mongoloid]]'', or ''Hindoo''.<ref name="K. Connie Kang">{{cite news |title=Yuji Ichioka, 66; Led Way in Studying Lives of Asian Americans |author=K. Connie Kang |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-sep-07-me-yuji7-story.html |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |date=September 7, 2002 |access-date=May 4, 2013 |quote=Yet Ichioka created the first inter-ethnic pan-Asian American political group. And he coined the term "Asian American" to frame a new self-defining political lexicon. Before that, people of Asian ancestry were generally called Oriental or Asiatic. |archive-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314211804/http://articles.latimes.com/2002/sep/07/local/me-yuji7 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Mio |editor1-first=Jeffrey Scott |date=1999 |title=Key Words in Multicultural Interventions: A Dictionary |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UQnUTLMeds0C&pg=PA20 |series=ABC-Clio ebook |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |page=20 |isbn=9780313295478 |access-date=August 19, 2014 |quote=The use of the term Asian American began in the late 1960s alongside the civil rights movement (Uba, 1994) and replaced disparaging labels of Oriental, Asiatic, and Mongoloid. |archive-date=January 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=UQnUTLMeds0C&pg=PA20 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lee|first1=Jennifer|last2=Ramakrishnan|first2=Karthick|title=Who counts as Asian|url=https://www.russellsage.org/sites/default/files/Who%20counts%20as%20Asian.pdf|website=Russellsage.org|page=4|date=October 14, 2019|access-date=July 7, 2021}}</ref> Additionally, the American definition of 'Asian' originally included [[West Asia]]n ethnic groups, particularly [[Turkish Americans]], [[Armenian Americans]], [[Assyrian Americans]], [[Iranian Americans]], [[Kurdish Americans]], [[American Jews|Jewish Americans]] of [[Middle East]]ern descent, and certain [[Arab Americans]], although in modern times, these groups are now considered [[Middle Eastern Americans|Middle Eastern American]] and grouped under [[White Americans]] in the census.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/asiaticexclusion00asia "Proceedings of the Asiatic Exclusion League"] Asiatic Exclusion League. San Francisco: April 1910. Pg. 7. "To amend section twenty-one hundred and sixty-nine of the Revised Statutes of the United States. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, that section twenty-one hundred and sixty-nine of the Revised Statutes of the United States be, and the same is hereby, amended by adding thereto the following: And Mongolians, Malays, and other Asiatics, except Armenians, Assyrians, and Jews, shall not be naturalized in the United States."<br /></ref><ref name="Middle East">{{cite news |last=Cortellessa |first=Eric |date=23 October 2016 |title=Israeli, Palestinian Americans could share new 'Middle Eastern' census category |url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-palestinian-americans-could-share-new-middle-eastern-census-category/ |work=Times of Israel |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=June 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612144106/https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-palestinian-americans-could-share-new-middle-eastern-census-category/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Nussbaum Cohen |first=Debra |date=18 June 2015 |title=New U.S. Census Category to Include 'Israeli' Option |url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/.premium-new-u-s-census-category-to-include-israeli-1.5372299 |work=Haaretz |access-date=22 April 2018 |archive-date=July 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170710200538/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/.premium-1.661491 |url-status=live }}<br /></ref><ref>[http://www.modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:how-the-us-courts-established-the-white-race-&catid=42:law&Itemid=56 How the U.S. Courts Established the White Race] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811164418/http://www.modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284%3Ahow-the-us-courts-established-the-white-race-&catid=42%3Alaw&Itemid=56|date=August 11, 2014}}</ref> The term "Asian American" was coined by historian-activists [[Yuji Ichioka]] and [[Emma Gee]] in 1968 during the founding of the [[Asian American Political Alliance]],<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kambhampaty |first1=Anna Purna |title=In 1968, These Activists Coined the Term 'Asian American'—And Helped Shape Decades of Advocacy |url=https://time.com/5837805/asian-american-history/ |date=May 22, 2020 |magazine=Time |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601175631/https://time.com/5837805/asian-american-history/|archive-date=June 1, 2020|url-status=live|access-date=January 29, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Maeda|first=Daryl Joji|year=2012|title=Rethinking the Asian American Movement|place=New York|publisher=Routledge|pages=9–13, 18, 26, 29, 32–35, 42–48, 80, 108, 116–117, 139|isbn=978-0-415-80081-5}}</ref> and they were also credited with popularizing the term, which meant to be used to frame a new "inter-ethnic-pan-Asian American self-defining political group".<ref name="K. Connie Kang" /><ref>{{cite book|author=Yen Espiritu|title=Asian American Panethnicity: Bridging Institutions and Identities|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_1nBBxVTCjYC&pg=PA34|date=19 January 2011|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=978-1-4399-0556-2|page=34|access-date=April 19, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530115534/https://books.google.com/books?id=_1nBBxVTCjYC&pg=PA34|url-status=live}}</ref> This effort was part of [[New Left]] [[Opposition to United States involvement in the Vietnam War|anti-war]] and [[Anti-imperialism|anti-imperialist]] activism, directly opposing what was viewed as an unjust [[Vietnam War]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Gayla |first=Marella |date=20 October 2021 |title=Searching for Coherence in Asian America |url=https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/searching-for-coherence-in-asian-america |magazine=The New Yorker |location=New York  |access-date=10 July 2022|quote=The term "Asian American" emerged from the radical student movements of the late nineteen-sixties, most notably at San Francisco State College and the University of California, Berkeley. The activists, modelling their work after [[Black Power movement|Black]] and [[Chicano Movement|Latinx liberation movements]], hoped to create a pan-Asian coalition that would become part of an international struggle against empire and capitalism.}}</ref>

Prior to being included in the "Asian" category in the 1980s, many Americans of South Asian descent usually classified themselves as ''Caucasian'' or ''other''.<ref>Chandy, Sunu P. [http://way.net/sawa/desiaspora/02conf.html What is a Valid South Asian Struggle?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061205220353/http://way.net/sawa/desiaspora/02conf.html|date=December 5, 2006}} Report on the Annual SASA Conference. Retrieved July 13, 2021.</ref> Changing [[Asian immigration to the United States|patterns of immigration]] and an [[Asian immigration to the United States|extensive period of exclusion of Asian immigrants]] have resulted in demographic changes that have in turn affected the formal and common understandings of what defines Asian American. For example, since the removal of restrictive "national origins" quotas [[Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965|in 1965]], the Asian American population has diversified greatly to include more of the peoples with ancestry from various parts of Asia.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Chin|first=Gabriel J.|date=April 18, 2008|title=The Civil Rights Revolution Comes to Immigration Law: A New Look at the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965|journal=North Carolina Law Review|ssrn=1121504}}</ref>

Today, "Asian American" is the accepted term for most formal purposes, such as government and academic research, although it is often shortened to ''Asian'' in common usage.<ref>{{cite book|author=Robert M. Jiobu|title=Ethnicity and Assimilation: Blacks, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Japanese, Mexicans, Vietnamese, and Whites|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G5uOexz2DMYC&pg=PA13|year=1988|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-0-88706-647-4|page=13|access-date=March 28, 2018|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601001838/https://books.google.com/books?id=G5uOexz2DMYC&pg=PA13|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite journal |last1=Chang |first1=Benjamin |date=February 2017 |title=Asian Americans and Education |url=http://education.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264093-e-102 |journal=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Education |volume=1 |doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.013.102 |access-date=27 March 2018 |isbn=9780190264093 |archive-date=March 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328103916/http://education.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264093-e-102 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription }}</ref> The most commonly used definition of Asian American is the US Census Bureau definition, which includes all people with origins in [[East Asia]], [[South Asia]], and [[Southeast Asia]].<ref name="centech">United States Census Bureau, ''[https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf1.pdf Census 2000 Summary File 1 Technical Documentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170722023641/https://www.census.gov/prod/cen2000/doc/sf1.pdf |date=July 22, 2017 }}'', 2001, at Appendix B-14. "A person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes ''Asian Indian'', ''Chinese'', ''Filipino'', ''Korean'', ''Japanese'', ''Vietnamese'', and ''Other Asian''."</ref> This is chiefly because the census definitions determine many governmental classifications, notably for equal opportunity programs and measurements.<ref name="whoisasianam">{{cite news |last=Sailer |first=Steve |date=11 July 2002 |title=Feature: Who exactly is Asian American? |url=https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |work=UPI |location=Los Angeles |access-date=4 September 2018 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065158/https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to the [[Oxford English Dictionary]], "Asian person" in the United States is most often thought of as a person of [[East Asian Americans|East Asian]] descent.<ref name="Oxford1">{{cite web |url=http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_us1223255?rskey=D9mRoS&result=2#m_en_us1223255 |title=Asian American |publisher=Oxford University Press |access-date=March 29, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122533/https://languages.oup.com/#m_en_us1223255 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/asian?view=get |title=Asian |publisher=AskOxford.com |access-date=September 29, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415110425/http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/asian?view=get |archive-date=April 15, 2008 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}{{full citation needed|date=July 2010}}<!--https://web.archive.org/web/18990101080101/http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0043470#m_en_gb0043470 works as of July 25, 2010, but there is no guarantee that it will remain stable as the dictionary content changes--></ref> In vernacular usage, "Asian" is usually used to refer to those of East or [[Southeast Asian Americans|Southeast Asian]] descent, with [[South Asian Americans|South Asians]] not included as often.<ref>[https://www.medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003030.htm Epicanthal folds] : MedicinePlus Medical Encyclopedia states that ''"The presence of an epicanthal fold is normal in people of Asiatic descent"'' assuming it the norm for all Asians{{cite book |last=Kawamura |first=Kathleen |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZN7w2kXxtoC |title=Body Image: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice |publisher=Guilford Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-1-59385-015-9 |editor=Thomas F. Cash |pages=243–249 |chapter=Chapter 28. Asian American Body Images |access-date=October 16, 2015 |editor2=Thomas Pruzinsky |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qZN7w2kXxtoC&pg=PA243 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530202534/https://books.google.com/books?id=qZN7w2kXxtoC |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> This differs from the US census definition,<ref name="centech" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/2007/usedata/Subject_Definitions.pdf |title=American Community Survey; Puerto Rico Community Survey; 2007 Subject Definitions |publisher=United States Census Bureau |page=31 }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/SubjectDefinitions/2007_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf |title=American Community Survey; Puerto Rico Community Survey; 2007 Subject Definitions |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=April 11, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/code_lists/2017_ACS_Code_Lists.pdf?# |title=American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey: 2017 Code List |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2017 |website=Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |access-date=3 May 2019 |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601024007/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/code_lists/2017_ACS_Code_Lists.pdf |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/subject_definitions/2017_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf?# |title=American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey: 2017 Subject Definitions |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2017 |website=Code Lists, Definitions, and Accuracy |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |access-date=4 May 2019 |pages=114–116 |quote=Asian. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of East Asia, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam. It includes people who indicate their race as "Asian Indian", "Chinese", "Filipino", "Korean", "Japanese", "Vietnamese", and "Other Asian" or provide other detailed Asian responses. |archive-date=June 5, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605075859/https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/tech_docs/subject_definitions/2017_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> and the Asian American Studies departments in many universities consider all those of East, South, or Southeast Asian descent to be "Asian".<ref>[https://www.aasp.cornell.edu/courses.php Cornell Asian American Studies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509122745/http://www.aasp.cornell.edu/courses.php |date=May 9, 2008 }}; contains mentions to South Asians<br />[http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Asian+American+Studies&p_dept_cd=ASAMST UC Berkeley – General Catalog – Asian American Studies Courses] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081221023715/http://sis.berkeley.edu/catalog/gcc_list_crse_req?p_dept_name=Asian%20American%20Studies&p_dept_cd=ASAMST |date=December 21, 2008 }}; South and Southeast Asian courses are present<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.uic.edu/ucat/catalog/LAASAM.htm |title=Asian American Studies |year=2009 |work=2009–2011 Undergraduate Catalog |publisher=University of Illinois at Chicago |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-date=June 7, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607085718/http://www.uic.edu/ucat/catalog/LAASAM.htm |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://hss.fullerton.edu/asian-american/program.asp |title=Welcome to Asian American Studies |year=2003 |work=Asian American Studies |publisher=California State University, Fullerton |access-date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711072924/http://hss.fullerton.edu/asian-american/program.asp |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://aas.stanford.edu/program.htm |title=Program |work=Asian American Studies |publisher=[[Stanford University]] |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-date=January 10, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110110165001/http://aas.stanford.edu/program.htm |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://asianamericanstudies.osu.edu/aboutus |title=About Us |year=2007 |work=Asian American Studies |publisher=Ohio State University |access-date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811221323/http://asianamericanstudies.osu.edu/aboutus |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.umass.edu/asianasianamstudies/index.html |title=Welcome |year=2011 |work=Asian and Asian American Studies Certificate Program |publisher=University of Massachusetts Amherst |access-date=April 11, 2011 |archive-date=December 23, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111223001218/http://www.umass.edu/asianasianamstudies/index.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.aasp.cornell.edu/overview.php |title=Overview |year=2007 |work=Cornell University Asian American Studies Program |publisher=Cornell University |access-date=April 11, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615023227/http://www.aasp.cornell.edu/courses.php |archive-date=June 15, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

===Census definition===
{{Main|Race and ethnicity in the United States census}}

In the [[United States census|US census]], people with origins or ancestry in East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and Central Asia are classified as part of the [[Ethnic groups in the United States#Asian Americans|Asian race]];<ref name=":5" /> while those with origins or ancestry in parts of West Asia ([[Israeli Americans|Israelis]], [[Turkish Americans|Turks]], [[Iranian Americans|Persians]], [[Kurdish Americans|Kurds]], [[Assyrian Americans|Assyrians]], [[Arab Americans|Arabs]], etc.) and the [[Caucasus]] ([[Georgian Americans|Georgians]], [[Armenian Americans|Armenians]], [[Azerbaijani Americans|Azerbaijanis]], [[Chechen Americans|Chechens]], [[Circassian Americans|Circassians]], etc.) are classified under the "Middle Eastern and [[North Africans in the United States|North African]]" race.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lo Wang |first=Hansi |date=28 Mar 2024 |title=Next U.S. census will have new boxes for 'Middle Eastern or North African,' 'Latino' |url=https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1237218459/census-race-categories-ethnicity-middle-east-north-africa |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240403113722/https://www.npr.org/2024/03/28/1237218459/census-race-categories-ethnicity-middle-east-north-africa |archive-date=3 April 2024 |access-date=3 April 2024 |website=NPR}}</ref><ref name="autogenerated1">United States Census Bureau, 2000 Census of Population, Public Law 94-171 Redistricting Data File.{{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011103175823/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68178.htm|date=November 3, 2001|title=Race}}. (archived from [http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_68178.htm the original] on November 3, 2001).</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ferris.edu/diversity/measurements/ferris%20state%20university%20enrollment%201999%20to%202006.pdf |title=COMPARATIVE ENROLLMENT BY RACE/ETHNIC ORIGIN |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website=Diversity and Inclusion Office |publisher=Ferris State University |access-date=August 9, 2014 |quote=original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East. |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924011925/http://www.ferris.edu/diversity/measurements/ferris%20state%20university%20enrollment%201999%20to%202006.pdf |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.aaiusa.org/pages/not-quite-white-race-classification-and-the-arab-american-experience |title=Not Quite White: Race Classification and the Arab American Experience |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=April 4, 1997 |website=Arab American Institute |publisher=Arab Americans by the Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Georgetown University |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826035428/http://www.aaiusa.org/pages/not-quite-white-race-classification-and-the-arab-american-experience |archive-date=August 26, 2014 |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284:how-the-us-courts-established-the-white-race-&catid=42:law&Itemid=56 |title=How the U.S. Courts Established the White Race |author=Ian Haney Lopez |date=1996 |website=Model Minority |publisher=New York University Press |access-date=August 9, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140811164418/http://www.modelminority.com/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=284%3Ahow-the-us-courts-established-the-white-race-&catid=42%3Alaw&Itemid=56 |archive-date=August 11, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_RHI125213.htm |title=Race |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2010 |website=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |access-date=August 9, 2014 |quote=White. A person having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa. It includes people who indicate their race as "White" or report entries such as Irish, German, Italian, Lebanese, Arab, Moroccan, or Caucasian. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140716122857/http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/meta/long_RHI125213.htm |archive-date=July 16, 2014 |url-status=dead }}<br />{{cite web |last=Kleinyesterday |first=Uri |url=https://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/.premium-1.661491?v=58948502ECBEAD6D447FB207FE19031C |title=New U.S. census category to include 'Israeli' option – Jewish World Features – Haaretz – Israel News |website=Haaretz |date=2015-06-18 |access-date=2017-02-27 |archive-date=September 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911155847/http://www.haaretz.com/jewish/features/.premium-1.661491?v=58948502ECBEAD6D447FB207FE19031C |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/decennial/2020-census/2015_census_tests/nct/2015-nct-frn.pdf |title=Public Comments Received on Federal Register notice 79 FR 71377: Proposed Information Collection; Comment Request; 2015 National Content Test: U.S. Census Bureau; Department of Commerce: December 2, 2014 – February 2, 2015 |website=Census.gov |access-date=2017-02-27 |archive-date=July 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726045556/https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/decennial/2020-census/2015_census_tests/nct/2015-nct-frn.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> As such, "Asian" and "African" ancestry are seen as racial categories only for the purpose of the census, with the definition referring to ancestry from parts of the Asian and African continents outside of parts of West Asia and [[North Africa]].

In 1980 and before, census forms listed particular Asian ancestries as separate groups, along with ''white'' and ''black or negro''.<ref>[http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/items1980.shtml 1980 Census: Instructions to Respondents] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061130102446/http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/items1980.shtml |date=November 30, 2006 }}, republished by [[IPUMS|Integrated Public Use Microdata Series]], [[Minnesota Population Center]], [[University of Minnesota]] at http://www.ipums.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711234118/http://www.ipums.org/ |date=July 11, 2013 }} Accessed November 19, 2006.</ref> Asian Americans had also been classified as "other".<ref name="GordonLee">Lee, Gordon. ''Hyphen'' magazine. {{cite web |url= http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/features/issues/summer03/theforgottenrevolution.php |title= The Forgotten Revolution |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20030707160800/http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/features/issues/summer03/theforgottenrevolution.php |archive-date= July 7, 2003 |url-status=dead |access-date= June 1, 2016 }}. 2003. January 28, 2007 (archived from [http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/features/issues/summer03/theforgottenrevolution.php the original] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071002114541/http://hyphenmagazine.com/features/issues/summer03/theforgottenrevolution.php |date=October 2, 2007 }} on March 17, 2008).</ref> In 1977, the federal [[Office of Management and Budget]] issued a directive requiring government agencies to maintain statistics on racial groups, including on "Asian or Pacific Islander".<ref>{{cite book |title=Yellow: race in America beyond black and white |last=Wu |first=Frank H. Wu |year=2003 |publisher=Basic Books|location=New York |isbn=9780465006403 |page=310 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JkPvf5Cs-DgC&pg=PA310 |access-date=April 15, 2011}}</ref> By the 1990 census, "Asian or Pacific Islander (API)" was included as an explicit category, although respondents had to select one particular ancestry as a subcategory.<ref>[http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/items1990.shtml 1990 Census: Instructions to Respondents] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406100938/http://usa.ipums.org/usa/voliii/items1990.shtml|date=April 6, 2012}}, republished by [[IPUMS|Integrated Public Use Microdata Series]], Minnesota Population Center, University of Minnesota at http://www.ipums.org {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130711234118/http://www.ipums.org/ |date=July 11, 2013 }} Accessed November 19, 2006.<br />Reeves, Terrance Claudett, Bennett. United States Census Bureau. ''[https://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-540.pdf Asian and Pacific Islander Population: March 2002] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110075208/https://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/p20-540.pdf|date=January 10, 2021}}. 2003. September 30, 2006.''</ref> Beginning with the 2000 census, two separate categories were used: "Asian American" and "Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.api-gbv.org/resources/census-data-api-identities.php|title=Census Data / API Identities {{!}} Research & Statistics {{!}} Resources Publications Research Statistics {{!}} Asian Pacific Institute on Gender-Based Violence|website=www.api-gbv.org|access-date=May 27, 2016|archive-date=June 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160609135048/http://www.api-gbv.org/resources/census-data-api-identities.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Debates and criticism===
{{See also|Racial classification of Indian Americans}}

The definition of ''Asian American'' has variations that derive from the [[use of the word American|use of the word ''American'']] in different contexts. Immigration status, citizenship (by birthright and by naturalization), acculturation, and language ability are some variables that are used to define ''American'' for various purposes and may vary in formal and everyday usage.<ref>Wood, Daniel B. [https://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0425/p03s03-ussc.html "Common Ground on who's an American."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070208183807/http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0425/p03s03-ussc.html|date=February 8, 2007}} ''Christian Science Monitor''. January 19, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007.</ref> For example, restricting ''American'' to include only US citizens conflicts with discussions of Asian American businesses, which generally refer both to citizen and non-citizen owners.<ref name="Asian Owned Businesses 2018">{{cite news|url=https://census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2016/07/asian-owned-businesses-nearing-two-million.html|title=Asian-Owned Businesses Nearing Two Million|author=Mary Frauenfelder|newspaper=census.gov|access-date=May 15, 2018|archive-date=July 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719121341/https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/random-samplings/2016/07/asian-owned-businesses-nearing-two-million.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A 2023 [[Pew Research Center]] survey of Asian Americans found that 28% self-identify as "Asian", with 52% preferring to refer to themselves by more specific ethnic groupings and 10% simply self-identifying as "American".<ref name="2023survey">{{Cite web |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2023/05/08/diverse-cultures-and-shared-experiences-shape-asian-american-identities/ |title=Diverse Cultures and Shared Experiences Shape Asian American Identities |date=2023-05-08 |accessdate=2023-05-11 |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |first1=Neil G. |last1=Ruiz |first2=Luis |last2=Noe-Bustamante |first3=Sono |last3=Shah |language=en-US}}</ref>

In a PBS interview from 2004, a panel of Asian American writers discussed how some groups include people of Middle Eastern descent in the Asian American category.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/searching/aafr_erq1_1.html|title=Searching For Asian America. Community Chats – PBS|website=pbs.org|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151104122128/http://www.pbs.org/searching/aafr_erq1_1.html|archive-date=November 4, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Asian American author Stewart Ikeda has noted, "The definition of 'Asian American' also frequently depends on who's asking, who's defining, in what context, and why... the possible definitions of 'Asian-Pacific American' are many, complex, and shifting... some scholars in Asian American Studies conferences suggest that Russians, Iranians, and Israelis all might fit the field's subject of study."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imdiversity.com/Villages/Asian/dialogue_opinion_letters/archives/ikeda_apa_definition.asp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610050512/http://www.imdiversity.com/Villages/Asian/dialogue_opinion_letters/archives/ikeda_apa_definition.asp |archive-date=June 10, 2011 |title=What's an "Asian American" Now, Anyway? |author=S. D. Ikeda |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> [[Jeff Yang]], of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', writes that the [[Panethnicity|panethnic]] definition of Asian American is a unique American construct, and as an identity is "in [[Beta test|beta]]".<ref>{{cite news |title=Easy Tiger (Nation) |first=Jeff |last=Yang |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/10/27/easy-tiger-nation/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=October 27, 2012 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-date=March 16, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130316154525/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2012/10/27/easy-tiger-nation/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The majority of Asian Americans feel ambivalence about the term "Asian American" as a term by which to [[Identity (social science)|identify themselves]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Park |first1=Jerry Z. |date=1 August 2008 |title=Second-Generation Asian American Pan-Ethnic Identity: Pluralized Meanings of a Racial Label |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241278559 |journal=Sociological Perspectives |volume=51 |issue=3 |pages=541–561 |doi=10.1525/sop.2008.51.3.541 |s2cid=146327919 |access-date=14 August 2019 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122521/https://www.researchgate.net/publication/241278559_Second-Generation_Asian_American_Pan-Ethnic_Identity_Pluralized_Meanings_of_a_Racial_Label |url-status=live }} <!--This information is in the 4th sentence, of the 2nd paragraph of page 543, which is page 4/23 of the PDF document.--></ref> [[Pyong Gap Min]], a sociologist and Professor of Sociology at [[Queens College]], has stated the term is merely political, used by Asian American activists and further reinforced by the government. Beyond that, he feels that South Asians and East Asians do not have commonalities in "culture, physical characteristics, or pre-migrant historical experiences".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sailer |first=Steve |date=11 July 2002 |title=Feature: Who exactly is Asian American? |url=https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |work=UPI |location=Los Angeles |access-date=20 September 2020 |quote=It is a political term used by Asian-American activists and enhanced by governmental treatment. In terms of culture, physical characteristics, and pre-migrant historical experiences, I have argued, South and East Asians do not have commonalities and as a result, they do not maintain close ties in terms friendship, intermarriage or sharing neighborhoods |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065158/https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Scholars have grappled with the accuracy, correctness, and usefulness of the term Asian American. The term "Asian" in Asian American most often comes under fire for only encompassing some of the diverse peoples of Asia, and for being considered a racial category instead of a non-racial "ethnic" category. This is namely due to the categorization of the racially different South Asians and East Asians as part of the same "race".<ref name="whoisasianam"/> Furthermore, it has been noted that West Asians (whom are not considered "Asian" under the US census) share some cultural similarities with Indians but very little with East Asians, with the latter two groups being classified as "Asian".<ref>{{cite news |last=Sailer |first=Steve |date=July 11, 2002 |title=Feature: Who exactly is Asian American? |url=https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |work=UPI |location=Los Angeles |access-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065158/https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |url-status=live|quote=Dinesh D'Souza ... told United Press International, "Middle Eastern culture has some similarities (religion, cuisine, taste in music and movies) with Asian Indian culture, but very few with Oriental (Far Eastern) culture."}}</ref> Scholars have also found it difficult to determine why Asian Americans are considered a "race" while Americans of Hispanic and Latino heritage are a non-racial "ethnic group", given how the category of Asian Americans similarly comprises people with diverse origins.<ref name="LeeMountainKoenig2001">Lee, S.S., Mountain, J. & Koenig, B.A. (2001). The Meanings of Race in the New Genomics: Implications for Health Disparities Research. ''[[Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics]] 1,'' (1). Pages 43, 44, & 45. [https://web.archive.org/web/20061101012859/http://www.yale.edu/yjhple/volume_1/pdf/033%20%28koenig%29.pdf Wayback Machine link].</ref> However, it has been argued that South Asians and East Asians can be "justifiably" grouped together because of Buddhism's origins in South Asia and contemporary practice in East Asia.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sailer |first=Steve |date=July 11, 2002 |title=Feature: Who exactly is Asian American? |url=https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |work=UPI |location=Los Angeles |access-date=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=September 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180905065158/https://www.upi.com/Feature-Who-exactly-is-Asian-American/34451026436660/ |url-status=live|quote=The most common justification advanced for federal government's clustering together South Asians and East Asians is that Buddhism originated in India.}}</ref>

In contrast, leading [[social science]]s and [[humanities]] scholars of race and Asian American identity point out that because of the racial constructions in the United States, including the social attitudes toward race and those of Asian ancestry, Asian Americans have a "shared racial experience".<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|title=Geisha of a Different Kind: Race and Sexuality in Gaysian America|last=Han|first=Chong-Suk Winter|publisher=New York University Press|year=2015|location=New York|page=4}}</ref> Because of this shared experience, the term Asian American is argued as still being a useful [[Panethnicity|panethnic]] category because of the similarity of some experiences among Asian Americans, including stereotypes specific to people in this category.<ref name=":0" /> Despite this, others have stated that many Americans do not treat all Asian Americans equally, highlighting the fact that "Asian American" is generally synonymous with people of East Asian descent, thereby excluding people of Southeast Asian and South Asian origin.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Kambhampaty|first=Anna Purna|title=At Census Time, Asian Americans Again Confront the Question of Who 'Counts' as Asian. Here's How the Answer Got So Complicated|url=https://time.com/5800209/asian-american-census/|date=March 12, 2020|access-date=July 9, 2021|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|quote=But American culture tends not to think of all regions in Asia as equally Asian. A quick Google search of "Asian food nearby" is likely to call up Chinese or Japanese restaurants, but not Indian or Filipino. Years after someone posted a thread on College Confidential, a popular college admissions forum, titled "Do Indians count as Asians?" the SAT in 2016 tweaked its race categories, explaining to test-takers that "Asian" did include "Indian subcontinent and Philippines origin."}}</ref> Some South and Southeast Asian Americans may not identify with the Asian American label, instead describing themselves as "Brown Asians" or simply "Brown", due to the perceived racial and cultural differences between them and East Asian Americans.<ref>{{cite web|last=Schiavenza|first=Matt|title= Why Some 'Brown Asians' Feel Left Out of the Asian American Conversation|url=https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/why-some-brown-asians-feel-left-out-asian-american-conversation|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=September 9, 2022|website=[[Asia Society]]|quote=It's one of the reasons many brown Asians do not identify as Asian Americans. Perhaps we just don't feel connected to East Asian people, cultures, and lived realities. Perhaps we also don't feel welcomed and included.}}</ref><ref name="Asia Society 2016">{{cite web|last=Schiavenza|first=Matt|title= Why Some 'Brown Asians' Feel Left Out of the Asian American Conversation|url=https://asiasociety.org/blog/asia/why-some-brown-asians-feel-left-out-asian-american-conversation|date=October 19, 2016|access-date=September 9, 2022|website=[[Asia Society]]|quote=And that, unfortunately, did not include any South Asians and only one Filipino. That caused a bit of an outcry. It raises a legitimate issue, of course, one about how 'brown Asians' often feel excluded from the Asian American conversation.}}</ref><ref name="AAPR">{{cite journal|last=Nadal|first=Kevin L|date=February 2, 2020|title=The Brown Asian American Movement: Advocating for South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Filipino American Communities|url=https://aapr.hkspublications.org/2020/02/02/the-brown-asian-american-movement-advocating-for-south-asian-southeast-asian-and-filipino-american-communities/|journal=Asian American Policy Review|volume=29|access-date=September 9, 2022|quote=South Asian Americans have shared how they are excluded from the Asian American umbrella because of their cultural, religious, and racial/phenotypic differences – resulting in lack of representation in Asian American Studies, narratives, and media representations.}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{Main|Demographics of Asian Americans}}
[[File:Asian Americans by state.svg|thumb|upright=2.5|200px|<div style="text-align: center">Proportion of Asian Americans in each US state, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico as of the [[2020 United States census]]</div>]]
[[File:Asian Americans by county.png|thumb|upright=2.5|200px|<div style="text-align: center">Proportion of Asian Americans in each county of the [[List of states and territories of the United States|fifty states]], the [[District of Columbia]], and [[Puerto Rico]] as of the 2020 United States census</div>]]
[[File:Asian Americans population pyramid in 2020.svg|thumb|200px|Asian Americans (alone) population pyramid in 2020]]

The demographics of Asian Americans describe a heterogeneous group of people in the United States who can trace their ancestry to one or more countries in East, South, Southeast, or Central Asia.<ref>{{cite news |title=Asian Population in U.S. Grew by 70% in the 80's |first=Felicity |last=Barringer |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/02/us/asian-population-in-us-grew-by-70-in-the-80-s.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=March 2, 1990 |access-date=January 10, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921061919/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/03/02/us/asian-population-in-us-grew-by-70-in-the-80-s.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |last=Lowe |first=Lisa |chapter=Heterogeneity, Hybridity, Multiplicity: Marking Asian American Differences |chapter-url=http://scholar.googleusercontent.com/scholar?q=cache:e7XvI7TduOsJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&as_sdt=0,5 |title=A Companion to Asian American Studies |series=Blackwell Companions in Cultural Studies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hb-jKArjedIC |editor1-first=Kent A. |editor1-last=Ono |access-date=January 10, 2013 |year=2004 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4051-1595-7 |page=272 |archive-date=January 16, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116005502/https://books.google.com/books?id=hb-jKArjedIC |url-status=live }} [http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mseth2/com417s12/readings/LoweHybrid.PDF Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055144/http://www4.ncsu.edu/~mseth2/com417s12/readings/LoweHybrid.PDF |date=September 21, 2013 }}</ref> Because they compose 7.3% of the entire US population, the diversity of the group is often disregarded in media and news discussions of "Asians" or of "Asian Americans".<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Skop|first1=Emily|last2=Li|first2=Wei|year=2005|title=Asians In America's Suburbs: Patterns And Consequences of Settlement|journal=The Geographical Review|volume=95|issue=2|page=168|doi=10.1111/j.1931-0846.2005.tb00361.x|bibcode=2005GeoRv..95..167S |s2cid=162228375}}</ref> While there are some commonalities across ethnic subgroups, there are significant differences among different Asian ethnicities that are related to each group's history.<ref>{{cite book |title=Teach boldly!: letters to teachers about contemporary issues in education |last1=Fehr |first1=Dennis Earl |first2=Mary Cain |last2=Fehr |year=2009 |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publishing company)|Peter Lang]] |isbn=978-1-4331-0491-6 |page=164 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFQpcDhkCm4C&q=diversity%20asian%20americans%20disregarded%20media&pg=PA164 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122520/https://books.google.com/books?id=WFQpcDhkCm4C&q=diversity+asian+americans+disregarded+media&pg=PA164 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124511/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_anon_9.pdf |title=Issue Brief #160: Asian American Protest Politics: "The Politics of Identity" |author=Raymond Arthur Smith |year=2009 |work=Majority Rule and Minority Rights Issue Briefs |publisher=[[Columbia University]] |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054503/http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124511/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_anon_9.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The Asian American population is greatly [[Urbanization|urbanized]], with nearly three-quarters of them living in metropolitan areas with population greater than 2.5 million.<ref>{{cite report |last=Lott |first=Juanita Tamayo|author-link=Juanita Tamayo Lott |date=9 January 2004 |title=Asian-American Children Are Members of a Diverse and Urban Population |url=https://www.prb.org/asianamericanchildrenaremembersofadiverseandurbanpopulation/ |publisher=Population Reference Bureau |access-date=6 April 2018 |archive-date=April 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180407120013/https://www.prb.org/asianamericanchildrenaremembersofadiverseandurbanpopulation/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite journal |last1=Hune |first1=Shirley |date=16 April 2002 |title=Demographics and Diversity of Asian American College Students |journal=New Directions for Student Services |volume=2002 |issue=97 |pages=11–20 |doi=10.1002/ss.35 }}<br />{{cite book|author=Franklin Ng|title=The History and Immigration of Asian Americans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bGa42b0VqMEC&pg=PA211|year=1998|publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-8153-2690-8|page=211|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=June 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604014327/https://books.google.com/books?id=bGa42b0VqMEC&pg=PA211|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|author1=Xue Lan Rong|author2=Judith Preissle|title=Educating Immigrant Students in the 21st Century: What Educators Need to Know|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KUhOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA133|date=26 September 2008|publisher=SAGE Publications|isbn=978-1-4522-9405-6|page=133|access-date=April 7, 2018|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601073302/https://books.google.com/books?id=KUhOAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA133|url-status=live}}</ref> {{As of|July 2015}}, California had the largest population of Asian Americans of any state, and Hawaii was the only state where Asian Americans were the majority of the population.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wile |first=Rob |date=26 June 2016 |title=Latinos are no longer the fastest-growing racial group in America |url=http://fusion.net/latinos-are-no-longer-the-fastest-growing-racial-group-1793857822 |work=Fusion |location=Doral, Florida |access-date=3 May 2017 |archive-date=April 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170407223622/http://fusion.net/latinos-are-no-longer-the-fastest-growing-racial-group-1793857822 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The demographics of Asian Americans can further be subdivided into, as listed in alphabetical order:
* '''[[East Asian Americans]]''', including [[Chinese Americans]], [[Hong Kong Americans]], [[Japanese Americans]], [[Korean Americans]], [[Macanese Americans]], [[Mongolian Americans]], [[Ryukyuan Americans]], [[Taiwanese Americans]], [[Tibetan Americans]], and [[Uyghur Americans]]. This group makes up around 38% of the Asian-American population.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=01000US&primary_geo_id=01000US |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
* '''[[South Asian Americans]]''', including [[Baloch Americans]], [[Bangladeshi Americans]], [[Bhutanese Americans]], [[Indian Americans]], [[Indo-Caribbean Americans]], [[Fijian Indian diaspora|Indo-Fijian Americans]], [[Maldivian Americans]], [[Nepalese Americans]], [[Pakistani Americans]], [[Pashtun Americans]], and [[Sri Lankan Americans]]. This group makes up around 25% of Asian Americans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=01000US&primary_geo_id=01000US |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
* '''[[Southeast Asian Americans]]''', including [[Brunei|Bruneian Americans]], [[Burmese Americans]], [[Cambodian Americans]], [[Filipino Americans]], [[Hmong Americans]], [[Indonesian Americans]], [[Iu Mien Americans]], [[Karen Americans]], [[Laotian Americans]], [[Malaysian Americans]], [[Singaporean Americans]], [[Thai Americans]], [[East Timor|Timorese Americans]], and [[Vietnamese Americans]]. This group makes up around 32% of Asian-Americans.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=01000US&primary_geo_id=01000US |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
* '''[[Central Asians in the United States|Central Asian Americans]]''', including [[Afghan Americans]], [[Kazakh Americans]], [[Kyrgyz Americans]], [[Tajik Americans]], [[Turkmen Americans]], and [[Uzbek Americans]]. This group makes up around 1.5% of Asian-Americans.

This grouping is by country of origin before immigration to the United States, and not necessarily by ethnicity, as for example (nonexclusive), Singaporean and Malaysian Americans may be of [[Han Chinese|Chinese]], [[Indian people|Indian]], or [[Malays (ethnic group)|Malay]] descent.

Asian Americans include '''[[Multiracial Americans|multiracial or mixed race]]''' persons with origins or ancestry in both the above groups and another race, or multiple of the above groups. In 2020, 1.2% of the US population identified as multiracial Asian, with this group making up over 16% of the Asian American population.  

=== Asian American population by state (2020 Census) ===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!State or district<ref name=":42">{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Race and Ethnicity in the United States: 2010 Census and 2020 Census |url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/race-and-ethnicity-in-the-united-state-2010-and-2020-census.html |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=Census.gov |language=en}}</ref>
!Total Population
!Asian alone population
!% Asian Alone
!Asian alone or in any combination population
!% Asian Alone or in Combination
|-
|[[Alabama]]
|5,024,279
|76,660 
|1.5%
|102,777 
|2.0%
|-
|[[Alaska]]
|733,391
|44,032 
|6.0%
|61,460 
|8.4%
|-
|[[Arizona]]
|7,151,502
|257,430 
|3.6%
|351,132 
|4.9%
|-
|[[Arkansas]]
|3,011,524
|51,839 
|1.7%
|68,558 
|2.3%
|-
|[[California]]
|39,538,223
|6,085,947 
|15.4%
|7,045,163 
|17.8%
|-
|[[Colorado]]
|5,773,714
|199,827 
|3.5%
|285,784 
|4.9%
|-
|[[Connecticut]]
|3,605,944
|172,455 
|4.8%
|205,693 
|5.7%
|-
|[[Delaware]]
|989,948
|42,699 
|4.3%
|50,969 
|5.1%
|-
|[[District of Columbia]]
|689,545
|33,545 
|4.9%
|45,465 
|6.6%
|-
|[[Florida]]
|21,538,187
|643,682 
|3.0%
|843,005 
|3.9%
|-
|[[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]
|10,711,908
|479,028 
|4.5%
|565,644 
|5.3%
|-
|[[Hawaii]]
|1,455,271
|541,902 
|37.2%
|824,143 
|56.6%
|-
|[[Idaho]]
|1,839,106
|26,836 
|1.5%
|47,513 
|2.6%
|-
|[[Illinois]]
|12,812,508
|754,878 
|5.9%
|875,488 
|6.8%
|-
|[[Indiana]]
|6,785,528
|167,959 
|2.5%
|212,649 
|3.1%
|-
|[[Iowa]]
|3,190,369
|75,629 
|2.4%
|96,861 
|3.0%
|-
|[[Kansas]]
|2,937,880
|86,273 
|2.9%
|112,195 
|3.8%
|-
|[[Kentucky]]
|4,505,836
|74,426 
|1.7%
|98,763 
|2.2%
|-
|[[Louisiana]]
|4,657,757
|86,438 
|1.9%
|111,836 
|2.4%
|-
|[[Maine]]
|1,362,359
|16,798 
|1.2%
|25,473 
|1.9%
|-
|[[Maryland]]
|6,177,224
|420,944 
|6.8%
|502,173 
|8.1%
|-
|[[Massachusetts]]
|7,029,917
|507,934 
|7.2%
|582,484 
|8.3%
|-
|[[Michigan]]
|10,077,331
|334,300 
|3.3%
|411,928 
|4.1%
|-
|[[Minnesota]]
|5,706,494
|299,190 
|5.2%
|357,704 
|6.3%
|-
|[[Mississippi]]
|2,961,279
|32,709 
|1.1%
|44,931 
|1.5%
|-
|[[Missouri]]
|6,154,913
|133,377 
|2.2%
|179,336 
|2.9%
|-
|[[Montana]]
|1,084,225
|8,300 
|0.8%
|16,889 
|1.6%
|-
|[[Nebraska]]
|1,961,504
|52,951 
|2.7%
|69,006 
|3.5%
|-
|[[Nevada]]
|3,104,614
|272,703 
|8.8%
|353,593 
|11.4%
|-
|[[New Hampshire]]
|1,377,529
|35,871 
|2.6%
|46,861 
|3.4%
|-
|[[New Jersey]]
|9,288,994
|950,090 
|10.2%
|1,046,732 
|11.3%
|-
|[[New Mexico]]
|2,117,522
|37,469 
|1.8%
|55,997 
|2.6%
|-
|[[New York (state)|New York]]
|20,201,249
|1,933,127 
|9.6%
|2,173,719 
|10.8%
|-
|[[North Carolina]]
|10,439,388
|343,051 
|3.3%
|425,449 
|4.1%
|-
|[[North Dakota]]
|779,094
|13,213 
|1.7%
|18,675 
|2.4%
|-
|[[Ohio]]
|11,799,448
|298,509 
|2.5%
|377,303 
|3.2%
|-
|[[Oklahoma]]
|3,959,353
|90,949 
|2.3%
|123,614 
|3.1%
|-
|[[Oregon]]
|4,237,256
|194,538 
|4.6%
|275,296 
|6.5%
|-
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|13,002,700
|510,501 
|3.9%
|603,726 
|4.6%
|-
|[[Rhode Island]]
|1,097,379
|38,961 
|3.6%
|48,450 
|4.4%
|-
|[[South Carolina]]
|5,118,425
|90,466 
|1.8%
|123,666 
|2.4%
|-
|[[South Dakota]]
|886,667
|13,476 
|1.5%
|18,489 
|2.1%
|-
|[[Tennessee]]
|6,910,840
|135,615 
|2.0%
|178,683 
|2.6%
|-
|[[Texas]]
|29,145,505
|1,585,480 
|5.4%
|1,849,226 
|6.3%
|-
|[[Utah]]
|3,271,616
|80,438 
|2.5%
|125,088 
|3.8%
|-
|[[Vermont]]
|643,077
|11,549 
|1.8%
|16,182 
|2.5%
|-
|[[Virginia]]
|8,631,393
|615,436 
|7.1%
|757,282 
|8.8%
|-
|[[Washington (state)|Washington]]
|7,705,281
|730,596 
|9.5%
|939,846 
|12.2%
|-
|[[West Virginia]]
|1,793,716
|15,109 
|0.8%
|22,281 
|1.2%
|-
|[[Wisconsin]]
|5,893,718
|175,702 
|3.0%
|216,345 
|3.7%
|-
|[[Wyoming]]
|576,851
|5,212 
|0.9%
|9,473 
|1.6%
|-
![[United States]]<ref name=":62">{{Cite web |title=Table P1- Race |url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=010XX00US |website=US Census Bureau}}</ref>
!331,449,281
!19,886,049 
!6.0%
!24,000,998 
!7.2%
|}

===Proportion in each county===
<gallery mode="packed" caption="Asian American (Alone) population distribution over time">
File:Asian Americans 1860 County.png|1860
File:Asian Americans 1870 County.png|1870
File:Asian Americans 1880 County.png|1880
File:Asian Americans 1890 County.png|1890
File:Asian Americans 1990 County.png|1990
File:Asian Americans 2000 County.png|2000
File:Asian Americans 2010 County.png|2010
File:Asian Americans 2020 County.png|2020
</gallery>

===Ancestry===
According to estimates from the 2024 [[American Community Survey]], the Asian American population was composed of the following groups: 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
!Ancestry
!Number in 2022 (Alone)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02015 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02015&geo_ids=01000US&primary_geo_id=01000US |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
!Number in 2022 (Alone or in any combination)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Grid View: Table B02018 - Census Reporter |url=https://censusreporter.org/data/table/?table=B02018&geo_ids=01000US&primary_geo_id=01000US |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=censusreporter.org}}</ref>
!% Total US Population<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census profile: United States |url=http://censusreporter.org/profiles/01000US-united-states/ |access-date=2024-07-02 |website=Census Reporter |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|[[Chinese Americans|Chinese]]
|4,258,198
|5,465,428
|1.6%
|-
|[[Indian Americans|Indian]]
|4,534,339
|4,946,306
|1.5%
|-
|[[Filipino Americans|Filipino]]
|2,969,978
|4,466,918
|1.3%
|-
|[[Vietnamese Americans|Vietnamese]]
|1,887,550
|2,301,868
|0.7%
|-
|[[Korean Americans|Korean]]
|1,501,587
|2,051,572
|0.6%
|-
|[[Japanese Americans|Japanese]]
|717,413
|1,587,040
|0.5%
|-
|[[Pakistani Americans|Pakistani]]
|560,494
|625,570
|0.2%
|-
|[[Cambodian Americans|Cambodian]]
|280,862
|376,096
|0.1%
|-
|[[Hmong Americans|Hmong]]
|335,612
|362,244
|0.1%
|-
|[[Thai Americans|Thai]]
|197,158
|328,176
|0.1%
|-
|[[Taiwanese Americans|Taiwanese]]
|263,772
|324,389
|0.1%
|-
|[[Bangladeshi Americans|Bangladeshi]]
|256,681
|272,338
|0.08%
|-
|Central Asian
<small>Not including [[Kazakh Americans|Kazakh]] or [[Uzbek Americans|Uzbek]]</small>
|186,393
|269,255
|0.08%
|-
|[[Nepalese Americans|Nepalese]]
|247,639
|260,323
|0.09%
|-
|[[Laotian Americans|Laotian]]
|173,524
|245,220
|0.07%
|-
|[[Burmese Americans|Burmese]]
|225,591
|244,086
|0.07%
|-
|[[Indonesian Americans|Indonesian]]
|84,074
|155,173
|0.05%
|-
|[[Uzbek Americans|Uzbek]]
|25,849
|52,304
|0.02%
|-
|[[Malaysian Americans|Malaysian]]
|25,809
|43,019
|0.01%
|-
|[[Mongolian Americans|Mongolian]]
|24,052
|36,863
|0.01%
|-
|[[Sikh-American|Sikh]]
|20,170
|34,023
|0.01%
|-
|[[Ryukyuan Americans|Okinawan]]
|7,645
|23,206
|0.01%
|-
|[[Iu Mien Americans|Mien]]
|17,193
|22,340
|0.01%
|-
|[[Bhutanese Americans|Bhutanese]]
|19,521
|22,184
|0.01%
|-
|[[Kazakh Americans|Kazakh]]
|11,407
|21,913
|0.01%
|-
|[[Singaporean Americans|Singaporean]]
|8,168
|13,212
|<0.01%
|-
|Other Asian 
<small>(Specified)</small>
|8,233
|18,963
|<0.01%
|-
|Other [[South Asia]]n
|8,452
|13,389
|<0.01%
|-
|Other [[East Asia]]n
|3,525
|7,135
|<0.01%
|-
|Other [[Southeast Asia]]n
|3,106
|5,523
|<0.01%
|-
|Broadly "Asian"
<small>(No group specified)</small>
|218,730
|591,806
|0.2%
|}

===Language===
In 2010, there were 2.8 million people (age 5 and older) who spoke one of the [[Chinese language]]s at home;<ref name="AHM2012" /> after the [[Spanish language]], it is the third most common language in the United States.<ref name="AHM2012">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff09.html |title=Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: May 2012 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=March 21, 2012 |work=United States Census Bureau |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-date=January 6, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130106171909/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff09.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Other sizable [[Languages of Asia|Asian languages]] are [[Hindustani language|Hindustani (Hindi/Urdu)]], [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], and [[Korean language|Korean]], with all four having more than 1 million speakers in the United States.<ref name="AHM2012" />

In 2012, [[Alaska]], California, Hawaii, [[Illinois]], Massachusetts, [[Michigan]], [[Nevada]], New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Washington were publishing election material in Asian languages in accordance with the [[Voting Rights Act]];<ref name="TPratt18OCT12NYT" /> these languages include Tagalog, [[Mandarin Chinese]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], Spanish,<ref name="SpanishChinese">{{cite book|author1=Jonathan H. X. Lee|author2=Kathleen M. Nadeau|title=Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9BrfLWdeISoC&pg=PA334|year=2011|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-35066-5|pages=333–334|quote=Since the Philippines was colonized by Spain, Filipino Americans in general can speak and understand Spanish too.|access-date=September 28, 2017|archive-date=April 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170425120133/https://books.google.com/books?id=9BrfLWdeISoC&pg=PA334|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Standard Hindi|Hindi]], and [[Bengali language|Bengali]].<ref name="TPratt18OCT12NYT">{{cite news |title=More Asian Immigrants Are Finding Ballots in Their Native Tongue |author=Timothy Pratt |location=Las Vegas |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/politics/more-asian-immigrants-are-finding-ballots-in-their-native-tongue.html?_r=0 |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-date=December 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121225194150/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/us/politics/more-asian-immigrants-are-finding-ballots-in-their-native-tongue.html?_r=0 |url-status=live }}</ref> Election materials were also available in [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]], [[Japanese language|Japanese]], [[Khmer language|Khmer]], [[Korean language|Korean]], and [[Thai language|Thai]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Five new Asian languages make their debut at the polls |author=Leslie Berestein Rojas |url=http://www.scpr.org/blogs/multiamerican/2012/11/06/10917/five-new-asian-languages-make-their-debut-polls/ |newspaper=KPCC |date=November 6, 2012 |access-date=January 12, 2013 |archive-date=June 10, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150610202415/http://www.scpr.org/blogs/multiamerican/2012/11/06/10917/five-new-asian-languages-make-their-debut-polls/ |url-status=live }}</ref> A 2013 poll found that 48 percent of Asian Americans considered [[Ethnic media|media in their native language]] as their primary news source.<ref>{{cite news |title=Half of Asian Americans rely on ethnic media: poll |author=Shaun Tandon |url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j9a2fd2pl5VdCcAJ4QPD4ou3HsuQ?docId=CNG.bef0de9c35071a6327f04b90055f047a.71 |via=Google News |agency=[[Agence France-Presse]] |date=January 17, 2013 |access-date=January 25, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130216042259/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5j9a2fd2pl5VdCcAJ4QPD4ou3HsuQ?docId=CNG.bef0de9c35071a6327f04b90055f047a.71 |archive-date= 16 February 2013 }}</ref>

The [[2000 United States census|2000 census]] found the more prominent languages of the Asian American community to include the Chinese languages ([[Standard Cantonese|Cantonese]], [[Taishanese]], and [[Hokkien]]), [[Tagalog language|Tagalog]], [[Vietnamese language|Vietnamese]], [[Korean language|Korean]], Japanese, Hindi, [[Urdu]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], and [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].<ref name="CensusLang">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-29.pdf |date=October 2003 |first1=Hyon B. |last1=Shin |first2=Rosalind |last2=Bruno |title=Language Use and English-Speaking Ability: 2000: Census 2000 Brief|website=census.gov|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=February 18, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218000958/http://www.census.gov/prod/2003pubs/c2kbr-29.pdf|url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2008, the Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Tagalog, and Vietnamese languages are all used in elections in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Illinois, New York, Texas, and Washington state.<ref name="AsianLang">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20080731133121/http://www.eac.gov/News/press/eac-issues-glossaries-of-election-terms-in-five-asian-languages/ EAC Issues Glossaries of Election Terms in Five Asian Languages  Translations to Make Voting More Accessible to a Majority of Asian American Citizens]". Election Assistance Commission. June 20, 2008. (Archived from [http://www.eac.gov/News/press/eac-issues-glossaries-of-election-terms-in-five-asian-languages/ the original] on July 31, 2008).</ref>

===Sexuality===
According to a Gallup survey conducted from June to September 2012, 4.3% of Asian Americans self-identify as [[LGBT]], compared to 3.4% of the general American population. This makes the Asian-American population disproportionately over-represented within the LGBT community.<ref name=LGBT>{{cite news |title=Gallup study: 3.4 percent of US adults are LGBT |author=David Crary |agency=Associated Press |url=http://www.wtop.com/?nid=893&sid=3083798 |newspaper=[[WTOP-FM|WTOP]] |date=October 18, 2012 |access-date=October 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130513014145/http://www.wtop.com/?nid=893&sid=3083798 |archive-date= May 13, 2013 }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.gallup.com/poll/158066/special-report-adults-identify-lgbt.aspx |title=Special Report: 3.4% of U.S. Adults Identify as LGBT |author=Gary J. Gates |author2=Frank Newport |date=October 18, 2012 |website=Gallup |access-date=17 March 2017 |quote=Nonwhites are more likely than white segments of the U.S. population to identify as LGBT. The survey results show that 4.6% of [[African Americans]] identify as LGBT, along with 4.0% of Hispanics and 4.3% of Asians. The disproportionately higher representation of LGBT status among nonwhite population segments corresponds to the slightly below-average 3.2% of white Americans who identified as LGBT.}}</ref> In a Gallup survey conducted in 2017, 4.9 percent of Asian Americans identified as LGBT, representing the second-highest growth of LGBT representation in the United States, behind [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic Americans]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.gallup.com/poll/234863/estimate-lgbt-population-rises.aspx |first1=Frank |last1=Newport |title=In U.S., Estimate of LGBT Population Rises to 4.5% |date=2018-05-22|website=Gallup |language=en-us|access-date=2019-12-09}}</ref>

===Religion===
{{Pie chart
| thumb = right
| caption = Religious affiliation of Asian Americans in 2023<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023">{{cite web | last1=Mohamed | first1=Besheer | last2=Rotolo | first2=Michael | title=Religion Among Asian Americans | website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project | date=2023-10-11 | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/religion-among-asian-americans/ | access-date=2023-10-14}}</ref>
| label1=[[Christianity]]
| value1=34
| color1=#B14532
| label2=Unaffiliated
| value2=32
| color2=#736B7D
| label3=[[Buddhism]]
| value3=11
| color3=#DFA146
| label4=[[Hinduism]]
| value4=11
| color4=#D8BF75
| label5=[[Islam]]
| value5=6
| color5=#969D55
| label6=Other faith
| value6=4
| color6=#DCD9C9
| label7=No answer
| value7=2
| color7=White
}}

According to a [[Pew Research Center]] survey conducted from July 5, 2022, to January 27, 2023, the religious landscape of Asian Americans is both diverse and evolving, encompassing Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and the unaffiliated. These religious identities often intersect with cultural practices, creating a unique blend of spirituality that varies significantly across subgroups. Beyond formal identification, many Asian Americans express cultural or ancestral connections to religious traditions, highlighting the multifaceted role of religion in their lives.<ref name="religion2012">"[http://www.pewforum.org/2012/07/19/asian-americans-a-mosaic-of-faiths-overview/ Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths]" (overview) ([https://web.archive.org/web/20140428175458/http://www.pewforum.org/2012/07/19/asian-americans-a-mosaic-of-faiths-overview/ Archive]). [[Pew Research]]. July 19, 2020. Retrieved on May 3, 2020.</ref>

Christianity has experienced the largest decline, dropping from 42% in 2012 to 34% in 2023, reflecting increasing secularisation in the United States and immigration from countries in which Christianity is a minority religion (China and India in particular).<ref name="religion2012" /><ref>Leffel, Gregory P. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=1SxtAAAAQBAJ Faith Seeking Action: Mission, Social Movements, and the Church in Motion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529204157/https://books.google.com/books?id=1SxtAAAAQBAJ|date=May 29, 2020}}''. Scarecrow Press, 2007. {{ISBN|1461658578}}. p. 39</ref> This development has been accompanied by a rise in [[Eastern religions|traditional Asian religions]], with the people identifying with them doubling during the same decade.<ref>Sawyer, Mary R. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=W8sRg3KLL14C The Church on the Margins: Living Christian Community] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531072546/https://books.google.com/books?id=W8sRg3KLL14C|date=May 31, 2020}}''. A&C Black, 2003. {{ISBN|1563383667}}. p. 156</ref>

====Christianity====
{{Further|Christianity in the United States}}
Christianity encompasses the largest tradition, accounting for 34% of Asian American adults. This group is evenly split by Catholics (17%) and Protestants (16%), including 10% who identify as evangelical Protestants. Beyond formal religious identification, an additional 18% report a cultural or familial closeness to Christianity.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Rotolo |first=Besheer Mohamed and Michael |date=2023-10-11 |title=1. Christianity among Asian Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/christianity-among-asian-americans/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref> 

Filipino and Korean Americans display particularly strong affiliations with Christianity. Among Filipino Americans, 74% identify as Christian, and when considering those who feel culturally close to Christianity, this figure rises to 90%. Among Korean Americans, 59% identify as Christians, and 81% express some connection to the faith. Most Filipino Americans are Catholic (57%), whereas Korean Americans tend to be Protestant, with 34% identifying as evangelical Protestants.<ref name=":4" />

====Unaffiliated====
{{Further|Irreligion in the United States}}
The religiously unaffiliated encompasses individuals identifying as atheist, agnostic, or "nothing in particular." The share of those who are religiously unaffiliated has increased from 26% in 2012 to 32% in 2023. Despite a lack of formal religious affiliation, a significant number of religiously unaffiliated Asian Americans maintain a connection to various religious or philosophical traditions due to cultural or ancestral reasons. In total, only 12% of Asian Americans report having no connection to any religious or philosophical tradition.<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023 unaffiliated">{{cite web |last1=Mohamed |first1=Besheer |last2=Rotolo |first2=Michael |date=2023-10-11 |title=6. Religiously unaffiliated Asian Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/religiously-unaffiliated-asian-americans/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project}}</ref>

Among Asian Americans, Chinese and Japanese Americans are more likely to be religiously unaffiliated, with 56% and 47% respectively identifying as such. Both groups are also more likely to feel a cultural or ancestral connection to a faith tradition despite their lack of formal religious affiliation. Conversely, Indian, Filipino, and Vietnamese Americans are considerably less likely to be religiously unaffiliated and more likely to express some form of connection to a religious tradition.<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023 unaffiliated" />

==== Buddhism ====
{{Further|Buddhism in the United States}}
According to a 2023 Pew Research Center report, approximately 11% of Asian American adults identify as Buddhists, a slight decline from 14% in 2012.  Beyond formal identification, an additional 21% report feeling culturally or ancestrally connected to Buddhism, bringing the total with some affiliation to one-third of Asian Americans. Among Vietnamese Americans, 37% identify as Buddhist - the highest proportion among major Asian American subgroups.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Rotolo |first=Besheer Mohamed and Michael |date=2023-10-11 |title=2. Buddhism among Asian Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/buddhism-among-asian-americans/ |access-date=2024-12-19 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

Among Japanese and Chinese Americans, formal Buddhist affiliation is less pronounced, but cultural connections remain robust. For instance, while only 19% of Japanese Americans identify as Buddhist, a significant share feel a closeness to Buddhist traditions, reflecting its philosophical and cultural integration into their heritage. Notably, home-based worship through shrines or altars is prevalent, with 63% of Asian American Buddhists practising such rituals compared to lower attendance rates at formal religious services.<ref name=":2" />

==== Hinduism ====
{{Further|Hinduism in the United States}}
About 11% of Asian American adults identify as Hindu, which has been stable since 2012. Indian Americans constitute the largest group of Hindus, with nearly half (48%) identifying with this tradition. Moreover, an additional 19% of Asian Americans report feeling a cultural or ancestral connection to Hinduism, reflecting the interplay between religious and cultural identities. Altogether, two-thirds of Indian Americans express some form of affiliation with Hinduism, reflecting its central role within this community.<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023 Christian">{{cite web |last1=Mohamed |first1=Besheer |last2=Rotolo |first2=Michael |date=2023-10-11 |title=3. Hinduism among Asian Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/hinduism-among-asian-americans/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=Pew Research Center's Religion & Public Life Project}}</ref>

Hinduism among Asian Americans is notable for its private worship practices. Nearly 79% of Asian American Hindus use an altar, shrine, or religious symbol for worship at home - the highest percentage among Asian American religious groups. At the same time, 31% of Hindus also report attending religious services at least monthly.<ref name="Mohamed Rotolo 2023 Christian" />

==== Islam ====
{{Further|Islam in the United States}}
Islam represents about 6% of Asian Americans, with an additional 3% expressing a cultural connection to the faith. South Asian Americans, predominantly those of Pakistani and Bangladeshi origin, account for the largest share of Muslims followed by those of Indian origin.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |last=Rotolo |first=Besheer Mohamed and Michael |date=2023-10-11 |title=4. Islam among Asian Americans |url=https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/10/11/islam-among-asian-americans/ |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Pew Research Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

For many Asian American Muslims, religion plays a central role in daily life. About 60% report that religion is very important to them, and 54% attend mosque services at least monthly. This group also emphasises communal practices, with a strong focus on maintaining religious traditions within family and community settings.<ref name=":6" />

==History==
{{Main|History of Asian Americans}}
{{See also|Asian immigration to the United States}}

===Early immigration===
[[File:5ViewsOfStMaloLouisiana1883.jpg|thumb|Five images of the [[Filipino people|Filipino]] settlement at [[Saint Malo, Louisiana]]]]

Because Asian Americans or their ancestors immigrated to the United States from many different countries, each Asian American population has its own unique immigration history.<ref name="RoAAPEW2012" />

[[Filipinos]] have been in the territories that would become the United States since the 16th century.<ref>{{cite book |first=Joaquin |last=Gonzalez |title=Filipino American Faith in Action: Immigration, Religion, and Civic Engagement |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vxdJXdqPuuEC&q=filipino%20landing%20morro%20bay&pg=PA20 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |year=2009 |publisher=NYU Press |isbn=9780814732977 |pages=21–22 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122530/https://books.google.com/books?id=vxdJXdqPuuEC&q=filipino+landing+morro+bay&pg=PA20 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |first=E. Jr. |last=San Juan |chapter=Emergency Signals from the Shipwreck |series=SUNY series in global modernity |title=Toward Filipino Self-Determination |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9Cprm26URewC&q=filipino%20morro%20bay&pg=PA101 |access-date=May 11, 2013 |year=2009 |publisher=SUNY Press |isbn=9781438427379 |pages=101–102 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122540/https://books.google.com/books?id=9Cprm26URewC&q=filipino+morro+bay&pg=PA101 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1635, an "East Indian" is listed in [[Jamestown, Virginia]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/upload/African%20Americans%20on%20Jamestown%20Island.pdf |title=A Study of the Africans and African Americans on Jamestown Island and at Green Spring, 1619–1803 |author=Martha W. McCartney |author2=Lorena S. Walsh |author3=Ywone Edwards-Ingram |author4=Andrew J. Butts |author5=Beresford Callum |year=2003 |work=Historic Jamestowne |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |access-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104205831/http://www.nps.gov/jame/historyculture/upload/African%20Americans%20on%20Jamestown%20Island.pdf |url-status=dead }}<br />{{cite news |url=http://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2007/05/16/indian-slaves-in-colonial-america |title=Indian Slaves in Colonial America |author=Francis C. Assisi |date=May 16, 2007 |newspaper=India Currents |access-date=May 11, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121127200048/http://www.indiacurrents.com/articles/2007/05/16/indian-slaves-in-colonial-america |archive-date=November 27, 2012 }}</ref> preceding wider settlement of Indian immigrants on the [[East Coast of the United States|East Coast]] in the 1790s and the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] in the 1800s.<ref>{{cite book |last=Okihiro |first=Gary Y. |title=The Columbia Guide To Asian American History |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZDkwy7CURgC&q=south%20asian%20slaves%20jamestown&pg=PA178 |access-date=May 10, 2013 |year=2005 |publisher=[[Columbia University Press]] |isbn=9780231115117 |page=178 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122535/https://books.google.com/books?id=2ZDkwy7CURgC&q=south+asian+slaves+jamestown&pg=PA178 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1763, Filipinos established the small settlement of [[Saint Malo, Louisiana]], after fleeing mistreatment aboard [[New Spain|Spanish]] [[Manila galleon|ships]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pbs.org/ancestorsintheamericas/time_06.html |title=Filipinos in Louisiana |website=[[PBS]] |access-date=January 5, 2011 |archive-date=March 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321101112/http://www.pbs.org/ancestorsintheamericas/time_06.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Since there were no Filipino women with them, these "Manilamen", as they were known, married [[Cajuns|Cajun]] and indigenous women.<ref>{{cite book |title=Southeast Asian Americans |last=Wachtel |first=Alan |year=2009 |publisher=Marshall Cavendish |isbn=978-0-7614-4312-4 |page=80 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=i_SzmVM1lCAC&q=louisiana+manilamen+marriage&pg=PR4 |access-date=December 5, 2010 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122534/https://books.google.com/books?id=i_SzmVM1lCAC&q=louisiana+manilamen+marriage&pg=PR4 |url-status=live }}</ref> Filipino farmworkers also played a major role in U.S. agriculture in the early 1900s. They often faced poor working conditions and discrimination.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}} The first Japanese person to come to the United States, and stay any significant period of time was [[Nakahama Manjirō]] who reached the East Coast in 1841, and [[Joseph Heco]] became the first Japanese American [[Citizenship of the United States#Naturalized citizenship|naturalized US citizen]] in 1858.<ref>{{cite book|author=John E. Van Sant|title=Pacific Pioneers: Japanese Journeys to America and Hawaii, 1850–80|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w1LIkmYaLWsC&pg=PA22|year=2000|publisher=University of Illinois Press|isbn=978-0-252-02560-0|page=22|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=w1LIkmYaLWsC&pg=PA22|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|author1=Sang Chi|author2=Emily Moberg Robinson|title=Voices of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Experience|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=55GHYJlvf7YC&pg=PA377|date=January 2012|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-354-5|page=377|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=55GHYJlvf7YC&pg=PA377|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|author=Joseph Nathan Kane|title=Famous first facts: a record of first happenings, discoveries and inventions in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PaYEAAAAYAAJ|year=1964|publisher=H. W. Wilson|page=161|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=May 10, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160510190257/https://books.google.com/books?id=PaYEAAAAYAAJ|url-status=live}}</ref>

Chinese sailors first came to [[Hawaii]] in 1789,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10524/132/1/JL08005.pdf |title=Chinese Merchant-Adventurers and Sugar Masters in Hawaii: 1802–1852 |author=Wai-Jane Cha |publisher=University of Hawaii at Manoa |access-date=January 14, 2011 |archive-date=September 18, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918192450/http://evols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu/bitstream/10524/132/1/JL08005.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> a few years after Captain [[James Cook]] came upon the island. Many settled and married [[Native Hawaiians|Hawaiian]] women. Most Chinese, [[Koreans|Korean]] and Japanese immigrants in Hawaii or San Francisco arrived in the 19th century as laborers to work on sugar plantations or construction place.<ref>{{cite book|author1=Xiaojian Zhao|author2=Edward J.W. Park Ph.D.|title=Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA357|date=November 26, 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-240-1|pages=357–358|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA357|url-status=live}}</ref> There were thousands of Asians in Hawaii when it was annexed to the United States in 1898.<ref>Ronald Takaki, ''Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans'' (2nd ed. 1998) pp 133–78</ref> Later, Filipinos also came to work as laborers, attracted by the job opportunities, although they were limited.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino/cali.html |title=Filipino Migrant Workers in California |author=The Office of Multicultural Student Services |year=1999 |publisher=University of Hawaii |access-date=January 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204034225/http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/Filipino/cali.html |archive-date=December 4, 2014 }}<br />{{cite journal |last1=Castillo |first1=Adelaida |year=1976 |title=Filipino Migrants in San Diego 1900–1946 |journal=The Journal of San Diego History |volume=22 |issue=3 |publisher=San Diego Historical Society |url=http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/76summer/migrants.htm |access-date=January 12, 2011 |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604203743/http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/76summer/migrants.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Ryukyuan people|Ryukyuans]] would start migrating to Hawaii in 1900.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://manoa.hawaii.edu/okinawa/wordpress/?page_id=78|title=Center for Okinawan Studies|access-date=2020-01-11|archive-date=January 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200101095035/http://manoa.hawaii.edu/okinawa/wordpress/?page_id=78|url-status=live}}</ref> Many Chinese immigrants played key roles in building the Transcontinental Railroad, but their stories were often left out of mainstream history. According to a PBS article, “Descendants of Chinese Laborers Reclaim Railroad’s History,” families today are working to recover and honor those forgotten histories.<ref>{{cite web |title=Descendants of Chinese Laborers Reclaim Railroad's History |url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/descendants-of-chinese-laborers-reclaim-railroads-history |website=PBS NewsHour |date=May 10, 2021}}{{dead link|date=June 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

Large-scale migration from Asia to the United States began when Chinese immigrants arrived on the [[West Coast of the United States|West Coast]] in the mid-19th century.<ref>{{cite book|author=L. Scott Miller|title=An American Imperative: Accelerating Minority Educational Advancement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dCekZUesEjIC&pg=PA19|year=1995|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-07279-2|page=19|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=January 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=dCekZUesEjIC&pg=PA19|url-status=live}}</ref> Forming part of the [[Gold Rush of 1849|California gold rush]], these early Chinese immigrants participated intensively in the mining business and later in the construction of the [[First transcontinental railroad|transcontinental railroad]]. By 1852, the number of Chinese immigrants in San Francisco had jumped to more than 20,000. A wave of Japanese immigration to the United States began after the [[Meiji Restoration]] in 1868.<ref>{{cite book |author=Richard T. Schaefer |title=Encyclopedia of Race, Ethnicity, and Society |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=STR1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT872 |date=March 20, 2008 |publisher=SAGE Publications |isbn=978-1-4522-6586-5 |page=872 |access-date=October 16, 2015 |archive-date=January 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160103004328/https://books.google.com/books?id=STR1AwAAQBAJ&pg=PT872 |url-status=live }}</ref> In 1898, all Filipinos in the Philippine Islands became American nationals when the United States took over colonial rule of the islands from [[Spain]] following the latter's defeat in the [[Spanish–American War]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=38974 |title=The Legal Entanglements of Empire, Race, and Filipino Migration to the United States |author=Stephanie Hinnershitz-Hutchinson |date=May 2013 |website=Humanities and Social Sciences Net Online |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=August 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808171836/http://www.h-net.org/reviews/showrev.php?id=38974 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |last=Baldoz |first=Rick |date=2011 |title=The Third Asiatic Invasion: Migration and Empire in Filipino America, 1898–1946 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qtn31sdI4j8C&q=Filipinos%20american%20nationals%201898&pg=PA204 |publisher=NYU Press |page=204 |isbn=9780814709214 |access-date=August 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122531/https://books.google.com/books?id=qtn31sdI4j8C&q=Filipinos+american+nationals+1898&pg=PA204 |url-status=live }}</ref> The PBS documentary series Asian Americans highlights these stories and explores how Asian American communities have shaped the U.S. across centuries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asian Americans |url=https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/ |website=PBS |access-date=May 15, 2025}}</ref>

===Exclusion era===
Under United States law during this period, particularly the [[Naturalization Act of 1790]], only "free white persons" were eligible to naturalize as American citizens. Ineligibility for citizenship prevented Asian immigrants from accessing a variety of rights, such as voting.<ref>{{cite book|last=Ngai|first=Mae M.|title=Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America – Updated Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X1dzAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2|date=27 April 2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-5023-5|page=2|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601053859/https://books.google.com/books?id=X1dzAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bhicaji Balsara]] became the first known Indian-born person to gain naturalized US citizenship.<ref>{{cite book |author=Elliott Robert Barkan |title=Immigrants in American History: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration [4 volumes]: Arrival, Adaptation, and Integration |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SOvskj0HNt8C&pg=PT301 |date=17 January 2013 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-220-3 |page=301 |access-date=March 17, 2018 |archive-date=May 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200528103822/https://books.google.com/books?id=SOvskj0HNt8C&pg=PT301 |url-status=live }}</ref> Balsara's naturalization was not the norm but an exception; in a pair of cases, ''[[Ozawa v. United States]]'' (1922) and ''[[United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind]]'' (1923), the Supreme Court upheld the racial qualification for citizenship and ruled that Asians were not "white persons". Second-generation Asian Americans, however, could become US citizens due to the [[Birthright citizenship in the United States|birthright citizenship]] clause of the [[Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution|Fourteenth Amendment]]; this guarantee was confirmed as applying regardless of race or ancestry by the Supreme Court in ''[[United States v. Wong Kim Ark]]'' (1898).<ref>{{cite journal |last=Soodalter |first=Ron |year=2016 |title=By Soil Or By Blood |journal=American History |volume=50 |issue=6 |pages=56–63 }}<br />Not including children of diplomats.</ref>

From the 1880s to the 1920s, the United States passed laws inaugurating an era of exclusion of Asian immigrants. While the overall number of Asian immigrants was relatively small compared to those from other regions, their concentration in the West contributed to the rise of nativist sentiment, often referred to as the "[[yellow peril]]." Congress passed [[Chinese Exclusion Act|restrictive legislation]] which prohibited nearly all Chinese immigration to the United States in the 1880s.<ref>Takaki, ''Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans'' (1998) pp 370–78</ref> Japanese immigration was sharply curtailed by a [[Gentlemen's Agreement of 1907|diplomatic agreement]] in 1907. The [[Asiatic Barred Zone Act]] in 1917 further barred immigration from nearly all of Asia, the "Asiatic Zone".<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rothman |first1=Lily |last2=Ronk |first2=Liz |date=2 February 2017 |title=Congress Tightened Immigration Laws 100 Years Ago. Here's Who They Turned Away |url=https://time.com/4645728/1917-immigration-law-photos/ |magazine=Time |access-date=14 March 2019 |quote=Excluded from entry in 1917 were not only convicted criminals, chronic alcoholics and people with contagious diseases, but also people with epilepsy, anarchists, most people who couldn't read and almost everyone from Asia, as well as laborers who were "induced, assisted, encouraged, or solicited to migrate to this country by offers or promises of employment, whether such offers or promises are true or false" and "persons likely to become a public charge". |archive-date=June 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200630192013/https://time.com/4645728/1917-immigration-law-photos/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite magazine |last=Boissoneault |first=Lorraine |date=6 February 2017 |title=Literacy Tests and Asian Exclusion Were the Hallmarks of the 1917 Immigration Act |url=https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-america-grappled-immigration-100-years-ago-180962058/ |magazine=Smithsonian |access-date=14 March 2019 |quote=The act also levied an $8 tax on every adult immigrant (about $160 today) and barred all immigrants from the "Asiatic zone". |archive-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190319064156/https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-america-grappled-immigration-100-years-ago-180962058/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.history.com/news/the-birth-of-illegal-immigration |title=The Birth of 'Illegal' Immigration |last=Little |first=Becky |date=7 September 2017 |website=History |access-date=14 March 2019 |quote=A decade later, the Asiatic Barred Zone Act banned most immigration from Asia, as well as immigration by prostitutes, polygamists, anarchists, and people with contagious diseases. |archive-date=March 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190314192930/https://www.history.com/news/the-birth-of-illegal-immigration |url-status=live }}<br />{{USCongRec|1917|876|date=5 February 1917}}<br />{{cite book |author=Uma A. Segal |title=A Framework for Immigration: Asians in the United States |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KVViCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA134 |date=14 August 2002 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-50633-5 |page=134 |quote=Less than ten years later, Congress passed the Immigration Act of February 5, 1917 (commonly known as the Barred Zone Act), which enumerated the classes of people who were ineligible to enter the United States. Among them were those who were natives of a zone defined by latitude and longitude the geographic area identified became known as the Asiatic Barred Zone, and the act clearly became the Asiatic Barred Zone Act. Under the Asiatic Barred Zone Act, the only Asians allowed entry into the United States were Japanese and Filipinos. |access-date=March 15, 2019 |archive-date=June 4, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200604014326/https://books.google.com/books?id=KVViCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA134 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/64th-congress/session-2/c64s2ch29.pdf |title=CHAP. 29. – An Act To regulate the immigration of aliens to, and the residence of aliens in, the United States. |author=Sixty-Fourth Congress |date=5 February 1917 |website=Library of Congress |access-date=14 March 2019 |quote=unless otherwise provided for by existing treaties, persons who are natives of islands not possessed by the United States adjacent to the Content of Asia, situate south of the twentieth parallel latitude north, west of the one hundred and sixtieth meridian of longitude east of Greenwich, and north of the tenth parallel of latitude south, or who are natives of any country, province, or dependency situate on the Continent of Asia west of the one hundred and tenth meridian of longitude east from Greenwich and east of the fiftieth meridian of longitude east from Greenwich and south of the fiftieth parallel of latitude north, except that portion of said territory situate between the fiftieth and the sixty-fourth meridians of longitude east from Greenwich and the twenty-fourth and thirty-eighth parallels of latitude north, and no alien now in any way excluded from, or prevented from entering, the United States shall be admitted to the United States. |author-link=64th United States Congress |archive-date=April 12, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412011546/https://www.loc.gov/law/help/statutes-at-large/64th-congress/session-2/c64s2ch29.pdf |url-status=live }} [http://library.uwb.edu/Static/USimmigration/39%20stat%20874.pdf Alt URL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190508163451/http://library.uwb.edu/Static/USimmigration/39%20stat%20874.pdf |date=May 8, 2019 }}</ref> The [[Immigration Act of 1924]] provided that no "alien ineligible for citizenship" could be admitted as an immigrant to the United States, consolidating the prohibition of Asian immigration.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Franks |first=Joel |year=2015 |title=Anti-Asian Exclusion In The United States During The Nineteenth And Twentieth Centuries: The History Leading To The Immigration Act Of 1924 |journal=Journal of American Ethnic History |volume=34 |issue=3 |pages=121–122 |doi=10.5406/jamerethnhist.34.3.0121}}<br />Takaki, ''Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans'' (1998) pp 197–211</ref>

===World War II===
President Roosevelt issued [[Executive Order 9066]] on February 19, 1942, resulting in the [[internment of Japanese Americans]], among others. Over 100,000 people of Japanese descent, mostly on the West Coast, were forcibly removed, in an action later considered ineffective and racist.<ref>{{cite web |title=Executive Order 9066: Resulting in Japanese-American Incarceration (1942) |url=https://www.archives.gov/milestone-documents/executive-order-9066 |website=National Archives |language=en |date=22 September 2021}}</ref> Japanese Americans were kept isolated in military camps just because of their race, including children, old persons and the young generation. 'Issei:The first generation' and 'Children of the camps' are two great documentaries representing the situation of Japanese  Americans during World War II.

===Postwar immigration===
World War II-era legislation and judicial rulings{{which|date=March 2021}} gradually increased the ability of Asian Americans to immigrate and become [[United States nationality law|naturalized]] citizens. Immigration rapidly increased following the enactment of the [[Immigration and Nationality Act Amendments of 1965]] as well as the influx of [[refugees#Southeast Asia (Vietnam War)|refugees]] from conflicts occurring in Southeast Asia such as the [[Vietnam War]]. Asian American immigrants have a significant percentage of individuals who have already achieved professional status, a first among immigration groups.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=19089 |title=Asian American Community Participation and Religion: Civic "Model Minorities?" |author=Elaine Howard Ecklund |author2=Jerry Z. Park |work=Project MUSE |publisher=[[Baylor University]] |access-date=March 7, 2012 |archive-date=March 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314210712/http://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php?id=19089 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The number of Asian immigrants to the United States "grew from 491,000 in 1960 to about 12.8 million in 2014, representing a 2,597 percent increase."<ref name="ZongBatalova">Jie Zong & Jeanne Batalova, [http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/asian-immigrants-united-states Asian Immigrants in the United States] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430234951/http://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/asian-immigrants-united-states |date=April 30, 2017 }}, Migration Policy Institute (January 6, 2016).</ref> Asian Americans were the fastest-growing racial group between 2000 and 2010.<ref name="RoAAPEW2012" /><ref>{{cite news |title=Asian-Americans Gain Influence in Philanthropy |first=Kirk |last=Semple |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/nyregion/as-asian-americans-numbers-grow-so-does-their-philanthropy.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=January 8, 2013 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |quote=From 2000–2010, according to the Census Bureau, the number of people who identified themselves as partly or wholly Asian grew by nearly 46%, more than four times the growth rate of the overall population, making Asian-Americans the fastest-growing racial group in the nation. |archive-date=January 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130115131258/http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/09/nyregion/as-asian-americans-numbers-grow-so-does-their-philanthropy.html |url-status=live }}</ref> By 2012, more immigrants came from Asia than from Latin America.<ref>{{cite news |last=Semple |first=Ken |date=18 June 2012 |title=In a Shift, Biggest Wave of Migrants Is Now Asian |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/us/asians-surpass-hispanics-as-biggest-immigrant-wave.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=3 May 2017 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122530/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/19/us/asians-surpass-hispanics-as-biggest-immigrant-wave.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |title=New Asian 'American Dream': Asians Surpass Hispanics in Immigration |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AofKyizzAko |work=ABC News |location=United States News |date=19 June 2012 |access-date=3 May 2017 |archive-date=April 23, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423151332/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AofKyizzAko |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book|author=Jonathan H. X. Lee|title=History of Asian Americans: Exploring Diverse Roots: Exploring Diverse Roots|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hxoUBgAAQBAJ&pg=PR53|date=16 January 2015|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-0-313-38459-2|page=53|access-date=May 3, 2017|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530044826/https://books.google.com/books?id=hxoUBgAAQBAJ&pg=PR53|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Pew Research Center found that from 2010 to 2015 more immigrants came from Asia than from Latin America, and that since 1965; Asians have made up a quarter of all immigrants to the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rivitz |first=Jessica |title=Asians on pace to overtake Hispanics among U.S. immigrants, study shows |url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/us/pew-study-immigration-asians-hispanics/ |work=CNN |location=Atlanta |date=28 September 2015 |access-date=3 May 2017 |archive-date=June 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170607120550/http://www.cnn.com/2015/09/28/us/pew-study-immigration-asians-hispanics/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Asians have made up an increasing proportion of the foreign-born Americans: "In 1960, Asians represented 5 percent of the U.S. foreign-born population; by 2014, their share grew to 30 percent of the nation's 42.4 million immigrants."<ref name="ZongBatalova"/> As of 2016, "Asia is the second-largest region of birth (after Latin America) of U.S. immigrants."<ref name="ZongBatalova"/> In 2013, China surpassed Mexico as the top single country of origin for immigrants to the US.<ref>Erika Lee, [https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/07/07/chinese-immigrants-largest-column/29784905/ Chinese immigrants now largest group of new arrivals to the US] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170419090924/https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/07/07/chinese-immigrants-largest-column/29784905/ |date=April 19, 2017 }}, ''USA Today'' (July 7, 2015).</ref> Asian immigrants "are more likely than the overall foreign-born population to be naturalized citizens"; in 2014, 59% of Asian immigrants had US citizenship, compared to 47% of all immigrants.<ref name="ZongBatalova"/> Postwar Asian immigration to the US has been diverse: in 2014, 31% of Asian immigrants to the US were from [[East Asia]] (predominantly China and Korea); 27.7% were from [[South Asia]] (predominantly India); 32.6% were from [[Southeast Asia]] (predominantly the Philippines and Vietnam); and 8.3% were from [[West Asia]].<ref name="ZongBatalova"/>

===Asian American movement===
{{Main|Asian American movement}}
[[File:Ken Jeong & Awkwafina.png|thumb|right|[[Awkwafina]] (right) with [[Ken Jeong]]]]

Prior to the 1960s, Asian immigrants and their descendants had organized and agitated for social or political purposes according to their particular ethnicity: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, or Asian Indian. The Asian American movement (a term coined by the Japanese American [[Yuji Ichioka]] and the Chinese American [[Emma Gee]]) gathered all those groups into a coalition, recognizing that they shared common problems with racial discrimination and common opposition to [[American imperialism]], particularly in Asia. The movement developed during the 1960s, inspired in part by the [[Civil Rights Movement]] and the [[protests against the Vietnam War]]. "Drawing influences from the [[Black Power]] and antiwar movements, the Asian American movement forged a coalitional politics that united Asians of varying ethnicities and declared solidarity with other Third World people in the United States and abroad. Segments of the movement struggled for community control of education, provided social services and defended affordable housing in Asian ghettoes, organized exploited workers, protested against US imperialism, and built new multiethnic cultural institutions."<ref name="oxford">{{cite encyclopedia|url=http://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-21|title=The Asian American Movement|last=Maeda|first=Daryl Joji|encyclopedia=Oxford Research Encyclopedia of American History|year=2016|doi=10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.013.21|isbn=978-0-19-932917-5|access-date=23 February 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122548/https://oxfordre.com/americanhistory/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780199329175.001.0001/acrefore-9780199329175-e-21|url-status=live}}</ref> William Wei described the movement as "rooted in a past history of oppression and a present struggle for liberation".<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Nlue11bhyb4C|title=Race Pride and the American Identity|last=Rhea|first=Joseph Tilden|date=May 1, 2001|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674005761|page=43|language=en|access-date=June 16, 2016|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530132053/https://books.google.com/books?id=Nlue11bhyb4C|url-status=live}}</ref> The movement as such was most active during the 1960s and 1970s.<ref name = "oxford"/>

Increasingly Asian American students demanded university-level research and teaching into Asian history and interaction with the United States. They support [[multiculturalism]] and support [[affirmative action]] but oppose colleges' quota on Asian students viewed as discriminatory.<ref>Jeanie Suk Gersen, "The Uncomfortable Truth About Affirmative Action and Asian-Americans" ''The New Yorker'' (2017)</ref><ref>Jennifer Lee, "69% of Asian American Registered Voters Support Affirmative Action" ''AAPI Data'' (2022)</ref><ref>"70% of Asian Americans support affirmative action. Here's why misconceptions persist." ''NBC News'' (November 14, 2020).</ref>

==Notable contributions==
{{Main list|List of Asian Americans|List of Asian-American firsts}}

===Arts and entertainment===
{{Main|Asian Americans in arts and entertainment}}
{{See also|Asian American art|Asian American literature |Asian Americans in music|Asian-American theatre|American television series with Asian leads}}
[[File:Jerry Yang in 2010.jpg|thumb|right|[[Jerry Yang]], billionaire co-founder of the search engine [[Yahoo!]]. He is currently the founding partner of the venture fund AME Cloud Ventures]]
[[File:Kamran Elahian, Steve Chen, and Jamie_Chen.jpg|thumb|right|[[Steve Chen]] (middle), co-founder of [[YouTube]].]]
[[File:Jensen Huang at Computex Taipei 20160531a.jpg|thumb|[[Jensen Huang]], billionaire, founder and [[CEO]] of [[Nvidia]], the largest [[AI]] conglomerate and the largest company in the world as of November 2024]]
[[File:Professor Steven Chu ForMemRS headshot.jpg|thumb|right|[[Steven Chu]], physicist, former Secretary of Energy (2009–2013), winner of 1997 Nobel Prize in [[Physics]] for research in laser cooling.]]
[[File:Kamala Harris Vice Presidential Portrait.jpg|thumb|[[Kamala Harris]], former Vice President of the United States]]
[[File:MS-Exec-Nadella-Satya-2017-08-31-22 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Satya Nadella]], current Chairman and CEO of [[Microsoft]]]]
[[File:RADM Kenneth P. Moritsugu, USPHSCC.jpg|thumb|right|[[Kenneth P. Moritsugu]] was the first Asian American Surgeon General of the US.]]

Asian Americans have been involved in the [[entertainment industry]] since the first half of the 19th century, when [[Chang and Eng Bunker]] (the original "Siamese Twins") became naturalized citizens.<ref>[http://faizhao.blogdriver.com/faizhao/521445.html We Are Siamese Twins-Fai的分裂生活] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222182830/http://faizhao.blogdriver.com/faizhao/521445.html |date=December 22, 2007 }}</ref> Throughout the 20th century, acting roles in television, film, and theater were relatively few, and many available roles were for narrow, stereotypical characters. [[Bruce Lee]] (born in San Francisco, CA) only achieved movie stardom after leaving the United States for Hong Kong.

More recently, young Asian American comedians and film-makers have found an outlet on [[YouTube]] allowing them to gain a strong and loyal fanbase among their fellow Asian Americans.<ref>{{cite news|title=YouTube Spawns Asian-American Celebrities |first=Elizabeth |last=Lee |url=http://m.voanews.com/rss.jsp;jsessionid=185B5BBA953982AB4D008141A1942BF7.aldo2?id=3132&rssid=25273271&item=http%3a%2f%2fwww.voanews.com%2frss%2fmobiletech.aspx%3farticleid%3d1612459&cid=25228001&show=full |newspaper=VAO News |date=February 28, 2013 |access-date=March 4, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130218124215/http://m.voanews.com/rss.jsp |archive-date=February 18, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> There have been several Asian American-centric television shows in American media, beginning with ''[[Mr. T and Tina]]'' in 1976, and as recent as the TV series ''[[Fresh Off the Boat]]'' in 2015.<ref>{{cite news |last=Chow |first=Kat |date=February 5, 2015 |title=A Brief, Weird History Of Squashed Asian-American TV Shows |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2015/02/05/383520596/a-brief-weird-history-of-squashed-asian-american-tv-shows |newspaper=NPR |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208031301/http://www.npr.org/blogs/codeswitch/2015/02/05/383520596/a-brief-weird-history-of-squashed-asian-american-tv-shows |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Cruz |first=Lenika |date=February 4, 2015 |title=Why There's So Much Riding on Fresh Off the Boat |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/fresh-off-the-boats-sophomore-anxiety/385152/ |newspaper=The Atlantic |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207063558/http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/fresh-off-the-boats-sophomore-anxiety/385152/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Gamboa |first=Glenn |date=January 30, 2015 |title=Eddie Huang a fresh voice in 'Fresh Off the Boat' |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/eddie-huang-a-fresh-voice-in-fresh-off-the-boat-1.9847928 |newspaper=Newsday |location=Long Island, New York |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207081103/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/eddie-huang-a-fresh-voice-in-fresh-off-the-boat-1.9847928 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Lee |first=Adrian |date=February 5, 2015 |title=Will Fresh Off The Boat wind up being a noble failure? |url=http://www.macleans.ca/culture/television/why-fresh-off-the-boat-may-wind-up-to-be-a-noble-failure/ |newspaper=MacLeans |location=Canada |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208124725/http://www.macleans.ca/culture/television/why-fresh-off-the-boat-may-wind-up-to-be-a-noble-failure/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Oriel |first=Christina |date=December 20, 2014 |title=Asian American sitcom to air on ABC in 2015 |url=http://asianjournal.com/entertainment/asian-american-sitcom-to-air-on-abc-in-2015/ |newspaper=Asian Journal |location=Los Angeles |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207054010/http://asianjournal.com/entertainment/asian-american-sitcom-to-air-on-abc-in-2015/ |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}<br />{{cite news |last=Beale |first=Lewis |date=February 3, 2015 |title=The Overdue Asian TV Movement |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/03/the-overdue-asian-tv-movement.html |newspaper=The Daily Beast |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 11, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150211052612/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/02/03/the-overdue-asian-tv-movement.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Yang |first=Jeff |date=May 2, 2014 |title=Why the 'Fresh Off the Boat' TV Series Could Change the Game |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/05/02/why-fresh-off-the-boat-tv-series-could-change-the-game/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=May 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140512225355/http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2014/05/02/why-fresh-off-the-boat-tv-series-could-change-the-game/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book|author=Joann Faung Jean Lee|title=Asian American Actors: Oral Histories from Stage, Screen, and Television|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FT34Zr2F7EIC&pg=PA98|date=August 1, 2000|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-0-7864-0730-9|page=98|access-date=October 16, 2015|archive-date=April 27, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427233412/https://books.google.com/books?id=FT34Zr2F7EIC&pg=PA98|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news |last=Branch |first=Chris |date=February 5, 2015 |title='Fresh Off The Boat' Brings Asian-Americans To The Table On Network TV |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/fresh-off-the-boat-network-tv_n_6623930.html |newspaper=Huffington Post |access-date=February 8, 2015 |archive-date=February 7, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150207112413/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/05/fresh-off-the-boat-network-tv_n_6623930.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the Pacific, American beatboxer of [[Chinese immigration to Hawaii|Hawaii Chinese]] descent Jason Tom co-founded the Human Beatbox Academy to perpetuate the art of beatboxing through outreach performances, speaking engagements and workshops in [[Honolulu]], the westernmost and southernmost major US city of the 50th US state of [[Hawaii]].<ref name="University of Hawai{{okina}}i Alumni">{{cite web|title=Hawai'i's Human Beatbox|url=https://uhalumni.org/kapiolani/story/hawaiis-human-beatbox|access-date=January 23, 2021|work=University of Hawai{{okina}}i Foundation Office of Alumni Relations|date=19 October 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131051242/https://uhalumni.org/kapiolani/story/hawaiis-human-beatbox|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="UH News">{{cite web | title = Kapi{{okina}}olani CC alum stays on beat spreading message of perseverance | url = https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/12/13/kapiolani-cc-human-beatbox/ | access-date = January 23, 2021 | work = University of Hawai{{okina}}i News | date = December 13, 2018 | archive-date = December 15, 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191215212233/https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/12/13/kapiolani-cc-human-beatbox/ | url-status = live }}</ref><ref name="Kapi{{okina}}o News">{{cite news|last1=Yamashiro|first1=Lexus|title=KCC Alumnus Inspires Community Through Beatboxing, Motivational Speaking|url=https://www.kapionews.com/index.php/2017/07/19/kcc-alumnus-inspires-community-through-beatboxing-motivational-speaking/|access-date=January 23, 2021|work=Kapi{{okina}}o News|date=15 July 2017|archive-date=January 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129121521/https://www.kapionews.com/index.php/2017/07/19/kcc-alumnus-inspires-community-through-beatboxing-motivational-speaking/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="University of Hawai{{okina}}i at Kapi{{okina}}olani Alumni">{{cite web|title=Hawai{{okina}}i's Human Beatbox|url=https://uhalumni.org/news/story/hawaiis-human-beatbox|last=Ching|first=Kapi{{okina}}olani|date=December 13, 2018|work=University of Hawai{{okina}}i at Kapi{{okina}}olani Alumni|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=January 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130222016/https://uhalumni.org/news/story/hawaiis-human-beatbox|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="The International Wave">{{cite web|last=Lim|first=Woojin|title=Jason Tom: Hawaii's Human Beatbox|url=https://medium.com/the-international-wave/jason-tom-hawaiis-human-beatbox-bb55c49e551|access-date=January 23, 2021|work=The International Wave: A Collection of In-Depth Conversations With Artists of Asian Descent|date=January 21, 2021|archive-date=January 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210123050520/https://medium.com/the-international-wave/jason-tom-hawaiis-human-beatbox-bb55c49e551|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Melliennial Magazine">{{cite web|last1=Hulme|first1=Julia|title=Jason Tom: The Human BeatBox|url=http://millennialmagazine.com/jason-tom-the-human-beatbox/|work=Millennial Magazine|access-date=January 23, 2021|date=January 25, 2016|archive-date=October 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003105256/http://millennialmagazine.com/jason-tom-the-human-beatbox/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Business===
{{Missing information|section|the history of the subject|date=August 2009}}

When Asian Americans were largely excluded from labor markets in the 19th century, they started their own businesses. They have started convenience and grocery stores, professional offices such as medical and law practices, laundries, restaurants, beauty-related ventures, hi-tech companies, and many other kinds of enterprises, becoming very successful and influential in American society. They have dramatically expanded their involvement across the American economy. Asian Americans have been disproportionately successful in the hi-tech sectors of California's Silicon Valley, as evidenced by the [[Goldsea]] 100 Compilation of America's Most Successful Asian Entrepreneurs.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://goldsea.com/Profiles/100/100.html | title=100 Most Successful Asian American Entrepreneurs | access-date=November 3, 2010 | archive-date=November 24, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124044834/http://goldsea.com/Profiles/100/100.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

Compared to their population base, Asian Americans today are well represented in the professional sector and tend to earn higher wages.<ref name="Broad racial disparities persist">{{cite web |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna15704759 |title=Broad racial disparities persist |website=[[NBC News]] |date=November 14, 2006 |access-date=December 18, 2006 |df=mdy |archive-date=March 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130305120336/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/15704759/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The Goldsea compilation of Notable Asian American Professionals show that many have come to occupy high positions at leading US corporations, including a disproportionately large number as Chief Marketing Officers.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://goldsea.com/Text/index.php?id=2457 | title=Notable Asian American Professionals | access-date=November 3, 2010 | archive-date=October 20, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101020205700/http://goldsea.com/Text/index.php?id=2457 | url-status=live }}</ref>

Asian Americans have made major contributions to the American economy. In 2012, there were just under 486,000 Asian American-owned businesses in the US, which together employed more than 3.6 million workers, generating $707.6 billion in total receipts and sales, with annual payrolls of $112 billion. In 2015, Asian American and Pacific Islander households had $455.6 billion in spending power (comparable to the annual revenue of [[Walmart]]) and made tax contributions of $184.0 billion.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://research.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NAE-AAPI-v14.pdf|date=October 2017|title=How Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Contribute to the U.S. Economy|publisher=Partnership for a New American Economy Research Fund|pages=4, 12, 19|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=February 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215203744/http://research.newamericaneconomy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/NAE-AAPI-v14.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fashion designer and mogul [[Vera Wang]], who is famous for designing dresses for high-profile celebrities, started a clothing company, named after herself, which now offers a broad range of luxury fashion products. [[An Wang]] founded [[Wang Laboratories]] in June 1951. [[Amar Bose]] founded the [[Bose Corporation]] in 1964. [[Charles Wang]] founded [[CA, Inc.|Computer Associates]], later became its CEO and chairman. Two brothers, David Khym and Kenny Khym founded [[hip hop fashion]] giant [[Southpole (clothing)|Southpole]] in 1991. [[Jen-Hsun Huang|Jen-Hsun "Jensen" Huang]] co-founded the [[Nvidia]] corporation in 1993. [[Jerry Yang (entrepreneur)|Jerry Yang]] co-founded [[Yahoo!]] Inc. in 1994 and became its CEO later. [[Andrea Jung]] serves as chairman and CEO of [[Avon Products]]. [[Vinod Khosla]] was a founding CEO of [[Sun Microsystems]] and is a general partner of the prominent venture capital firm [[Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers]]. [[Steve Chen (YouTube)|Steve Chen]] and [[Jawed Karim]] were co-creators of YouTube, and were beneficiaries of [[Google]]'s $1.65 billion acquisition of that company in 2006. [[Eric Yuan]], founder of [[Zoom Video Communications]], and [[Shahid Khan]], owner of the [[Jacksonville Jaguars]] among others, are both in the US top 100 in terms of net worth, according to [[Forbes]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/eric-yuan/|title=Eric Yuan & family|website=Forbes}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/shahid-khan/|title=Shahid Khan|first=Shahid|last=Khan|website=Forbes}}</ref> In addition to contributing greatly to other fields, Asian Americans have made considerable contributions in science and technology in the United States, in such prominent innovative [[R&D]] regions as [[Silicon Valley]] and [[Research Triangle|The Triangle]].

===Government and politics===
{{Main|Asian Americans in government and politics}}
{{See also|Foreign relations of the United States#East Asia|Foreign relations of the United States#South Asia|Foreign relations of the United States#Southeast Asia}}

Asian Americans have a high level of political incorporation in terms of their actual voting population. Since 1907, Asian Americans have been active at the national level and have had multiple officeholders at local, state, and national levels. As more Asian Americans have been elected to public office, they have had a growing impact on foreign relations of the United States, immigration, international trade, and other topics.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Zhao|first1=Xiaojian|last2=Ph.D.|first2=Edward J.W. Park|title=Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History|chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PR28|date=26 November 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-240-1|page=1|chapter=Conclusion|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601011602/https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=RA1-PR28|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|last1=Collet|first1=Christian|last2=Lien|first2=Pei-Te|title=The Transnational Politics of Asian Americans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uhasTFXN3v8C&pg=PR11|date=28 July 2009|publisher=Temple University Press|isbn=978-1-59213-862-3|page=11|access-date=December 11, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601061836/https://books.google.com/books?id=uhasTFXN3v8C&pg=PR11|url-status=live}}</ref> The first Asian American to be elected to the [[United States Congress]] was [[Dalip Singh Saund]] in 1957.

The highest ranked Asian American to serve in the United States Congress was Senator and [[President pro tempore of the United States Senate|President pro tempore]] [[Daniel Inouye]], who died in office in 2012. There are several active [[List of Asian Americans in the United States Congress|Asian Americans in the United States Congress]]. With higher proportions and densities of Asian American populations, Hawaii has most consistently sent Asian Americans to the Senate, and [[Hawaii]] and [[California]] have most consistently sent Asian Americans to the House of Representatives.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Senate: Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian Senators |url=https://www.senate.gov/senators/asian-american-senators.htm |access-date=2023-04-26 |website=www.senate.gov}}</ref>

The first Asian American member of the US cabinet was [[Norman Mineta]], who served as [[Secretary of Commerce]] and then [[Secretary of Transportation]] in the George W. Bush administration. As of 2021, the highest ranked Asian American by [[United States order of precedence|order of precedence]] is [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[Kamala Harris]]. Previously, the highest ranked Asian American was Secretary of Transportation [[Elaine Chao]] (2017–2021), who had also been in the order of precedence as [[US Secretary of Labor]] (2001–2009).

There have been roughly "about a half-dozen viable Asian-American candidates" to ever run for [[president of the United States]].<ref name=YangDrops>{{cite news|author=Matt Stevens|title=Andrew Yang Drops Out: 'It Is Clear Tonight From the Numbers That We Are Not Going to Win'|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/us/politics/andrew-yang-drops-out.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=February 11, 2020|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=September 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924050541/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/11/us/politics/andrew-yang-drops-out.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Senator [[Hiram Fong]] of Hawaii, the child of Chinese immigrants, was a "[[favorite son]]" candidate at the [[1964 Republican National Convention|Republican National Conventions of 1964]] and [[1968 Republican National Convention|1968]].<ref name=Wang2015>{{cite news |last=Kai-Hwa Wang |first=Francis |date=25 June 2015 |title=Indian Americans React to Bobby Jindal Presidential Announcement |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/indian-americans-react-bobby-jindal-presidential-announcement-n381596 |work=NBC News |access-date=20 August 2019 |archive-date=August 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828124727/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/indian-americans-react-bobby-jindal-presidential-announcement-n381596 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |agency=The Associated Press |date=19 August 2004 |title=Hiram L. Fong, 97, Senator From Hawaii in 60's and 70's |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/us/hiram-l-fong-97-senator-from-hawaii-in-60-s-and-70-s.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=20 August 2019 |archive-date=July 18, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190718172104/https://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/19/us/hiram-l-fong-97-senator-from-hawaii-in-60-s-and-70-s.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book|last1=Zhao|first1=Xiaojian|last2=Park|first2=Edward J.W.|title=Asian Americans: An Encyclopedia of Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political History|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA435|date=26 November 2013|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-59884-240-1|page=435|access-date=August 21, 2019|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530044827/https://books.google.com/books?id=3AxIAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA435|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1972, Representative [[Patsy T. Mink]] of Hawaii, a [[Japanese American]], unsuccessfully sought the [[1972 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic nomination for president]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Wallace Turner|title=Mrs. Mink, Vying With McGovern, Offers Oregon a Choice|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/10/archives/mrs-mink-vying-with-mcgovern-offers-oregon-a-choice.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 10, 1972|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122538/https://www.nytimes.com/1972/05/10/archives/mrs-mink-vying-with-mcgovern-offers-oregon-a-choice.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Louisiana Governor [[Bobby Jindal 2016 presidential campaign|Bobby Jindal]], the son of Indian immigrants, unsuccessfully sought the [[2016 Republican Party presidential primaries|Republican nomination for president]] in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jonathan Martin|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/bobby-jindal-presidential-race.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=November 18, 2015|title=Bobby Jindal Quits Republican Presidential Race|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122537/https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/18/us/politics/bobby-jindal-presidential-race.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Entrepreneur and nonprofit founder [[Andrew Yang 2020 presidential campaign|Andrew Yang]], the son of Taiwanese immigrants, unsuccessfully sought the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries|Democratic nomination for president in 2020]].<ref name=YangDrops/> In January 2021, [[Kamala Harris]], the daughter of an Indian mother and a Jamaican father became the first Asian American [[Vice President of the United States]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Purna Kamphampaty|first1=Anna|last2=Lang|first2=Cady|date=November 7, 2020|title=The Historic Barriers Kamala Harris Overcame to Reach the Vice-Presidency|url=https://time.com/5908579/kamala-harris-historic-vice-president/|access-date=2020-11-09|magazine=Time|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122539/https://time.com/5908579/kamala-harris-historic-vice-president/|url-status=live}}</ref>

King [[Bhumibol Adulyadej]] (1927–2016) was the first monarch to be born in the United States. He reigned the throne of Thailand from 1946 to 2016.

====Voting behavior====
Asian Americans were once a strong constituency for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]]. In [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]], [[George H. W. Bush]] won 55% of Asian voters.<ref>{{cite web |title=How Groups Voted in 1992 {{!}} Roper Center for Public Opinion Research |url=https://ropercenter.cornell.edu/how-groups-voted-1992 |access-date=2022-11-04 |website=ropercenter.cornell.edu}}</ref> However, by [[2020 United States presidential election|2020]], Asian Americans shifted to supporting [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], giving [[Joe Biden]] 70% support to [[Donald Trump]]'s 29%.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2021-05-21 |title=Understanding The 2020 Electorate: AP VoteCast Survey |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/11/03/929478378/understanding-the-2020-electorate-ap-votecast-survey |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref> Ethnic background and country of origin have determined Asian American voting behavior in recent elections, with [[Indian Americans]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Despite Trump-Modi Friendship, Survey Says Indian Americans Back Biden |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2020/10/27/927828785/despite-trump-modi-friendship-survey-says-indian-americans-back-biden |access-date=2022-11-04}}</ref> and to a lesser extent [[Chinese Americans]] being strong constituencies for Democrats, and [[Vietnamese Americans]] being a strong constituency for Republicans.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cai |first1=Weiyi |last2=Fessenden |first2=Ford |date=2020-12-21 |title=Immigrant Neighborhoods Shifted Red as the Country Chose Blue |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/20/us/politics/election-hispanics-asians-voting.html |access-date=2022-11-04 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

Sixty eight percent of Filipinos surveyed for a 2023 survey said they identified politically with the Democratic Party and voted for Democrats.<ref name="Voice of America">{{cite web | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/pew-study-finds-asian-americans-identify-themselves-in-diverse-ways-/7083549.html | title=Pew Study Finds Asian Americans Identify Themselves in Diverse Ways | date=May 8, 2023 }}</ref>

===Journalism===
{{See also|Asian Americans in broadcast journalism|Asian American Journalists Association}}

[[Connie Chung]] was one of the first Asian American national correspondents for a major TV [[news network]], reporting for CBS in 1971. She later co-anchored the ''CBS Evening News'' from 1993 to 1995, becoming the first Asian American national news anchor.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wc.pdx.edu/conniechung/ConnieChung.html |title=CONNIE CHUNG |work=World Changers |publisher=[[Portland State University]] |access-date=February 21, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309050434/http://www.wc.pdx.edu/conniechung/ConnieChung.html |archive-date=March 9, 2012 }}</ref> At ABC, [[Ken Kashiwahara]] began reporting nationally in 1974. In 1989, [[Emil Guillermo]], a Filipino American born reporter from San Francisco, became the first Asian American male to co-host a national news show when he was senior host at National Public Radio's ''[[All Things Considered]]''. In 1990, [[Sheryl WuDunn]], a foreign correspondent in the Beijing Bureau of ''[[The New York Times]]'', became the first Asian American to win a Pulitzer Prize. [[Ann Curry]] joined NBC News as a reporter in 1990, later becoming prominently associated with ''The Today Show'' in 1997. [[Carol Lin]] is perhaps best known for being the first to break the news of [[9-11]] on CNN. [[Sanjay Gupta|Dr. Sanjay Gupta]] is currently CNN's chief health correspondent. [[Lisa Ling]], a former co-host on ''The View'', now provides special reports for CNN and ''The Oprah Winfrey Show'', as well as hosting National Geographic Channel's ''Explorer.'' [[Fareed Zakaria]], a naturalized Indian-born immigrant, is a prominent journalist and author specializing in international affairs. He is the editor-at-large of [[Time magazine]], and the host of [[Fareed Zakaria GPS]] on [[CNN]]. [[Juju Chang]], James Hatori, [[John Yang (journalist)|John Yang]], [[Veronica De La Cruz]], [[Michelle Malkin]], [[Betty Nguyen]], and [[Julie Chen]] have become familiar faces on television news. John Yang won a Peabody Award. [[Alex Tizon]], a [[Seattle Times]] staff writer, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1997.

===Military===
{{Main|Military history of Asian Americans}}
{{See also|List of Asian Americans#Military|l1=Notable Asian Americans in the military}}
Since the [[War of 1812]], Asian Americans have [[United States armed forces|served]] and [[Military history of the United States|fought]] on behalf of the United States. Serving in both segregated and non-segregated units until the [[Executive Order 9981|desegregation of the US Military in 1948]], [[List of Asian American Medal of Honor recipients|31]] have been awarded the nation's highest award for combat valor, the [[Medal of Honor]]. Twenty-one of these were conferred upon members of the mostly Japanese American 100th Infantry Battalion of the [[442nd Infantry Regiment (United States)|442nd Regimental Combat Team]] of World War II, the most highly decorated unit of its size in the history of the United States Armed Forces.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=McNaughton|first1=James C.|last2=Edwards|first2=Kristen E.|last3=Price|first3=Jay M.|date=2002-11-01|title="Incontestable Proof Will Be Exacted": Historians, Asian Americans, and the Medal of Honor|journal=The Public Historian|language=en|volume=24|issue=4|pages=11–33|doi=10.1525/tph.2002.24.4.11|issn=0272-3433}}</ref> The highest ranked Asian American military official was [[United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs|Secretary of Veteran Affairs]], four-star general and Army Chief of Staff [[Eric Shinseki]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Harper |first1=Jon |last2=Tritten |first2=Travis J. |date=30 May 2014 |title=VA Secretary Eric Shinseki resigns |url=http://www.stripes.com/news/us/va-secretary-eric-shinseki-resigns-1.286217 |newspaper=[[Stars and Stripes (newspaper)|Stars and Stripes]] |access-date=25 June 2014 |archive-date=June 16, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180616103244/https://www.stripes.com/news/us/va-secretary-eric-shinseki-resigns-1.286217 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Science and technology===
{{Main|Asian Americans in science and technology}}
[[File:SXSW-2024-alih-OB7A0861-Lisa Su.jpg|thumb|[[Lisa Su]], CEO of [[AMD]] since October 2014.]]

Asian Americans have made many notable contributions to science and technology.  In the technological sector, Asian Americans are the most influential. According to an article by website ideas.ted.com, over 40% of the high-tech companies are established by highly skilled Asian American people. It also states that AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders) has been contributing to remarkable technological innovations and scientific discoveries. For example, the co-founders of Yahoo, Zoom, YouTube, and LinkedIn are Asian American contributors. In the 21st century, Asian Americans are building connections with other Asian countries, such as China, Korea, Bangladesh, and India. Another example could be the CEO of [[Microsoft]], originally from India, Satya Nadella is an example of the contribution of Asian Americans in the technological fields. Asian Americans have a vital contribution not only in technology, and education but also in political aspects. An article by the US Department of Agriculture posted on their website is an example, stating that the birthright citizenship law passed in the US Supreme Court due to a year-long battle between Wong Kim Ark (a Chinese immigrant born in San Francisco) and the US Department of Justice. Kamala Harris, daughter of an Indian immigrant became the first Asian American vice president of the United States in 2021.

===Sports===
{{Main|Asian Americans in sports}}

Asian Americans have contributed to sports in the United States through much of the 20th century. Some of the most notable contributions include Olympic sports, but also in professional sports, particularly in the post-World War II years. As the Asian American population grew in the late 20th century, Asian American contributions expanded to more sports. Examples of female Asian American athletes include [[Michelle Kwan]], [[Chloe Kim]], [[Miki Gorman]], [[Mirai Nagasu]], and [[Maia Shibutani]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wenjen |first1=Mia |title=Asian Pacific American female Athletes Changing the Game |url=https://www.mamasmiles.com/asian-pacific-american-female-athletes/ |website=Mama Smiles |date=March 6, 2021 |access-date=19 May 2021}}</ref> Examples of male Asian American athletes include [[Jeremy Lin]], [[Tiger Woods]], [[Hines Ward]], [[Richard Park (ice hockey)|Richard Park]], and [[Nathan Adrian]].

==Cultural influence==
In recognition of the unique culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the [[United States government]] has permanently designated the month of May to be [[Asian Pacific American Heritage Month|Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month]];<ref name="NYPL">{{cite web |last=Tiangco |first=Arielle |date=April 25, 2022 |title=APA, AAPI, APIDA or AANHPI? The history and significance of the "Asian American" identity crisis |url=https://www.optimistdaily.com/2022/04/apa-aapi-apida-aanhpi-the-history-and-significance-of-the-asian-american-identity-crisis/ |access-date=March 25, 2024 |website=The Optimist Daily |publisher= |quote=Formerly known as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, the name officially changed to Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in April 2021, with President Joe Biden's signing of Proclamation 10189.}}</ref> before 2021 it was known as [[Asian Pacific American Heritage Month]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://asianpacificheritage.gov/about.html |title=About Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |publisher=Library of Congress |access-date=August 18, 2014 |archive-date=August 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815013003/http://asianpacificheritage.gov/about.html |url-status=live }}<br />George Bush: "Statement on Signing Legislation Establishing Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month", October 23, 1992. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=21645 {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081005213637/http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/index.php?pid=21645 |date=October 5, 2008 }}</ref> Asian American parenting as seen through relationships between Chinese parents and adolescence, which is described as being more authoritarian and less warm than relations between European parents and adolescence, has become a topic of study and discussion.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Russell|first1=Stepehn|date=2010|title=Asian American Parenting and Parent-Adolescent Relationships|url=https://archive.org/details/asianamericanpar00russ_696|url-access=limited|pages=[https://archive.org/details/asianamericanpar00russ_696/page/n15 1]–15|publisher=Springer|location=New York, NY|doi=10.1007/978-1-4419-5728-3_1|chapter=Introduction: Asian American Parenting and Parent-Adolescent Relationships|isbn=978-1-4419-5727-6}}<br />{{cite book|author1=Karen Kurasaki|author2=Sumie Okazaki|author3=Stanley Sue|title=Asian American Mental Health: Assessment Theories and Methods|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=inxHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT260|date=6 December 2012|publisher=Springer Science & Business Media|isbn=978-1-4615-0735-2|page=260|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601123530/https://books.google.com/books?id=inxHBAAAQBAJ&pg=PT260|url-status=live}}</ref> These influences affect how parents regulate and monitor their children, and has been described as [[Tiger parenting]], and has received interest and curiosity from non-Chinese parents.<ref>{{cite book|author=Amy Chua|title=Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QsEaN-leF7QC|date=6 December 2011|publisher=A&C Black|isbn=978-1-4088-2509-9|access-date=February 16, 2019|archive-date=March 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122532/https://books.google.com/books?id=QsEaN-leF7QC|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Scarlett |date=Spring 2013 |title=The "Tiger Mom": Stereotypes of Chinese Parenting in the United States |url=https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/appsych/opus/issues/2013/spring/wang |journal=Opus |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181220195121/https://steinhardt.nyu.edu/appsych/opus/issues/2013/spring/wang |archive-date=December 20, 2018 |url-status=dead }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://psmag.com/education/tiger-mom-asian-americans-achievement-education-the-problem-with-a-culture-of-excellence-83744 |title=The Problem With A Culture of Excellence |last=Chang |first=Bettina |date=18 June 2014 |website=Pacific Standard |publisher=The Social Justice Foundation |access-date=15 February 2019 |archive-date=February 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190216153229/https://psmag.com/education/tiger-mom-asian-americans-achievement-education-the-problem-with-a-culture-of-excellence-83744 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Health and medicine===
{{See also|Health status of Asian Americans}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; font-size:85%; margin-left:15px;"
|+ Origins of foreign professions in the US
|-
! rowspan=2 | Country of<br />origin
! colspan=3 | Proportion of total in US
|-
! {{abbr|IMGs|International medical graduates}}<ref name="Foreigndoctors">
{{cite web
 | title=International Medical Graduates by Country
 | publisher=American Medical Association
 | url=http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1550.html
 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705152927/http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/category/1550.html
 | archive-date=July 5, 2008
 }}</ref>
! {{abbr|IDGs|International dental graduates}}<ref name="Foreigndentists">
{{cite journal
 | last1 = Sweis | first1 = L
 | last2 = Guay | first2 = A
 | year = 2007
 | title = Foreign-trained dentists licensed in the United States: Exploring their origins
 | journal = J Am Dent Assoc
 | volume = 138 | issue = 2| pages = 219–224
 | doi = 10.14219/jada.archive.2007.0140
 | pmid = 17272378
 }}</ref>
! {{abbr|INGs|International nursing graduates}}<ref name="ana1">
{{cite web
 | url=http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workplace/Work-Environment/InfoforNurses/ANAPolicyPapersandBrochures/February2006SurveyInfo/ForeignNurses.aspx
 | title=Foreign Educated Nurses |publisher=ANA: American Nurses Association
 | access-date=August 31, 2009
 | url-status=dead
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727200519/http://www.nursingworld.org/MainMenuCategories/ThePracticeofProfessionalNursing/workplace/Work-Environment/InfoforNurses/ANAPolicyPapersandBrochures/February2006SurveyInfo/ForeignNurses.aspx
 | archive-date=July 27, 2011
 }}</ref>
|-
| [[India]]
| 19.9% (47,581)
| 25.8%
| 1.3%
|-
| [[Philippines]]
| 8.8% (20,861)
| 11.0%
| 50.2%
|-
| [[Pakistan]]
| 4.8% (11,330)
| 2.9%
|
|-
| [[South Korea]]
| 2.1% (4,982)
| 3.2%
| 1.0%
|-
| [[China]]
| 2.0% (4,834)
| 3.2%
|
|-
| [[Hong Kong]]
|
|
| 1.2%
|-
| [[Israel]]
|
|
| 1.0%
|}

Asian immigrants are also changing the American medical landscape through increasing number of Asian [[Health care|medical practitioners]] in the United States. Beginning in the 1960s and 1970s, the US government invited a number of foreign physicians particularly from India and the Philippines to address the shortage of physicians in rural and medically underserved urban areas. The trend in importing foreign medical practitioners, however, became a long-term solution as US schools failed to produce enough health care providers to match the increasing population. Amid decreasing interest in medicine among American college students due to high educational costs and high rates of job dissatisfaction, loss of morale, stress, and lawsuits, Asian American immigrants maintained a supply of healthcare practitioners for millions of Americans. It is documented that Asian American international medical graduates including highly skilled guest workers using the J1 Visa program for medical workers, tend to serve in health professions shortage areas (HPSA) and specialties that are not filled by US medical graduates especially primary care and rural medicine.<ref name="IMGPrimaryCare">{{cite journal | last1 = Koehn | first1 = N. N. | last2 = Fryer | first2 = G. E. | title = Jr, Phillips RL, Miller JB, Green LA. (2007) The increase in international medical graduates in family practice residency programs | journal = Journal of Family Medicine | volume = 34 | issue = 6| pages = 468–9 }}</ref><ref name="IMGGeoDistribution">{{cite journal | last1 = Mick | first1 = SS | last2 = Lee | first2 = SY | year = 1999 | title = Are there need-based geographical differences between international medical graduates and U.S. medical graduates in rural U.S. counties? | journal = J Rural Health | volume = 15 | issue = 1| pages = 26–43 | doi = 10.1111/j.1748-0361.1999.tb00596.x | pmid = 10437329 | doi-access = free }}</ref> In 2020, of all the medical personnel in the United States, 17% of doctors were Asian Americans, 9% of physician assistants were Asian American, and more than 9% of nurses were Asian Americans.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gerstmann |first=Evan |date=4 April 2020 |title=Irony: Hate Crimes Surge Against Asian Americans While They Are On The Front Lines Fighting COVID-19 |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/evangerstmann/2020/04/04/irony-hate-crimes-surge-against-asian-americans-while-they-are-on-the-front-lines-fighting-covid-19/#467ab7f13b70 |work=Forbes |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530182612/https://www.forbes.com/sites/evangerstmann/2020/04/04/irony-hate-crimes-surge-against-asian-americans-while-they-are-on-the-front-lines-fighting-covid-19/#467ab7f13b70 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Nearly one in four Asian Americans are likely to use common [[alternative medicine]].<ref name="Gurung2014">{{cite book|author=Regan A. R. Gurung|title=Multicultural Approaches to Health and Wellness in America [2 volumes]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OY6dAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156|date=21 April 2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-4408-0350-5|page=156|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531192339/https://books.google.com/books?id=OY6dAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA156|url-status=live}}</ref> This includes [[traditional Chinese medicine]] and [[Ayurveda]].<ref name="Gurung2014" /><ref>{{cite book|author1=Caroline Young|author2=Cyndie Koopsen|title=Spirituality, Health, and Healing|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wZW7snWf_JwC&pg=PA87|year=2005|publisher=Jones & Bartlett Learning|isbn=978-0-7637-4024-5|page=87|access-date=February 28, 2019|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529203642/https://books.google.com/books?id=wZW7snWf_JwC&pg=PA87|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite report |last=Montenegro |first=Xenia P. |date=January 2015 |title=The Health and Healthcare of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Age 50+ |url=https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/health/2015/health-healthcare-asian-americans-pacific-islanders-age-50-plus.doi.10.26419%252Fres.00098.001.pdf |publisher=[[AARP]] |access-date=27 February 2019 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191912/https://www.aarp.org/content/dam/aarp/research/surveys_statistics/health/2015/health-healthcare-asian-americans-pacific-islanders-age-50-plus.doi.10.26419%252Fres.00098.001.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to the prevalence of usage, engaging with Asian American populations, through the practitioners of these common alternative medicines, can lead to an increase of usage of underused medical procedures.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wang |first1=Jun |last2=Burke |first2=Adam |last3=Ysoh |first3=Janice Y. |last4=Le |first4=Gem M. |last5=Stewart |first5=Susan |last6=Gildengorin |first6=Ginny |last7=Wong |first7=Ching |last8=Chow |first8=Elaine |last9=Woo |first9=Kent |date=2014 |title=Engaging Traditional Medicine Providers in Colorectal Cancer Screening Education in a Chinese American Community: A Pilot Study |url=https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/14_0341.htm |journal=Preventing Chronic Disease |volume=11 |pages=E217 |article-number=140341 |doi=10.5888/pcd11.140341 |doi-broken-date=July 11, 2025 |pmid=25496557 |access-date=27 February 2019 |pmc=4264464 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228191937/https://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2014/14_0341.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Education===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; font-size:88%"
|+ Educational attainment, 25 and older
|-
! style="text-align:CENTER;"| Ethnicity
! style="text-align:CENTER;"| [[High school (North America)|High school]]<br />graduation rate,<br />2004
! style="text-align:CENTER;"| [[Bachelor's degree]]<br />or higher, 2010
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Bangladeshis
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| ''not reported''
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 49.6%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Cambodian
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| ''not reported''
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 14.5%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Chinese
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 80.8%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 51.8%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Filipinos
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 90.8%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 48.1%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Indian
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 90.2%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 70.7%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Indonesians
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| ''not reported''
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 48.7%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Japanese
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 93.4%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 47.3%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Koreans
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 90.2%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 52.9%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Laotians
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| ''not reported''
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 12.1%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Pakistanis
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 87.4%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 55.1%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Taiwanese
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| ''not reported''
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 73.7%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Vietnamese
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 70.0%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 26.3%
|-
| style="text-align:LEFT;"| Total US population
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 83.9%
| style="text-align:RIGHT;"| 27.9%
|- style="border-top: 2px solid #CCC;"
| colspan=3 | Sources: 2004<ref name="Pakistan American estimates">[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-reg=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR:045&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format= Pakistan American Educational Attainment] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200210211212/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/IPTable?_bm=y&-geo_id=01000US&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T&-qr_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR&-ds_name=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_&-reg=ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201PR:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201T:045;ACS_2007_1YR_G00_S0201TPR:045&-_lang=en&-redoLog=false&-format= |date=February 10, 2020 }} United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 2, 2010.</ref><ref name="ACS-05">{{cite web|date=February 2007|title=The American Community-Asians: 2004|publisher=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/acs-05.pdf|access-date=September 5, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070926002242/http://www.census.gov/prod/2007pubs/acs-05.pdf|archive-date=September 26, 2007|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}} (Figure 11, p.15)</ref><ref name="Pakistani Migration to the United States: An economic perspective">[http://ir.ide.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/2344/839/1/196_oda.pdf Pakistani Migration to the United States: An economic perspective] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122011015/http://ir.ide.go.jp/dspace/bitstream/2344/839/1/196_oda.pdf |date=January 22, 2013 }}. Retrieved October 1, 2010.</ref> and 2010<ref name="ACSB2010Bachelor"/>
|}

Among America's major racial categories, Asian Americans have the highest educational qualifications. This varies, however, for individual ethnic groups. For example, a 2010 study of all Asian American adults found 42% have at least a college degree, but only 16% of Vietnamese Americans and only 5% for Laotians and Cambodians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/multicultural-education/A%20closer%20look%20at%20asian%20americans%20and%20education/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130430083704/http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/strategies/topics/multicultural-education/A%20closer%20look%20at%20asian%20americans%20and%20education/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 30, 2013 |title=School of Education at Johns Hopkins University-A Closer Look at Asian Americans and Education |author=C.N. Le |year=2010 |work=New Horizons for Learning |publisher=[[Johns Hopkins University]] |access-date=February 18, 2013 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> It has been noted, however, that 2008 US Census statistics put the bachelor's degree attainment rate of Vietnamese Americans at 26%, which is not very different from the rate of 27% for all Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb08-ff05.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523231137/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb08-ff05.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 23, 2010 |title=Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: May 2008 |author=United States Census Bureau |date=March 3, 2008 |work=Facts for Features |access-date=March 6, 2013 }}</ref> Census data from 2010 show 50% of Asian adults have earned at least a bachelor's degree, compared to 28% for all Americans,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff09.html |title=Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month: May 2012 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=March 21, 2012 |work=Profile America Facts for Features |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130209055634/http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/facts_for_features_special_editions/cb12-ff09.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and 34% for non-Hispanic whites.<ref>{{cite news |title=U.S. Bachelor Degree Rate Passes Milestone |author=Richard Perez-Pena |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/education/census-finds-bachelors-degrees-at-record-level.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 23, 2012 |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=December 25, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225135646/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/24/education/census-finds-bachelors-degrees-at-record-level.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Taiwanese Americans have some of the highest education rates, with nearly 74% having attained at least a bachelor's degree in 2010.<ref name="ACSB2010Bachelor">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr10-19.pdf |archive-url=https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20131019165942/http://www.census.gov/prod/2012pubs/acsbr10-19.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=2013-10-19 |title=The Population With a Bachelor's Degree or Higher by Race and Hispanic Origin: 2006–2010 |author=Stella U. Ogunwole |author2=Malcolm P. Drewery Jr |author3=Merarys Rios-Vargas |date=May 2012 |work=American Community Survey Briefs |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=February 18, 2013 }}</ref> {{as of|2012|12|lc=on}} Asian Americans made up twelve to eighteen percent of the student population at [[Ivy League]] schools, larger than their share of the population.<ref>{{cite news |title=Asians: Too Smart for Their Own Good? |first=Carolyn |last=Chen |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/opinion/asians-too-smart-for-their-own-good.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=March 3, 2013 |archive-date=March 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328020132/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/20/opinion/asians-too-smart-for-their-own-good.html |url-status=live }}</ref>{{efn|It has been alleged that Asian Americans have been discriminated against during the admission process to certain universities.<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaschik |first=Scott |date=7 August 2017 |title=The Numbers and the Arguments on Asian Admissions |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2017/08/07/look-data-and-arguments-about-asian-americans-and-admissions-elite |work=Inside Higher Ed |location=Washington, DC |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=June 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200618175648/https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2017/08/07/look-data-and-arguments-about-asian-americans-and-admissions-elite |url-status=live }}</ref> These include, Harvard University,<ref>{{cite news |last=Fuchs |first=Chris |date=30 October 2019 |title=ASIAN AMERICA After Harvard affirmative action decision, Asian American students rethink college applications |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/after-harvard-affirmative-action-decision-asian-american-students-rethink-college-n1073376 |work=NBC News |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=August 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807052443/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/after-harvard-affirmative-action-decision-asian-american-students-rethink-college-n1073376 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite magazine |last=Suk Gersen |first=Jeannie |date=7 October 2019 |title=The Many Sins of College Admissions |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-many-sins-of-college-admissions |magazine=The New Yorker |location=New York City |publisher=7 October 2019 |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=May 13, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513134400/https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-many-sins-of-college-admissions |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite report |first1=Peter |last1=Arcidiacono |first2=Josh |last2=Kisnler |first3=Tyler |last3=Ransom |date=21 April 2020 |title=Asian American Discrimination in Harvard Admissions* |url=http://public.econ.duke.edu/~psarcidi/realpenalty.pdf |publisher=Duke University |page=Peter Arcidiacono |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702140243/http://public.econ.duke.edu/%7Epsarcidi/realpenalty.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> University of California,<ref>{{cite news |last=Jaschik |first=Scott |date=19 November 2018 |title=New Front in Fight Over Affirmative Action |url=https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/11/19/new-lawsuit-suggests-u-california-has-been-considering-race-admissions |work=Inside Higher Ed |location=Washington, DC |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603065515/https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/11/19/new-lawsuit-suggests-u-california-has-been-considering-race-admissions |url-status=live }}</ref> and University of Texas.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gluckman |first=Nell |date=16 May 2019 |title=U. of Texas Is Sued Over Affirmative Action in Admissions. Yes, Again. |url=https://www.chronicle.com/article/U-of-Texas-Is-Sued-Over/246317 |work=The Chronicle of Higher Education |location=Washington, DC |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=June 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200607063829/https://www.chronicle.com/article/U-of-Texas-Is-Sued-Over/246317 |url-status=live }}</ref> }} For example, the [[Harvard College]] Class of 2023 admitted students were 25% Asian American.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-college-admits-1950-to-class-of-23/ |title=Harvard College admits 1,950 to Class of '23 |author=FAS Communications |date=28 March 2019 |website=The Harvard Gazette |publisher=Harvard University |access-date=13 June 2020 |archive-date=April 19, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419005726/https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2019/03/harvard-college-admits-1950-to-class-of-23/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In the years immediately preceding 2012, 61% of Asian American adult immigrants have a bachelor or higher level college education.<ref name="RoAAPEW2012" />

In August 2020, the [[United States Department of Justice|US Justice Department]] argued that [[Yale University]] discriminated against Asian candidates on the basis of their race, a charge the university denied.<ref>{{Cite web|author=David Shortell and Taylor Romine|title=Justice Department accuses Yale of discriminating against Asian American and White applicants|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/politics/justice-department-yale-discrimination/index.html|access-date=2020-08-14|website=CNN|date=August 13, 2020 |archive-date=August 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200814000151/https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/13/politics/justice-department-yale-discrimination/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Xu|first=Kenny|title=An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy|publisher=Diversion Books|date=2021|pages=288|url=http://inconvenientminority.com|isbn=978-1635767568}}</ref>

===Popular media===
Asian American culture is referenced in a number of mainstream forms such as literature, TV shows, and movies. ''[[Crazy Rich Asians (film)|Crazy Rich Asians]],'' directed by John M. Chu, follows Rachel Chu, a Chinese American economics professor. Min Jin Lee's novel, ''[[Pachinko (novel)|Pachinko]]'', is an intergenerational story that tells the story of Koreans who immigrate to Japan. Some of the popular Asian American plays are "Chickencoop Chinaman", "And the Soul Shall Dance", "Paper Angels", "Yellow Fever", and many more.

===Identity===
As of year 2023, a recent survey showed one out of five respondents said they do not identify as Asian to non-Asians.  Most immigrants identify as Asian compared to American-born Asian Americans. People under the age 18 are more likely not to identify as Asian.  People over the age of 65 are more likely to identify as Asian.<ref name="Voice of America"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.pewresearch.org/race-ethnicity/2023/05/08/diverse-cultures-and-shared-experiences-shape-asian-american-identities/ | title=Diverse Cultures and Shared Experiences Shape Asian American Identities | date=May 8, 2023 }}</ref>

==Social and political issues==

===Media portrayal===
{{See also|Asian Americans in arts and entertainment#Portrayal of Asian Americans in media}}
[[File:Kung Fu Panda Red Carpet Premiere (5828919262).jpg|thumb|right|300x300px|[[Lucy Liu]] at ''[[Kung Fu Panda (film)|Kung Fu Panda]]'' premiere]]

Because [[Asian American]]s total about 7.2%<ref>{{cite web|title=Asian and Pacific Islander Population in the United States|url=https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/2020/demo/aian-population.html|access-date=2022-02-27|website=Census.gov}}</ref> of the entire US population, diversity within the group is often overlooked in media treatment.<ref>{{cite book |title=Teach boldly!: letters to teachers about contemporary issues in education |last1=Fehr |first1=Dennis Earl |first2=Mary Cain |last2=Fehr |year=2009 |publisher=[[Peter Lang (publishing company)|Peter Lang]] |isbn=978-1-4331-0491-6 |page=164 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WFQpcDhkCm4C&q=diversity%20asian%20americans%20disregarded%20media&pg=PA164 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122539/https://books.google.com/books?id=WFQpcDhkCm4C&q=diversity+asian+americans+disregarded+media&pg=PA164 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124511/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_anon_9.pdf |title=Issue Brief #160: Asian American Protest Politics: "The Politics of Identity" |author=Raymond Arthur Smith |year=2009 |work=Majority Rule and Minority Rights Issue Briefs |publisher=[[Columbia University]] |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921054503/http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124511/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_anon_9.pdf |url-status=live }}<br />Min, Pyong G. Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends andIssues. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, 2006. Google Books.Web. July 28, 2013.</ref><ref name="Lee, Robert G 1999">Lee, Robert G. Orientals: Asian Americans in PopularCulture. Philadelphia: Temple UP, 1999. Google Books. Web. 28 July 2013.</ref>

===Bamboo ceiling===
{{Main|Bamboo ceiling}}

This concept appears to elevate Asian Americans by portraying them as an elite group of successful, highly educated, intelligent, and wealthy individuals, but it can also be considered an overly narrow and overly one-dimensional portrayal of Asian Americans, leaving out other human qualities such as vocal leadership, negative emotions, risk taking, ability to learn from mistakes, and desire for creative expression.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sitemaker.umich.edu/psy457_tizzle/the_model_minority |title=Asian Americans and the Media: Perpetuating the Model Minority |first=Joy |last=Cheng |author2=Charles Hsieh |author3=Scott Lu |author4=Sarah Talog |work=Psychology 457.002 |publisher=University of Michigan |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517073256/http://sitemaker.umich.edu/psy457_tizzle/the_model_minority |archive-date=May 17, 2013 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Furthermore, Asian Americans who do not fit into the model minority mold can face challenges when people's expectations based on the model minority myth do not match with reality. Traits outside of the model minority mold can be seen as negative character flaws for Asian Americans despite those very same traits being positive for the general American majority (e.g., risk taking, confidence, empowered). For this reason, Asian Americans encounter a "bamboo ceiling", the Asian American equivalent of the [[glass ceiling]] in the workplace, with only 1.5% of [[Fortune 500]] [[Chief Executive Officer|CEOs]] being Asians, a percentage smaller than their percentage of the total United States population.<ref>{{cite news |title=Asians in America: What's Holding Back the "Model Minority?" |author=Sylvia Ann Hewlett |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/sylviaannhewlett/2011/07/28/asians-in-america-whats-holding-back-the-model-minority/ |newspaper=Forbes |date=July 28, 2011 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-date=June 17, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130617112934/http://www.forbes.com/sites/sylviaannhewlett/2011/07/28/asians-in-america-whats-holding-back-the-model-minority/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

The bamboo ceiling is defined as a combination of individual, cultural, and organisational factors that impede Asian Americans' career progress inside organizations. Since then, a variety of sectors (including nonprofits, universities, the government) have discussed the impact of the ceiling as it relates to Asians and the challenges they face. As described by Anne Fisher, the "bamboo ceiling" refers to the processes and barriers that serve to exclude Asians and American people of Asian descent from executive positions on the basis of subjective factors such as "lack of leadership potential" and "lack of communication skills" that cannot actually be explained by job performance or qualifications.<ref>{{cite news |title=Piercing the 'Bamboo Ceiling' |author=Anne Fisher |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/08/08/news/economy/annie/fortune_annie080805/index.htm |newspaper=[[CNN]] |date=August 8, 2005 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |archive-date=April 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120422134327/http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/08/news/economy/annie/fortune_annie080805/index.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Articles regarding the subject have been published in ''[[Crains]]'', ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' magazine, and ''[[The Atlantic]]''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Training executives to think globally |author=Anne Fisher |url=http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/blogs/executive-inbox/2011/11/training-executives-to-think-globally/ |newspaper=Crain's New York Business |date=November 18, 2011 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |archive-date=April 12, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412160022/http://mycrains.crainsnewyork.com/blogs/executive-inbox/2011/11/training-executives-to-think-globally/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |title=Is there a 'bamboo ceiling' at U.S. companies? |author=Anne Fisher |url=http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/07/asian-americans-promotion-us-companies/ |newspaper=Fortune Magazine |date=October 7, 2011 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212000635/http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/07/asian-americans-promotion-us-companies/ |archive-date=February 12, 2012 |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite news |title=Study of the Day: There's a 'Bamboo Ceiling' for Would-Be Asian Leaders |author=Hans Villarica |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/theres-a-bamboo-ceiling-for-would-be-asian-leaders/257135/ |newspaper=[[The Atlantic]] |date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=June 14, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122541/https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/05/study-of-the-day-theres-a-bamboo-ceiling-for-would-be-asian-leaders/257135/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Illegal immigration===
{{See also|Deportation of Cambodian immigrants from the United States|Illegal immigration to the United States|Deportation of Indian nationals under Donald Trump}}

In 2012, there were 1.3 million Asian Americans; and for those awaiting visas, there were lengthy backlogs with over 450,000 Filipinos, over 325,000 Indians, over 250,000 Vietnamese, and over 225,000 Chinese awaiting visas.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/WaitingListItem.pdf |title=Annual Report of Immigration Visa Applicants in the Family-sponsored and Employment-based preferences Registered at the National Visa Center as of November 1, 2012 |date=November 1, 2012 |work=Bureau of Consular Affairs |publisher=United States Secretary of State |access-date=February 5, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217034041/http://www.travel.state.gov/pdf/WaitingListItem.pdf |archive-date=February 17, 2013 }}<br />{{cite news |title=For Asian-Americans, Immigration Backlogs Are A Major Hurdle |first=Gene |last=Demby |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/31/170744897/for-asian-americans-immigration-backlogs-are-becoming-a-major-hurdle |newspaper=National Public Radio |date=January 31, 2013 |access-date=February 5, 2013 |archive-date=February 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130205160452/http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2013/01/31/170744897/for-asian-americans-immigration-backlogs-are-becoming-a-major-hurdle |url-status=live }}</ref> As of 2009, Filipinos and Indians accounted for the highest number of alien immigrants for "Asian Americans" with an estimated illegal population of 270,000 and 200,000 respectively. [[Indian American]]s are also the fastest-growing alien immigrant group in the United States, with an increase in illegal immigration of 125% since 2000.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/Indians-fastest-growing-illegal-immigrant-group-in-US/articleshow/4880276.cms Illegal Indians in US] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090815205910/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/travel/visa-power/Indians-fastest-growing-illegal-immigrant-group-in-US/articleshow/4880276.cms |date=August 15, 2009 }}</ref> This is followed by [[Koreans]] (200,000) and [[Chinese people|Chinese]] (120,000).<ref name="illegalimmigration">{{cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_ill_pe_2009.pdf |title=Estimates of the Unauthorized Immigrant Population Residing in the United States: January 2009 |last1=Hoeffer |first1=Michael |last2=Rytina |first2=Nancy |last3=Campbell |first3=Christopher |publisher=Department of Homeland Security |access-date=April 9, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100407165222/https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/statistics/publications/ois_ill_pe_2009.pdf |archive-date=April 7, 2010 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> Nonetheless, Asian Americans have the highest naturalization rates in the United States. In 2015, out of a total of 730,259 applicants, 261,374 became new Americans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.voanews.com/a/us-citizenship-important-asian-immigrants/3767840.html|title=US Citizenship Important to Asian Immigrants|website=VOA|date=March 15, 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-03-04|archive-date=March 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306043533/https://www.voanews.com/a/us-citizenship-important-asian-immigrants/3767840.html|url-status=live}}</ref> According to the [[United States Department of Homeland Security|US Department of Homeland Security]], legal permanent residents or green card holders from India, Philippines, and China were among the top nationals applying for US naturalization in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/visualization/2015|title=Infographics 2015|date=2017-01-31|website=Department of Homeland Security|language=en|access-date=2019-03-04|archive-date=March 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190304173630/https://www.dhs.gov/immigration-statistics/visualization/2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the stereotype of Asian Americans being successful as a group and having the lowest crime rates in the United States, public attention to illegal immigration is mostly focused on those from Mexico and Latin America while leaving out Asians.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124622/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_weingarten.pdf |title=Asian American Immigration Status |first=Liza |last=Weingarten |author2=Raymond Arthur Smith |year=2009 |work=Majority Rule and Minority Rights Issue Briefs |publisher=Columbia University |access-date=March 4, 2012 |quote=Deemed successful as a complete group, the national immigration debate often leaves out Asians focusing instead on South America primarily. Furthermore, a failed attempt to naturalize can actually result in deportation. Because fluency in English is one of the criteria for naturalization, certain ethnicities within the panethnic Asian American immigrant identity are more strongly affected than others. But Asians are noticeably absent from the immigration debate, according to public radio reports. |archive-date=September 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130928075559/http://academiccommons.columbia.edu/download/fedora_content/download/ac:124622/CONTENT/pols_w3245_2009_weingarten.pdf |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book|last=Ngai|first=Mae M.|title=Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America – Updated Edition|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X1dzAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2|date=27 April 2014|publisher=Princeton University Press|isbn=978-1-4008-5023-5|page=2|access-date=March 14, 2020|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601053859/https://books.google.com/books?id=X1dzAgAAQBAJ&pg=PA2|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news |last=Yen |first=Hope |agency=Associated Press |date=6 December 2012 |title=Hispanic immigration to US has peaked, Asian immigration is rising |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1206/Hispanic-immigration-to-US-has-peaked-Asian-immigration-is-rising |work=The Christian Science Monitor |access-date=14 March 2020 |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601021334/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1206/Hispanic-immigration-to-US-has-peaked-Asian-immigration-is-rising |url-status=live }}</ref> Asians are the second largest racial/ethnic alien immigrant group in the US behind Hispanics and Latinos.<ref name="Estimates from PHC">{{cite news| first = Jeffrey| last = Passel| url = http://pewhispanic.org/files/reports/44.pdf| title = Estimates of the Size and Characteristics of the Undocumented Population| publisher = Pew Hispanic Center| date = March 21, 2005| access-date = April 11, 2012| archive-date = August 29, 2018| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180829051549/http://www.pewhispanic.org/files/reports/44.pdf| url-status = live}}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2011/nov/14/asian-immigration-and-myth-model-minority/ |title=Asian Immigration and the Myth of the "Model Minority" |author=Erwin De Leon |year=2011 |publisher=WNYC |access-date=June 12, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608034024/http://www.wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2011/nov/14/asian-immigration-and-myth-model-minority/ |archive-date=June 8, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref> While the majority of Asian immigrants immigrate legally to the United States,<ref>{{cite news |title=New Asian Immigrants To US Now Surpass Hispanics |url=http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/06/19/new-asian-immigrants-to-us-now-surpass-hispanics/ |newspaper=CBSDC |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |quote=While immigrants from Asia often obtain visas and arrive legally, many also sneak across the U.S. border or become undocumented residents after overstaying their visas. |archive-date=June 22, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622012033/http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/06/19/new-asian-immigrants-to-us-now-surpass-hispanics/ |url-status=live }}</ref> up to 15% of Asian immigrants immigrate without legal documents.<ref>{{cite news |title=How Asians displaced Hispanics as biggest group of new US immigrants |first=Mark |last=Guarino |url=https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0619/How-Asians-displaced-Hispanics-as-biggest-group-of-new-US-immigrants |newspaper=[[The Christian Science Monitor]] |date=June 19, 2012 |access-date=June 21, 2012 |quote=For example, 45 percent of Hispanic immigrants are undocumented compared with about 13 percent of Asian immigrants, according to the survey. |archive-date=June 21, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120621055457/http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2012/0619/How-Asians-displaced-Hispanics-as-biggest-group-of-new-US-immigrants |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Race-based violence===
{{See also|Yellow Peril|Anti-Chinese sentiment in the United States|Anti-Filipino sentiment#United States|Anti-Korean sentiment#United States|Anti-Japanese sentiment in the United States|Anti-Indian sentiment#United States|Anti-Pakistan sentiment#United States}}

Asian Americans have been the targets of violence based on their race and or ethnicity. This violence includes, but is not limited to, such events as the [[Rock Springs massacre]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Rock Springs |last=Tanner |first=Russel |author2=Margie Fletcher Shanks |year=2008 |publisher=Arcadia Publishing |isbn=9780738556420 |page=31 28 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KACOt5b4UxwC&q=Rock%20Springs%20Massacre&pg=PA31 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122543/https://books.google.com/books?id=KACOt5b4UxwC&q=Rock+Springs+Massacre&pg=PA31 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Watsonville Riots]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino/riots.html |title=Racial Riots |work=Office of Multicultural Student Services |publisher=[[University of Hawaii]] |access-date=March 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106122739/http://opmanong.ssc.hawaii.edu/filipino/riots.html |archive-date=January 6, 2012 }}<br />{{cite news |title=Racial hate once flared on Central Coast |url=http://www.pinnaclenews.com/life/contentview.asp?c=198024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719151157/http://www.pinnaclenews.com/life/contentview.asp?c=198024 |archive-date=July 19, 2011 |newspaper=The Weekend Pinnacle Online |date=October 27, 2006 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite book|author=Kevin L. Nadal|title=Filipino American Psychology: A Handbook of Theory, Research, and Clinical Practice|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zN7-s84jAkoC&pg=PT144|date=23 March 2011|publisher=John Wiley & Sons|isbn=978-1-118-01977-1|page=144|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530012238/https://books.google.com/books?id=zN7-s84jAkoC&pg=PT144|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Bellingham Riots]] in 1916 against South Asians,<ref>{{cite book|author=Scott Ingram|title=South Asian Americans|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wIacLMqslyMC&pg=PA23|date=July 2006|publisher=World Almanac Library|isbn=978-0-8368-7318-4|page=23|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530170811/https://books.google.com/books?id=wIacLMqslyMC&pg=PA23|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|author=Seema Sohi|title=Echoes of Mutiny: Race, Surveillance, and Indian Anticolonialism in North America|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fCnnAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25|year=2014|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-937625-4|page=25|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529172548/https://books.google.com/books?id=fCnnAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA25|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Anti-Japanese sentiment#During World War II|attacks upon Japanese Americans]] following the [[attack on Pearl Harbor]],<ref>{{cite book |title=Prejudice, war, and the Constitution |last=Tenbroek |first=Jacobus |author2=Edward Norton Barnhart |author3=Floyd W. Matson |year=1975 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=9780520012622 |page=352 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6il2D3OdrMC&q=anti%20japanese%20attacks%20california%201942&pg=PA352 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122545/https://books.google.com/books?id=q6il2D3OdrMC&q=anti+japanese+attacks+california+1942&pg=PA352 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[1992 Los Angeles riots#Destruction of Koreatown|Korean American businesses]] targeted during the [[1992 Los Angeles riots]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Koreans in the hood: conflict with African Americans |last=Chung Kim |first=Kwang |year=1999 |publisher=JHU Press |isbn=9780801861048 |page=146 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA034iKl_EgC&q=Koreans%20attacked%20los%20angeles%20riots&pg=PA146 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122546/https://books.google.com/books?id=jA034iKl_EgC&q=Koreans+attacked+los+angeles+riots&pg=PA146 |url-status=live }}</ref> Attacks on Chinese in the [[American frontier]] were common. This included the slaughter of forty to sixty Chinese miners by [[Northern Paiute|Paiute Indians]] in 1866, during the [[Snake War]], the Los Angeles [[Los Angeles Chinese massacre of 1871|Chinese massacre]] of 1871, and an attack on Chinese miners at the [[Chinese Massacre Cove]] by [[Cowboy#Regional traditions|cowboys]] in 1887 which resulted in 31 deaths.<ref>{{cite book|author=Bruce Cumings|title=Dominion from Sea to Sea: Pacific Ascendancy and American Power|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0sMXoMB-4CEC&pg=PT222|date=17 November 2009|publisher=Yale University Press|isbn=978-0-300-15497-9|page=222|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=June 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601053857/https://books.google.com/books?id=0sMXoMB-4CEC&pg=PT222|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite book|author=Gregory Michno|title=The Deadliest Indian War in the West: The Snake Conflict, 1864–1868|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZExU-tGSz8C&pg=PA152|year=2007|publisher=Caxton Press|isbn=978-0-87004-487-8|pages=152–153|access-date=April 12, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530082313/https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZExU-tGSz8C&pg=PA152|url-status=live}}</ref> In the late 1980s, [[assault]]s and other hate crimes were committed against South Asians in New Jersey by a group of [[Hispanics and Latinos in New Jersey|Latinos]] known as the [[Dotbusters]].<ref>{{cite book |author1=Sang Chi |author2=Emily Moberg Robinson |title=Voices of the Asian American and Pacific Islander Experience [2 volumes] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=brQrYsWp1gUC&pg=PA297 |date=13 February 2012 |publisher=ABC-CLIO |isbn=978-1-59884-355-2 |page=297 |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530115536/https://books.google.com/books?id=brQrYsWp1gUC&pg=PA297 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |author=Franklin Odo|author-link=Franklin Odo |title=The Columbia Documentary History of the Asian American Experience |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=okFtdjfp9FgC&pg=PA411 |year=2002 |publisher=Columbia University Press |isbn=978-0-231-11030-3 |page=411 |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530202519/https://books.google.com/books?id=okFtdjfp9FgC&pg=PA411 |url-status=live }}</ref> In the late 1990s, the lone death that occurred during the [[Los Angeles Jewish Community Center shooting]] by a [[White supremacy#United States|white supremacist]] was a Filipino postal worker.<ref>{{cite book |author=Thomas Streissguth |title=Hate Crimes |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=odc7v42VwrEC&pg=PA32 |year=2009 |publisher=Infobase Publishing |isbn=978-1-4381-1904-5 |page=32 |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530043616/https://books.google.com/books?id=odc7v42VwrEC&pg=PA32 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |agency=Los Angeles Times |date=27 March 2001 |title=Racist Gets Life Term for L.A. Rampage / Filipino postal worker killed in hate attack |url=https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Racist-Gets-Life-Term-for-L-A-Rampage-Filipino-2938048.php |work=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145355/https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Racist-Gets-Life-Term-for-L-A-Rampage-Filipino-2938048.php |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Wong |first=Grace |date=9 August 2014 |title=Ileto family remembers Joseph Ileto, slain 15 years ago |url=https://www.dailybulletin.com/2014/08/09/ileto-family-remembers-joseph-ileto-slain-15-years-ago/ |work=Los Angeles Daily Bulletin |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145530/https://www.dailybulletin.com/2014/08/09/ileto-family-remembers-joseph-ileto-slain-15-years-ago/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Sanchez |first=Rene |date=13 August 1999 |title=L.A. Shooting Suspect Faces State, U.S. Charges |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/hatecrimes/stories/furrow081399.htm |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406183909/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/national/longterm/hatecrimes/stories/furrow081399.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> On July 17, 1989, [[Patrick Edward Purdy]], a drifter and former resident of Stockton, California, opened fire on Cleveland Elementary School students in the playground who were mainly of southeast Asian descent. Within minutes, he fired dozens of rounds, although reports ranged. He was armed with two pistols and an AK-47 with a bayonet killing five students and shooting at least 37 others. After the shooting spree Purdy killed himself.<ref>Schoolyard gunman called a troubled drifter, ''The Deseret News'' (January 18, 1989)</ref>

Even when it did not manifest as violence, contempt against Asian Americans was reflected in aspects of popular culture such as the playground chant "[[Chinese, Japanese, dirty knees]]".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Lee|first=Gregory B.|title=Chinas unlimited: making the imaginaries of China and Chineseness|date=2003|publisher=University of Hawaii Press|isbn=0-8248-2680-9|location=Honolulu|pages=45|oclc=51722034}}</ref>

After the [[September 11 attacks]], [[Sikhism in the United States|Sikh Americans]] were targeted, becoming the victims of numerous [[hate crimes]], including [[murder]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_093002a.html |title=Turbans and Terror: Racism After Sep. 11 |author=Valarie Kuar Brar |date=September 30, 2002 |publisher=The Sikh Times |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=September 28, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928230637/http://www.sikhtimes.com/news_093002a.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |title=Sikh killed, others are targeted; Arizona man held |first=Foster |last=Klug |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/attack/39155_backlash17.shtml |newspaper=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |date=September 17, 2001 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122536/https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Sikh-killed-others-are-targeted-Arizona-man-held-1065966.php |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |title=Handbook of Multicultural Counseling |last=Ponterotto |first=Joseph G. |author2=Lisa A. Suzuki |author3=J. Manuel Casas |author4=Charlene M. Alexander |year=2009 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=9781412964326 |page=472 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=puj6Nx42imcC&q=sikhs%20targeted%202001&pg=PA472 |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122542/https://books.google.com/books?id=puj6Nx42imcC&q=sikhs+targeted+2001&pg=PA472 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |title=Asian Americans: contemporary trends and issues |last=Min |first=Pyong Gap |year=2006 |publisher=Pine Forge Press |isbn=9781412905565 |page=216 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5PSYZMs8TzEC&q=asian%20student%20attacked%20san%20francisco&pg=PA216 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122546/https://books.google.com/books?id=5PSYZMs8TzEC&q=asian+student+attacked+san+francisco&pg=PA216 |url-status=live }}</ref> Other Asian Americans have also been the victims of race-based violence in Brooklyn,<ref name="2005USATODAY">{{cite news |title=Asian youth persistently harassed by U.S. peers |url=https://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-13-asian-teens-bullied_x.htm |newspaper=USA Today |date=November 13, 2005 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-date=October 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002114202/http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-11-13-asian-teens-bullied_x.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> Philadelphia,<ref>{{cite news |title=Racial violence spurred Asian students to take a stand |first=Sarah |last=Hoye |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2010-10-22/living/philly.school.asian.american.attacks_1_asian-students-chinese-student-association-south-philadelphia-high-school?_s=PM:LIVING |newspaper=CNN |date=October 22, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129095727/http://articles.cnn.com/2010-10-22/living/philly.school.asian.american.attacks_1_asian-students-chinese-student-association-south-philadelphia-high-school?_s=PM%3ALIVING |archive-date=January 29, 2011 }}<br />{{cite news |title=Attacked Asian Students Afraid To Go to School |first=Danielle |last=Johnson |url=http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Attacked-Asian-Students-Fear-Returning-to-Class-78652997.html |newspaper=[[WCAU]] |date=December 7, 2009 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-date=April 3, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403043856/http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Attacked-Asian-Students-Fear-Returning-to-Class-78652997.html |url-status=live }}</ref> San Francisco,<ref>{{cite news |title=Asian American attacks focus at City Hall |author=C.W. Nevius |url=https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Asian-American-attacks-focus-at-City-Hall-3190618.php |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 29, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100706141900/http://articles.sfgate.com/2010-04-29/bay-area/20878116_1_city-hall-african-americans-asian-americans |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Bloomington, Indiana]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Asian Students Attacked At Indiana University |author=Danielle Wiener-Bronner |url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/asian-students-attacked-a_n_776988.html |work=Huffington Post |date=November 1, 2010 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-date=November 5, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101105144534/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/11/01/asian-students-attacked-a_n_776988.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Furthermore, it has been reported that young Asian Americans are more likely to be the targets of violence than their peers.<ref name="2005USATODAY" /><ref>{{cite news|title=Asian Parents and Students Face Challenge of Diversity |first=Hubert |last=Lu |author2=Peter Schurmann |url=http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=8a49ccad0897d1e28fe15b417c0b4152 |newspaper=Douwei Times |date=July 1, 2007 |access-date=March 22, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320041747/http://news.newamericamedia.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=8a49ccad0897d1e28fe15b417c0b4152 |archive-date=March 20, 2012 |df=mdy }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hyvpc/files/2004BYSfullreport.pdf |title=Report of the 2004 Boston Youth Survey |author=Thomas M. Menino |author-link=Thomas Menino |date=August 2005 |work=Harvard Youth Violence Prevention Center |publisher=Harvard School of Public Health |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110412190551/http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hyvpc/files/2004BYSfullreport.pdf |archive-date=April 12, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> In 2017, racist graffiti and other property damage was done to a community center in [[Little Manila, Stockton, California|Stockton's Little Manila]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Garces |first=Audrey |date=12 October 2017 |title=Little Manila Center Vandalized During Filipino American History Month |url=https://www.kqed.org/news/11623045 |work=The California Report |publisher=KQED |location=San Francisco |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145556/https://www.kqed.org/news/11623045 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Layug |first=Margaret Claire |date=12 October 2017 |title=US-based Filipino foundation sees vandalism on property as hate crime |url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/629199/us-based-filipino-foundation-sees-vandalism-on-property-as-hate-crime/story/ |work=GMA News |location=Philippines |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412145950/http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/pinoyabroad/news/629199/us-based-filipino-foundation-sees-vandalism-on-property-as-hate-crime/story/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Guillermo |first=Emil |date=13 October 2017 |title=Not-so-little act of hate at Stockton's Little Manila |url=http://usa.inquirer.net/7265/not-little-act-hate-stocktons-little-manila |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |location=Makati City |access-date=11 April 2018 |archive-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180412150900/http://usa.inquirer.net/7265/not-little-act-hate-stocktons-little-manila |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Anti-Asian racism in the United States|Racism and discrimination]] still persist against Asian Americans, occurring not only against recent immigrants but also against well-educated and highly trained professionals.<ref>{{cite book |title=Working with Asian Americans: A Guide for Clinicians |last=Lee |first=Evelyn |year=2000 |publisher=Guilford Press |location=New York |isbn=9781572305700 |page=22 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PLXmf749kmAC&q=Religions%20%22Asian%20Americans%22&pg=PA22 |access-date=March 6, 2012 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122547/https://books.google.com/books?id=PLXmf749kmAC&q=Religions+%22Asian+Americans%22&pg=PA22 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Recent waves of immigration of Asian Americans to largely African American neighborhoods have led to cases of severe racial tension.<ref>[http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-07-23/news/1998204099_1_korean-tension-city-meetings Baltimore Sun: "Black, Korean tension is focus U.S. civil rights panel to meet in Baltimore" By Erin Texeira] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927183440/http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1998-07-23/news/1998204099_1_korean-tension-city-meetings |date=September 27, 2015 }} July 23, 1998</ref> Acts of large-scale violence against Asian American students by their black classmates have been reported in multiple cities.<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-01-22-asian-bullying-philadelphia_N.htm USA Today: "Bullying against Asian students roils Philadelphia high school"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150917055147/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2010-01-22-asian-bullying-philadelphia_n.htm |date=September 17, 2015 }} January 22, 2010<br />[http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/22/philly.school.asian.american.attacks/index.html CNN: "Racial violence spurred Asian students to take a stand" By Sarah Hoye] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150708064850/http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/10/22/philly.school.asian.american.attacks/index.html |date=July 8, 2015 }} October 22, 2010<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/09/race_and_resentment_105419.html |title=Race and Resentment |first=Thomas |last=Sowell |date=May 9, 2010 |publisher=Real Clear Politics |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214052558/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/09/race_and_resentment_105419.html |archive-date=February 14, 2011 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref> In October 2008, 30 black students chased and attacked 5 Asian students at [[South Philadelphia High School]],<ref name=Teague4>Teague, Matthew. "Heroes: South Philly High's Protesters." ''[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]]'' (magazine). August 2010. [http://www.phillymag.com/articles/heroes-south-philly-high-s-protesters/4/ 4] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150801064913/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/heroes-south-philly-high-s-protesters/4/ |date=August 1, 2015 }}. Retrieved on May 4, 2016,</ref> and a similar attack on Asian students occurred at the same school one year later, prompting a protest by Asian students in response.<ref name=Teague8>Teague, Matthew. "Heroes: South Philly High's Protesters." ''[[Philadelphia (magazine)|Philadelphia]]'' (magazine). August 2010. [http://www.phillymag.com/articles/heroes-south-philly-high-s-protesters/8/ 8] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170525120200/http://www.phillymag.com/articles/heroes-south-philly-high-s-protesters/8/ |date=May 25, 2017 }}. Retrieved on January 31, 2013.</ref>

Asian-owned businesses have been a frequent target of tensions between black and Asian Americans. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, more than 2000 Korean-owned businesses were looted or burned by groups of African Americans.<ref>{{cite book |title=Koreans in the Hood: Conflict With African Americans |last=Kim |first=Kwang Chung |year=1999 |publisher=JHU Press |location=Baltimore, Maryland |isbn=9780801861048 |page=250 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jA034iKl_EgC |archive-date=May 29, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200529204155/https://books.google.com/books?id=jA034iKl_EgC |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |title=Blue Dreams: Korean Americans and the Los Angeles Riots |last1=Abelmann |first1=Nancy |last2=Lie |first2=John |year=1995 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674077058 |page=288 |access-date=July 29, 2012 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BawoT007lesC |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530112930/https://books.google.com/books?id=BawoT007lesC |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite journal |last=Kim |first=Rose M. |title=3. "Violence and Trauma as Constitutive Elements in Korean American Racial Identity Formation: The 1992 L.A. Riots/Insurrection/Saigu." |journal=Ethnic & Racial Studies |year=2012 |volume=35 |issue=11 |pages=1999–2018 |doi=10.1080/01419870.2011.602090|s2cid=144670407 }}</ref> From 1990 to 1991, a high-profile, racially motivated [[Family Red Apple Boycott|boycott]] of an Asian-owned shop in Brooklyn was organized by a local [[black nationalist]] activist, eventually resulting in the owner being forced to sell his business.<ref name="Goodman">Goodman, Walter. [https://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/12/movies/review-television-the-boycotting-of-a-korean-grocery-in-brooklyn.html "Review/Television; The Boycotting of a Korean Grocery in Brooklyn"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809054356/http://www.nytimes.com/1990/07/12/movies/review-television-the-boycotting-of-a-korean-grocery-in-brooklyn.html |date=August 9, 2016 }}. ''The New York Times''. July 12, 1990</ref> Another racially motivated boycott against an Asian-owned business occurred in Dallas in 2012, after an Asian American clerk fatally shot an African American who had robbed his store.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/31/2012013100895.html |title=Racial Tension Rising in Dallas Against Korean Community |work=[[The Chosun Ilbo]] |date=January 31, 2012 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=February 10, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160210152622/http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2012/01/31/2012013100895.html |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120205-tensions-flare-in-protest-of-south-dallas-gas-station.ece |title=Racial tensions flare in protest of South Dallas gas station |work=[[The Dallas Morning News]] |date=February 5, 2012 |access-date=July 28, 2012 |archive-date=February 7, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207060536/http://www.dallasnews.com/news/community-news/dallas/headlines/20120205-tensions-flare-in-protest-of-south-dallas-gas-station.ece |url-status=live }}</ref> During the [[Ferguson unrest]] in 2014, Asian-owned businesses were looted,<ref>{{cite news|last=Mak|first=Tim|date=August 20, 2014|title=Ferguson's Other Race Problem: Riots Damaged Asian-Owned Stores|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/20/ferguson-s-other-race-problem-riots-damaged-asian-owned-stores.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|publisher=[[The Daily Beast Company LLC]]|access-date=August 21, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821053809/http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/20/ferguson-s-other-race-problem-riots-damaged-asian-owned-stores.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Asian-owned stores were looted during the [[2015 Baltimore protests]] while African American-owned stores were bypassed.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nurith |last=Aizenmen |title=Baltimore Unrest Reveals Tensions Between African-Americans And Asians |url=https://www.npr.org/2015/04/30/403231749/baltimore-unrest-reveals-tensions-between-african-americans-and-asian-owned-busi |newspaper=NPR |date=April 30, 2015 |access-date=June 16, 2015 |archive-date=June 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621210551/http://www.npr.org/2015/04/30/403231749/baltimore-unrest-reveals-tensions-between-african-americans-and-asian-owned-busi |url-status=live }}</ref> Violence against Asian Americans continue to occur based on their race,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/09/race_and_resentment_105419.html |title=Race and Resentment |author=Thomas Sowell |date=May 9, 2010 |publisher=Real Clear Politics |access-date=March 21, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110214052558/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2010/05/09/race_and_resentment_105419.html |archive-date=February 14, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> with one source asserting that Asian Americans are the fastest-growing targets of [[hate crime]]s and [[violence]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml |title=Anti-Asian Racism & Violence |author=C.N. Le |date=March 21, 2011 |publisher=asian-nation.org |access-date=March 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110430174336/http://www.asian-nation.org/racism.shtml |archive-date=April 30, 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref>

During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], concern has grown due to an increase in anti-Asian sentiment in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sumagaysay |first=Levi |date=24 May 2020 |title=Asian Americans bear brunt of blame for COVID-19 |agency=Bay City News Service |url=https://danvillesanramon.com/news/2020/05/24/asian-americans-bear-brunt-of-blame-for-covid-19 |work=DanvilleSanRamon.com |publisher=Embarcadero Media |location=Pleasanton, California |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=June 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603172501/https://danvillesanramon.com/news/2020/05/24/asian-americans-bear-brunt-of-blame-for-covid-19 |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Yam |first=Kimmy |date=13 May 2020 |title=NBC News hosts town hall on rise of anti-Asian sentiment amid coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nbc-news-hosts-town-hall-rise-anti-asian-sentiment-amid-n1206256 |work=NBC News |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200525175119/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/nbc-news-hosts-town-hall-rise-anti-asian-sentiment-amid-n1206256 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=ChenTrinhYang2020>{{cite journal |last1=Chen |first1=H. Alexander |last2=Trinh |first2=Jessica |date=16 May 2020 |title=Anti-Asian sentiment in the United States – COVID-19 and history |journal=American Journal of Surgery |volume= 220|issue= 3|pages= 556–557|doi=10.1016/j.amjsurg.2020.05.020 |pmid=32425201 |pmc=7229717 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In March 2020, President Donald Trump called the disease "China Virus" and "Kung-Flu", based on its origin; in response organizations such as Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Western States Center, stated that doing so will increase anti-Asian sentiment and violence.<ref>{{cite news |agency=Associated Press |last1=Reichmann |first1=Deb |first2=Terry |last2=Tang |date=18 March 2020 |title=Donald Trump dubs COVID-19 'Chinese virus' despite hate crime risks for Asian Americans |url=https://abc7news.com/chinese-flu-wuhan-kung-flu-coronavirus-news/6025822/ |work=KGO |location=San Francisco |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420185435/https://abc7news.com/chinese-flu-wuhan-kung-flu-coronavirus-news/6025822/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Vox'' wrote that the Trump Administration's use of the terms "China Virus", "Kung-Flu", and "Wuhan virus" would lead to an increase in [[xenophobia]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Scott |first=Dylan |date=18 March 2020 |title=Trump's new fixation on using a racist name for the coronavirus is dangerous |url=https://www.vox.com/2020/3/18/21185478/coronavirus-usa-trump-chinese-virus |work=Vox |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=March 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200318212026/https://www.vox.com/2020/3/18/21185478/coronavirus-usa-trump-chinese-virus |url-status=live }}</ref> The disease naming controversy occurred at a time when the Chinese Foreign Ministry was claiming that the disease originated in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/china-covid19-origin-narrative |title=Coronavirus Conspiracy Claims: What's Behind a Chinese Diplomat's COVID-19 Misdirection |last1=Molter |first1=Vanessa |date=31 March 2020 |last2=Webster |first2=Graham |website=Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies |publisher=Stanford University |access-date=24 May 2002 |archive-date=January 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110160854/https://fsi.stanford.edu/news/china-covid19-origin-narrative |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last1=Sardarizdeh |first1=Shayan |last2=Robinson |first2=Olga |date=26 April 2020 |title=Coronavirus: US and China trade conspiracy theories |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52224331 |work=BBC News |location=United Kingdom |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200524135817/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52224331 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Xenophobia and racism related to the COVID-19 pandemic#United States|Violent acts, relating to the disease]], against Asian Americans have been documented mostly in New York, California, and elsewhere.<ref name=ChenTrinhYang2020 /><ref>{{cite news |last=Rao |first=Maya |date=28 March 2020 |title=Asian-Americans in Minnesota face insults, hostility during virus outbreak |url=https://www.startribune.com/local-asian-americans-face-insults-hostility/569178982/?refresh=true |work=Star Tribune |location=Minnesota |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530004637/https://www.startribune.com/local-asian-americans-face-insults-hostility/569178982/?refresh=true |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |last=Phillips |first=Kristine |date=21 May 2020 |title='We just want to be safe': Hate crimes, harassment of Asian Americans rise amid coronavirus pandemic |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/20/coronavirus-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans-continue-rise/5212123002/ |work=USA Today |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522134754/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/05/20/coronavirus-hate-crimes-against-asian-americans-continue-rise/5212123002/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite web |url=https://www.adl.org/blog/reports-of-anti-asian-assaults-harassment-and-hate-crimes-rise-as-coronavirus-spreads |title=Reports of Anti-Asian Assaults, Harassment and Hate Crimes Rise as Coronavirus Spreads |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=19 May 2020 |website=adl.org |publisher=Anti-Defamation League |location=New York |access-date=24 May 2020 |archive-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200526014402/https://www.adl.org/blog/reports-of-anti-asian-assaults-harassment-and-hate-crimes-rise-as-coronavirus-spreads |url-status=live }}</ref> As of December 31, 2020, there were 259 reports of anti-Asian incidents in New York reported to [[Stop AAPI Hate]].<ref name="NBC Boston">{{cite web |title=Race Discrimination Not Black and White as Asians Face Surging Attacks During Pandemic |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/lx/remember-racism-isnt-just-black-and-white-anti-asian-racism-is-on-the-rise-in-the-pandemic-era/2300776/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210818042730/https://www.nbcboston.com/lx/remember-racism-isnt-just-black-and-white-anti-asian-racism-is-on-the-rise-in-the-pandemic-era/2300776/| archive-date=2021-08-18 | website=NBC Boston |access-date=15 February 2021 |url-status=live }}</ref> As of March 2021, there have been more than 3800 anti-Asian racist incidents.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Yam |first1=Kimmy |title=There were 3,800 anti-Asian racist incidents, mostly against women, in past year |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/there-were-3-800-anti-asian-racist-incidents-mostly-against-n1261257 |access-date=19 May 2021 |agency=NBC News |date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> A notable incident was the [[2021 Atlanta spa shootings]], a fatal attack in which six of the eight casualties were of Asian descent. The shooter reportedly said "I'm going to kill all Asians".<ref>Hwang, Ji-yoon (March 17, 2021). "애틀랜타 총격 범인, 아시아인 다 죽이겠다 말해" [Atlanta shooter tells me I'm going to kill all Asians]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved March 17, 2021.</ref>

===Racial stereotypes===
{{Main|Stereotypes of East and Southeast Asians in the United States|Stereotypes of South Asians}}
{{See also|Ching chong|Perpetual foreigner|Asian fetish}}

Until the late 20th century, the term "Asian American" was mostly adopted by activists, while the average person who was of Asian ancestry identified with his or her specific ethnicity.<ref name="yip">{{cite web|url=http://www.asianweek.com/061397/feature.html |first=Alethea |last=Yip |publisher=Asian Week |title=Remembering Vincent Chin |access-date=March 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318184237/http://www.asianweek.com/061397/feature.html |archive-date=March 18, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref> The [[murder of Vincent Chin]] in 1982 was a pivotal civil rights case, and it marked the emergence of Asian Americans as a distinct group in United States.<ref name=yip/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ACAPAA_policy_recommendation_159211_7.pdf |author=ACAPAA |publisher=State of Michigan |title=Pilicy Recommendation Document. |access-date=March 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070308150132/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ACAPAA_policy_recommendation_159211_7.pdf |archive-date=March 8, 2007 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

Stereotypes of Asians have largely been collectively internalized by society and most of the repercussions of these stereotypes are negative for Asian Americans and Asian immigrants in daily interactions, [[current events]], and governmental [[legislation]]. In many instances, media portrayals of East Asians often reflect a dominant [[Americentric]] perception rather than realistic and authentic depictions of true cultures, customs and behaviors.<ref name="vanishing">{{Citation |last=Kashiwabara |first=Amy |url=http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/Amydoc.html |title=Vanishing Son: The Appearance, Disappearance, and Assimilation of the Asian-American Man in American Mainstream Media |publisher=UC Berkeley Media Resources Center |access-date=December 28, 2012 |archive-date=September 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180922132828/http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/MRC/Amydoc.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Asians have experienced [[discrimination]] and have been victims of [[hate crime]]s related to their ethnic stereotypes.<ref>{{cite news |title=Pearl Harbor and Asian-Americans |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/26/opinion/pearl-harbor-and-asian-americans.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=October 26, 1991 |access-date=December 31, 2012 |archive-date=May 11, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511013313/http://www.nytimes.com/1991/10/26/opinion/pearl-harbor-and-asian-americans.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

A study has indicated that most non-Asian Americans generally do not differentiate between Asian Americans who are of different ethnicities.<ref>{{cite book |title=Asian American panethnicity: bridging institutions and identities |last=Espiritu |first=Yen le |year=1993 |publisher=Temple University Press |isbn=9781566390965 |page=139 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q2BqIYxOghsC |access-date=March 18, 2011 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122540/https://books.google.com/books?id=q2BqIYxOghsC |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Stereotype]]s of Chinese Americans and Asian Americans are nearly identical.<ref name="c100">{{cite web |url=http://www.committee100.org/media/media_eng/042501.html |author=Committee of 100 |title=Committee of 100 Announces Results of Landmark National Survey on American Attitudes towards Chinese Americans and Asian Americans |date=April 25, 2001 |access-date=June 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929153746/http://www.committee100.org/media/media_eng/042501.html |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> A 2002 survey of Americans' attitudes toward Asian Americans and Chinese Americans indicated that 24% of the respondents disapprove of [[Interracial marriage|intermarriage]] with an Asian American, second only to African Americans; 23% would be uncomfortable supporting an Asian American presidential candidate, compared to 15% for an African American, 14% for a woman and 11% for a Jew; 17% would be upset if a substantial number of Asian Americans moved into their neighborhood; 25% had somewhat or very negative attitude toward Chinese Americans in general.<ref name="sfgate">{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2001/04/27/MN199998.DTL |first=Matthew |last=Yi |title=Asian Americans seen negatively |access-date=June 14, 2007 |work=The San Francisco Chronicle |date=April 27, 2001 |display-authors=etal |archive-date=September 14, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110914111528/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2001%2F04%2F27%2FMN199998.DTL |url-status=live }}</ref> The study did find several positive perceptions of Chinese Americans: strong family values (91%); honesty as business people (77%); high value on education (67%).<ref name=c100/>

There is a widespread perception that Asian Americans are not "American" but are instead "[[perpetual foreigner]]s".<ref name=sfgate/><ref name="wu">{{cite web|url=http://www.modelminority.com/article676.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928140811/http://www.modelminority.com/article676.html |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |author=Frank H. Wu |title=Asian Americans and the Perpetual Foreigner Syndrome |access-date=June 14, 2007 |url-status=dead |df=mdy }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=The politics of Asian Americans: diversity and community |last=Lien |first=Pei-te |author2=Mary Margaret Conway |author3=Janelle Wong |year=2004 |publisher=Psychology Press |isbn=9780415934657 |page=7 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o7ucGq1RZ-EC&q=%22asian%20americans%22%20perpetual%20foreigners&pg=PA7 |access-date=February 9, 2012 |quote=In addition, because of their perceived racial difference, rapid and continuous immigration from Asia, and on going detente with communist regimes in Asia, Asian Americans are construed as "perpetual foreigners" who cannot or will not adapt to the language, customs, religions, and politics of the American mainstream. |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122542/https://books.google.com/books?id=o7ucGq1RZ-EC&q=%22asian+americans%22+perpetual+foreigners&pg=PA7 |url-status=live }}</ref> Asian Americans often report being asked the question, "Where are you really from?" by other Americans, regardless of how long they or their ancestors have lived in United States and been a part of its society.<ref>{{cite book |title=Yellow: race in America beyond black and white |last=Wu |first=Frank H. |author-link=Frank H. Wu |year=2003 |publisher=[[Basic Books]] |isbn=9780465006403 |page=79 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JkPvf5Cs-DgC&q=%22asian%20americans%22%20perpetual%20foreigners&pg=PA79 |access-date=February 9, 2012 }}{{Dead link|date=September 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Many Asian Americans are themselves not immigrants but rather born in the United States. Many East Asian Americans are asked if they are Chinese or Japanese, an assumption based on major groups of past immigrants.<ref name=wu/><ref name="unlv">{{cite web|url=http://magazine.unlv.edu/Issues/Spring07/16image.html |author=K. Bergquist |title=Image Conscious |access-date=June 14, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070709081932/http://magazine.unlv.edu/Issues/Spring07/16image.html |archive-date=July 9, 2007 |url-status=live |df=mdy }}</ref>

Discrimination against Asians and Asian Americans increased with the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United States]], according to a study done at [[Washington State University]] (WSU) and published in ''Stigma and Health''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Discrimination increases against Asian and Asian American population, affecting health |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201102155412.htm |access-date=March 6, 2021 |work=ScienceDaily |date=November 2, 2020 |language=en |archive-date=January 27, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127192836/https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/11/201102155412.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[New York City Police Department|NYPD]] reported a 1,900% increase in hate crimes motivated by anti-Asian sentiment in 2020, largely due to the virus origins in Wuhan, China.<ref>{{cite news |title=Why More Policing Isn't the Answer to a Rise in Anti-Asian Hate Crimes |url=https://time.com/5938482/asian-american-attacks/ |access-date=March 6, 2021 |magazine=Time |date=February 18, 2021 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305190633/https://time.com/5938482/asian-american-attacks/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Vaughan |first1=Ashley |title=Attacks against Asian Americans are on the rise. Here's what you can do |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/05/us/how-to-support-the-aapi-community-iyw-trnd/index.html |access-date=March 6, 2021 |work=CNN |date=March 5, 2021 |archive-date=March 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210305221907/https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/05/us/how-to-support-the-aapi-community-iyw-trnd/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to a poll done in 2022, 33 percent of Americans believe Asian Americans are "more loyal to their country of origin" than the US while 21 percent falsely believe Asian Americans are at least "partially responsible" for the COVID-19 pandemic.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=King |first=Shawna Chen,Hope |date=2022-05-04 |title=Poll: Distrust of Asian Americans is rising |url=https://www.axios.com/2022/05/04/asian-americans-covid-hate-survey |access-date=2022-09-21 |website=Axios |language=en}}</ref> Additionally, only 29 percent of Asian Americans believe they "completely agree" with the statement that they feel they belong and are accepted in the US, while 71 percent say they are discriminated in the US.<ref name=":3" />

===Model minority===
{{Main|Model minority}}
Asian Americans are sometimes characterized as a [[model minority]] in the United States<ref name="Am. J. Health Behav.">{{cite journal |last1=Lee |first1=S. |last2=Martinez |first2=G. |last3=Ma |first3=G. |last4=Hsu |first4=C. E. |last5=Robinson |first5=E. S. |last6=Bawa |first6=J. |last7=Juon |first7=H.-S. |date=January–February 2010 |title=Barriers to Health Care Access in 13 Asian American Communities |editor-last=Glover |editor-first=Elbert D. |editor-link=Elbert Glover |journal=[[American Journal of Health Behavior]] |publisher=PNG Publications and Scientific Research Limited |volume=34 |issue=1 |pages=21–30 |doi=10.5993/AJHB.34.1.3 |issn=1945-7359 |pmc=6628721 |pmid=19663748 |s2cid=31669071}}</ref> because many of their cultures encourage a strong work ethic, a respect for elders, a high degree of professional and academic success, a high valuation of family, education and religion.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asian-nation.org/model-minority.shtml |title=The Model Minority Image |last1=Le |first1=C.N. |year=2001 |work=Asian-Nation: The Landscape of Asian America |publisher=C.N. Le |access-date=February 18, 2013 |archive-date=February 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215190459/http://www.asian-nation.org/model-minority.shtml |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book |last=Wu |first=Frank H. |title=Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White |chapter=The Model Minority: Asian American 'Success' as a Race Relations Failure |chapter-url=http://www.faculty.umb.edu/lawrence_blum/courses/318_11/readings/wu_model_minority.pdf |access-date=February 18, 2013 |year=2002 |publisher=Basic Books |location=New York |isbn=9780465006403 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/yellow00fran/page/39 39–77] |url=https://archive.org/details/yellow00fran/page/39 }}</ref> Statistics such as high household income and low incarceration rate,<ref>{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080716060754/http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#jail |date=July 16, 2008 |title=''Bureau of Justice Statistics: Criminal Offenders Statistics'' }}, November 13, 2005. (archived from [http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/crimoff.htm#jail the original] on July 16, 2008)</ref> low rates of many diseases, and higher than average life expectancy are also discussed as positive aspects of Asian Americans.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.slate.com/id/2114957/ |magazine=Slate |title=The Soft Bigotry of Life Expectancy |author=William Saletan |author-link=William Saletan |date=March 16, 2005 |quote=Asian-Americans were beating white life expectancy by six years among men and 6.5 years among women. |access-date=February 12, 2008 |archive-date=March 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307043920/http://www.slate.com/id/2114957 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The implicit advice is that the other minorities should stop protesting and emulate the Asian American work ethic and devotion to higher education. Some critics say the depiction replaces biological racism with cultural racism, and should be dropped.<ref>Chih-Chieh Chou, "Critique on the notion of model minority: an alternative racism to Asian American?", ''Asian Ethnicity'', October 2008, Vol. 9#3 Issue 3, pp 219–229</ref> According to ''[[The Washington Post]]'', "the idea that Asian Americans are distinct among minority groups and immune to the challenges faced by other people of color is a particularly sensitive issue for the community, which has recently fought to reclaim its place in social justice conversations with movements like #ModelMinorityMutiny."<ref name=YananWang>{{cite news|last1=Wang|first1=Yanan|title=Asian Americans speak out against a decades-old 'model minority' myth|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/20/asian-americans-speak-out-against-a-decades-old-model-minority-myth/|access-date=January 12, 2016|agency=[[The Washington Post]]|date=October 20, 2015|archive-date=January 5, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105121219/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/10/20/asian-americans-speak-out-against-a-decades-old-model-minority-myth/|url-status=live}}</ref>

The model minority concept can also affect Asians' public education.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Revathy |last2=Maehr |first2=Martin L. |editor1-first=Judith L. |editor1-last=Meece |editor2-first=Jacquelynne S. |editor2-last=Eccles |chapter=Schooling, Cultural Diversity, and Student Motivation |title=Handbook of Research on Schools, Schooling and Human Development |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FnrxPTyhCRMC&q=%22Asian%20American%22%20%22risk%20taking%22%20confidence%20empowered%20%22model%20minority%22&pg=PA314 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |year=2010 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=9780203874844 |page=314 |archive-date=March 26, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122542/https://books.google.com/books?id=FnrxPTyhCRMC&q=%22Asian+American%22+%22risk+taking%22+confidence+empowered+%22model+minority%22&pg=PA314 |url-status=live }}</ref> By comparison with other minorities, Asians often achieve higher test scores and grades compared to other Americans.<ref>"Asian Americans outperform whites in terms of their overall or average grades (GPA), grades in math, and test scores in math", [http://www.mfas.ucr.edu/publications/Handbook_of_Asian_American_Psychology_Chapter-Ruth_6-27-05.doc School Performance] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221225215/http://www.mfas.ucr.edu/publications/Handbook_of_Asian_American_Psychology_Chapter-Ruth_6-27-05.doc |date=February 21, 2012 }}, Tseng, V., Chao, R. K., & Padmawidjaja, I. (2007). Asian Americans educational experiences. In F. Leong, A. Inman, A. Ebreo, L. Yang, L. Kinoshita, & M. Fu (Eds.), Handbook of Asian American Psychology, (2nd Edition) Racial and Ethnic Minority Psychology (REMP) Series (pp. 102–123). Thousand Oaks, California: Sage Publications (MS Word format, via [http://www.mfas.ucr.edu Multicultural Families and Adolescents Study] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080228153329/http://www.mfas.ucr.edu/ |date=February 28, 2008 }}, [http://www.mfas.ucr.edu/publications/ Publications] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060920064027/http://www.mfas.ucr.edu/publications/ |date=September 20, 2006 }}).</ref> Stereotyping Asian American as over-achievers can lead to harm if school officials or peers expect all to perform higher than average.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Yang |first=Wesley |date=8 May 2011 |title=Paper Tigers |url=http://nymag.com/news/features/asian-americans-2011-5/ |magazine=New York Magazine |access-date=31 May 2018 |archive-date=May 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507032651/http://nymag.com/news/features/asian-americans-2011-5/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite magazine |last=Shankar |first=Shalini |date=6 April 2015 |title=Fifty years on, the overachiever stereotype is still hurting Asian Americans |url=https://qz.com/376677/watch-new-documentary-proves-model-minority-stereotype-hurts-more-than-it-helps/ |magazine=Quartz |publisher=Atlantic Media Inc. |access-date=31 May 2018 |archive-date=June 27, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180627202600/https://qz.com/376677/watch-new-documentary-proves-model-minority-stereotype-hurts-more-than-it-helps/ |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite book|author=Nicholas Daniel Hartlep|title=The Model Minority Stereotype: Demystifying Asian American Success|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OH-2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA96|date=1 June 2013|publisher=IAP|isbn=978-1-62396-360-6|page=96|access-date=June 1, 2018|archive-date=May 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530112935/https://books.google.com/books?id=OH-2AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA96|url-status=live}}</ref> The very high educational attainments of Asian Americans has often been noted; in 1980, for example, 74% of Chinese Americans, 62% of Japanese Americans, and 55% of Korean Americans aged 20–21 were in college, compared to only a third of the whites. The disparity at postgraduate levels is even greater, and the differential is especially notable in fields making heavy use of mathematics. By 2000, a plurality of undergraduates at such elite public California schools as [[UC Berkeley]] and [[UCLA]], which are obligated by law to not consider race as a factor in admission, were Asian American. The pattern is rooted in the pre-World War II era. Native-born Chinese and Japanese Americans reached educational parity with majority whites in the early decades of the 20th century.<ref>Charles Hirschman and Morrison G. Wong, "The Extraordinary Educational Attainment of Asian-Americans: A Search for Historical Evidence and Explanations", ''Social Forces'', September 1986, Vol. 65#1 pp 1–27</ref> One group of writers who discuss the "model minority" stereotype, have taken to attaching the term "myth" after "model minority", thus encouraging discourse regarding how the concept and stereotype is harmful to Asian American communities and ethnic groups.<ref>Museus, Samuel D.; Kiang, Peter N. (2009-03). "Deconstructing the model minority myth and how it contributes to the invisible minority reality in higher education research". ''New Directions for Institutional Research''. '''2009'''(142): 5–15. [[Digital object identifier|doi]]:10.1002/ir.292. [[International Standard Serial Number|ISSN]] 0271-0579.</ref>

The model minority concept can be emotionally damaging to some Asian Americans, particularly since they are expected to live up to those peers who fit the stereotype.<ref>{{cite news|title=Asians Often Burdened as Model Minority |first=Doris |last=Nhan |url=http://www.nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/education/asians-often-burdened-as-model-minority-20120511 |newspaper=National Journal |date=May 15, 2012 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109055547/http://nationaljournal.com/thenextamerica/education/asians-often-burdened-as-model-minority-20120511 |archive-date=January 9, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> Studies have shown that some Asian Americans suffer from higher rates of stress, depression, mental illnesses, and suicides in comparison to other groups,<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Mental_Health_and_Depression_in_Asian_Americans.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121220201/http://www.hawaii.edu/hivandaids/Mental_Health_and_Depression_in_Asian_Americans.pdf|url-status=dead|title="Mental Health and Depression in Asian Americans"|archive-date=January 21, 2015}}</ref> indicating that the pressures to achieve and live up to the model minority image may take a mental and psychological toll on some Asian Americans.<ref name=":1">{{cite news |title=Push to achieve tied to suicide in Asian-American women |first=Elizabeth |last=Cohen |url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/05/16/asian.suicides/ |newspaper=CNN |date=May 16, 2007 |access-date=February 19, 2013 |archive-date=January 31, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131102128/http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/05/16/asian.suicides/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[American Psychological Association]] has published a paper relying on 2007 data that takes issue with what is said are myths about the suicide rates of Asian Americans.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!--Not stated-->|title=Suicide Among Asian Americans |url=https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/suicide |publisher=[[American Psychological Association]] |access-date=June 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220412053356/https://www.apa.org/pi/oema/resources/ethnicity-health/asian-american/suicide |archive-date=April 12, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Alongside mental and psychological tolls that the model minority concept has on Asian Americans,<ref name=":1" /> they are also faced with the repercussions that it has on [[Health status of Asian Americans#cite note-:4-31|physical health]] and the desire for individuals to seek medical care more specifically cancer screening or treatment. Asian Americans, between the other racial/ethnic groups in the United States, are the only group with the leading cause of death being cancer while having significantly low rates of cancer screenings.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Moon S. |date=2005 |title=Cancer health disparities among Asian Americans |journal=Cancer |volume=104 |issue=S12 |pages=2895–2902 |doi=10.1002/cncr.21501 |pmid=16270313 |s2cid=27078800 |issn=0008-543X|doi-access=free }}</ref> Different pressures like alienation if diagnosed or the desire to conform to stereotypes of the image of a healthy lifestyle<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lee-Lin |first1=Frances |last2=Menon |first2=Usha |last3=Nail |first3=Lillian |last4=Lutz |first4=Kristin F. |date=September 2012 |title=Findings from Focus Groups Indicating what Chinese American Immigrant Women Think about Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01348.x |journal=Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic & Neonatal Nursing |volume=41 |issue=5 |pages=627–637 |doi=10.1111/j.1552-6909.2012.01348.x |pmid=22537294 |pmc=3410053 |issn=0884-2175}}</ref> can deter individuals from seeking cancer screenings or treatment before the onset of symptoms.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Kandula |first1=Namratha R. |last2=Wen |first2=Ming |last3=Jacobs |first3=Elizabeth A. |last4=Lauderdale |first4=Diane S. |date=2006 |title=Low rates of colorectal, cervical, and breast cancer screening in Asian Americans compared with non-Hispanic whites |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cncr.21968 |journal=Cancer |volume=107 |issue=1 |pages=184–192 |doi=10.1002/cncr.21968 |pmid=16721803 |s2cid=33239504 |issn=0008-543X|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

The "model minority" stereotype fails to distinguish between different ethnic groups with different histories.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fuchs |first=Chris |date=22 August 2017 |title=Behind the 'Model Minority' Myth: Why the 'Studious Asian' Stereotype Hurts |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/behind-model-minority-myth-why-studious-asian-stereotype-hurts-n792926 |work=NBC News |access-date=27 March 2019 |archive-date=March 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327150405/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/behind-model-minority-myth-why-studious-asian-stereotype-hurts-n792926 |url-status=live }}</ref> When divided up by ethnicity, it can be seen that the economic and academic successes supposedly enjoyed by Asian Americans are concentrated into a few ethnic groups.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mohan |first=Pavithra |date=12 July 2018 |title=Here's another reason why the "model minority" myth is so damaging |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90201530/heres-another-reason-why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-damaging |magazine=Fast Company |publisher=Mansueto Ventures |access-date=27 March 2019 |archive-date=March 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328065400/https://www.fastcompany.com/90201530/heres-another-reason-why-the-model-minority-myth-is-so-damaging |url-status=live }}</ref> Cambodians, Hmong, and Laotians (and to a lesser extent, Vietnamese) all have relatively low achievement rates, possibly due to their [[refugee]] status, and the fact that they are non-voluntary immigrants.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.asian-nation.org/demographics.shtml |title=Socioeconomic Statistics & Demographics : Asian-Nation :: Asian American History, Demographics, & Issues |publisher=Asian-Nation |access-date=November 11, 2012 |archive-date=October 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191008013054/http://www.asian-nation.org/demographics.shtml |url-status=live }}<br />{{cite news |title=Asian Americans to Pew Study: We're Not Your 'Model Minority' |first=Julianne |last=Hing |url=http://www.thehartfordguardian.com/2012/06/22/asian-americans-to-pew-study-were-not-your-model-minority/ |newspaper=The Hartford Guardian |date=June 22, 2012 |access-date=June 22, 2012 |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121209115813/http://www.thehartfordguardian.com/2012/06/22/asian-americans-to-pew-study-were-not-your-model-minority/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Social and economic disparities===
In 2015, Asian American earnings were found to exceed all other racial groups when all Asian ethnic groups are grouped as a whole.<ref name="Pew Research Center">{{cite web|last1=Patten|first1=Eileen|title=Racial, gender wage gaps persist in U.S. despite some progress|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/01/racial-gender-wage-gaps-persist-in-u-s-despite-some-progress/|website=Pew Research Center|date=July 2016 |access-date=July 2, 2016|archive-date=July 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703004236/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/01/racial-gender-wage-gaps-persist-in-u-s-despite-some-progress/|url-status=live}}</ref> Yet, a 2014 report from the Census Bureau reported that 12% of Asian Americans were living below the poverty line, while 10.1% of [[Non-Hispanic whites|non-Hispanic White Americans]] live below the poverty line.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-252.pdf |title=Income and Poverty in the United States : 2014 |website=Census.gov |access-date=2017-02-27 |archive-date=July 13, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160713104556/http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2015/demo/p60-252.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NPRAsianPoor" >{{cite web|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534666|title=Asian-Americans: Smart, High-Incomes And ... Poor?|website=NPR|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=November 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120091214/https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=185534666|url-status=live}}<br />https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2017/cb17-ff07.html {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180603193312/https://www.census.gov/newsroom/facts-for-features/2017/cb17-ff07.html |date=June 3, 2018 }}</ref> A 2017 study of [[Wealth inequality in the United States|wealth inequality]] within Asian Americans found a greater gap between wealthy and non-wealthy Asian Americans compared to non-Hispanic white Americans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2016/12/20/295359/wealth-inequality-among-asian-americans-greater-than-among-whites/|title=Wealth Inequality Among Asian Americans Greater Than Among Whites – Center for American Progress|website=americanprogress.org|date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=January 13, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180113035904/https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/race/reports/2016/12/20/295359/wealth-inequality-among-asian-americans-greater-than-among-whites/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2016/12/20/295448/release-wealth-inequality-among-asian-americans-greater-than-among-whites-finds-new-cap-report-based-on-analysis-of-exclusive-data/|title=RELEASE: Wealth Inequality Among Asian Americans Greater Than Among Whites, Finds New CAP Report Based on Analysis of Exclusive Data – Center for American Progress|website=americanprogress.org|date=December 20, 2016 |access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121121512/https://www.americanprogress.org/press/release/2016/12/20/295448/release-wealth-inequality-among-asian-americans-greater-than-among-whites-finds-new-cap-report-based-on-analysis-of-exclusive-data/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/20/why-asian-americans-arent-as-rich-as-they-seem/|title=The staggering difference between rich Asian Americans and poor Asian Americans|first=Jeff|last=Guo|date=December 20, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2017|newspaper=The Washington Post|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201042249/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/12/20/why-asian-americans-arent-as-rich-as-they-seem/|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cap-asian-americans-wealth-gap_us_586bd460e4b0d9a5945c91a7|title=Huge Asian-American Wealth Gap Pretty Much Invalidates 'Model Minority' Concept|first=Kimberly|last=Yam|date=January 4, 2017|access-date=November 22, 2017|via=Huff Post|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121234639/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/cap-asian-americans-wealth-gap_us_586bd460e4b0d9a5945c91a7|url-status=live}}</ref> Once country of birth and other demographic factors are taken into account, a portion of the sub-groups that make up Asian Americans are much more likely than non-Hispanic White Americans to live in poverty.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Takei|first1=Isao|last2=Sakamoto|first2=Arthur|date=2011-01-01|title=Poverty among Asian Americans in the 21st Century|jstor=10.1525/sop.2011.54.2.251|journal=Sociological Perspectives|volume=54|issue=2|pages=251–276|doi=10.1525/sop.2011.54.2.251|s2cid=147015408}}<br />{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2015/12/14/asian-american-poverty/#8KjUKbbDOgqj|title=The 'model minority' myth: Why Asian-American poverty goes unseen|first=Huizhong|last=Wu|website=mashable.com|date=December 14, 2015|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=December 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171208055256/http://mashable.com/2015/12/14/asian-american-poverty/#8KjUKbbDOgqj|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/asian-american-poverty-nyc_us_58ff7f40e4b0c46f0782a5b6|title=Asian-Americans Have Highest Poverty Rate In NYC, But Stereotypes Make The Issue Invisible|first=Kimberly|last=Yam|date=May 8, 2017|access-date=November 22, 2017|via=Huff Post|archive-date=November 21, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171121234530/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/asian-american-poverty-nyc_us_58ff7f40e4b0c46f0782a5b6|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CambodiaTown" >{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/america-by-the-numbers/episodes/episode-106/|title=Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town – Episodes – America By The Numbers|website=Pass or Fail in Cambodia Town – Episodes – America By The Numbers|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=November 8, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171108224057/http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/america-by-the-numbers/episodes/episode-106/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=PewData2017/><ref name="archive.org">{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/aapi/data/critical-issues|title=Critical Issues Facing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders – The White House|date=March 21, 2016|access-date=November 22, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170122005421/https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/administration/eop/aapi/data/critical-issues|archive-date=January 22, 2017|via=[[NARA|National Archives]]|work=[[whitehouse.gov]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref> [[Healthcare in the United States|Healthcare access]] varies greatly by race and ethnicity in the United States; some lifelong diseases and impairments affect Asian Americans more negatively compared to other [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|US census-recognized racial groups]].<ref name="Am. J. Health Behav."/> Research shows many [[health disparities]] among different [[Race and ethnicity in the United States|racial and ethnic groups in the United States]].<ref name="USC Price">{{cite web |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date=2023 |title=How to Improve Access to Health Care: Issues & Potential Solutions |url=https://healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu/blog/how-to-improve-access-to-health-care/ |url-status=live |website=healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu |location=[[Los Angeles]] and [[Sacramento, California]] |publisher=[[USC Price School of Public Policy]], [[University of Southern California]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230421051321/https://healthadministrationdegree.usc.edu/blog/how-to-improve-access-to-health-care/ |archive-date=21 April 2023 |access-date=12 May 2023}}</ref>

There are major disparities that exist among Asian Americans when specific ethnic groups are examined. For example, in 2012, Asian Americans had the highest educational attainment level of any racial demographic in the country.<ref name="RoAAPEW2012">{{cite web |url=http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2013/01/SDT_Rise_of_Asian_Americans.pdf |title=The Rise of Asian Americans |first=Paul |last=Taylor |author2=D'Vera Cohn |author3=Wendy Wang |author4=Jeffrey S. Passel |author5=Rakesh Kochhar |author6=Richard Fry |author7=Kim Parker |author8=Cary Funk |author9=Gretchen M. Livingston |author10=Eileen Patten |author11=Seth Motel |author12=Ana Gonzalez-Barrera |date=July 12, 2012 |work=Pew Research Social & Demographic Trends |publisher=[[Pew Research Center]] |access-date=January 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305005915/http://www.pewsocialtrends.org/files/2013/01/SDT_Rise_of_Asian_Americans.pdf |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> Yet, there are many sub groups of Asian Americans who suffer in terms of education with some sub groups showing a high rate of dropping out of school or lacking a college education.<ref name="PewData2017">{{cite web|url=http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/08/key-facts-about-asian-americans/|title=Key facts about Asian Americans, a diverse and growing population|date=September 8, 2017|website=pewresearch.org|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=November 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171120131324/http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/09/08/key-facts-about-asian-americans/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="archive.org"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwJt_TLYYpw|title=AMERICA BY THE NUMBERS – Model Minority Myth – PBS|last=PBS|date=October 2, 2014|access-date=November 22, 2017|via=YouTube|archive-date=June 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200620211835/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwJt_TLYYpw|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite web|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/these-groups-of-asian-americans-rarely-attend-college-but-california-is-trying-to-change-that|title=These groups of Asian-Americans rarely attend college, but California is trying to change that|website=PBS NewsHour|date=May 21, 2015|access-date=November 22, 2017|archive-date=December 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201035420/https://www.pbs.org/newshour/education/these-groups-of-asian-americans-rarely-attend-college-but-california-is-trying-to-change-that|url-status=live}}<br />{{cite journal|title=Complicating the Image of Model Minority Success: A Review of Southeast Asian American Education|first1=Bic|last1=Ngo|first2=Stacey J.|last2=Lee|date=December 1, 2007|journal=Review of Educational Research|volume=77|issue=4|pages=415–453|doi=10.3102/0034654307309918|s2cid=145367905}}<br />http://www.searac.org/sites/default/files/SEARAC_Fact_Sheets_OVERVIEW_FINAL.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219151307/http://www.searac.org/sites/default/files/SEARAC_Fact_Sheets_OVERVIEW_FINAL.pdf |date=February 19, 2018 }}</ref> This occurs in terms of household income as well; in 2008 Asian Americans had the highest median household income overall of any racial demographic,<ref name="Education2007">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p20-560.pdf|title=Educational Attainment in the United States: 2007|year=2009|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=July 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724024659/https://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p20-560.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Income2008">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p60-236.pdf|title=Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2008|year=2009|publisher=United States Census Bureau|page=9|access-date=December 9, 2017|archive-date=September 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090920120057/https://www.census.gov/prod/2009pubs/p60-236.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> while there were Asian sub-groups who had average median incomes lower than both the US average and non-Hispanic Whites.<ref name=PewData2017/> In 2014, data released by the US Census Bureau revealed that five Asian American ethnic groups are in the top ten lowest earning ethnicities in terms of per capita income in all of the United States.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~-04 |title=Median houseland income in the past 12 months (in 2014 inflation-adjusted dollars) |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |year=2014 |work=American Community Survey |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=5 December 2017 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213025358/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/14_1YR/S0201//popgroup~-04 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Politics===
{{Main|Asian Americans in politics}}
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="float:right; font-size:90%; margin:0 0 1em 1em;"
|-
!Year
!Presidential<br />candidate
!Political <br /> party
!% of<br />Asian<br />vote
!Result
|-
|1992 || [[George H. W. Bush]] || Republican || 55%
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
|1996 || [[Bob Dole]] || Republican || 48%
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
|2000 || [[Al Gore]] || Democratic || 55%
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
|2004 || [[John Kerry]] || Democratic || 56%
|{{no|Lost}}
|-
|2008 || [[Barack Obama]] || Democratic || 62%
| {{won}}
|-
|2012 || [[Barack Obama]] || Democratic || 73%
| {{won}}
|-
|2016 || [[Hillary Clinton]] || Democratic || 65%
| {{no|Lost}}
|-
|2020 || [[Joe Biden]] || Democratic || 63%
| {{won}}
|-
|2024 || [[Kamala Harris]] || Democratic || 54%
| {{no|Lost}}
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|United States|Asia}}
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Middle Eastern Americans]]
* [[Central Asians in the United States]]
* [[Amerasian]]
* [[Asian American activism]]
* [[Asian American and Pacific Islander Policy Research Consortium]]
* [[Asian American studies]]
* [[Asian Americans in New York City]]
* [[Asian Pacific American]]
* [[Asian pride]]
* [[:Category:Racially motivated violence against Asian Americans ]]
* [[Hyphenated American]]
* [[Jade Ribbon Campaign]]
* [[Index of articles related to Asian Americans]]
* [[Asian Americans in California]]
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin|30em}}
* Chang, Kornel S. "Asian Americans, Impact of the Great Depression on." in ''Encyclopedia of the Great Depression'', edited by Robert S. McElvaine, (vol. 1, Macmillan Reference USA, 2004), pp.&nbsp;75–80. [https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3404500051/GPS?u=wikipedia&sid=GPS&xid=bd388085 online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122546/https://go.gale.com/ps/i.do?p=GPS&u=wikipedia&id=GALE%7B%7B%21%7D%7DCX3404500051&v=2.1&it=r&sid=GPS&asid=bd388085 |date=March 26, 2021 }}.
* Chau Trinh-Shevrin, Nadia Shilpi Islam, Mariano Jose Rey. ''Asian American Communities and Health: Context, Research, Policy, and Action'' (Public Health/Vulnerable Populations), 2009. {{ISBN|978-0-7879-9829-5}}
* Cheng, Cindy I-Fen. ''Citizens of Asian America: Democracy and Race during the Cold War'' (2013)
* Chin, Gabriel J., Ed., [https://ssrn.com/abstract=589431 ''U.S. Commission on Civil Rights: Reports on Asian Pacific Americans''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210326122546/https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=589431 |date=March 26, 2021 }} (2005) {{ISBN|978-0-8377-3105-6}}
* {{cite journal | last1 = Choi | first1 = Yoonsun | year = 2006 | title = Academic Achievement and Problem Behaviors among Asian Pacific Islander American Adolescents | url = http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/07/pdf/070118.achievement.pdf | journal = [[Journal of Youth and Adolescence]] | volume = 36 | issue = 4 | pages = 403–415 | doi = 10.1007/s10964-006-9152-4 | pmid = 25170181 | pmc = 4144194 | access-date = December 20, 2012 | archive-date = May 10, 2013 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130510175629/http://www-news.uchicago.edu/releases/07/pdf/070118.achievement.pdf | url-status = live }}
* Lee, Jonathan H. X. and Fumitaka Matsuoka, eds. ''Asian American Religious Cultures'' (2 vol. 2015)
* Lee, Jonathan H. X. and Kathleen M. Nadeau, eds. ''Encyclopedia of Asian American Folklore and Folklife'' (3 vol. 2010)
* Ling, Huping, and Allan W. Austin, eds. ''Asian American History and Culture: An Encyclopedia'' (Routledge, 2015)
* [[Lisa Lowe|Lowe, Lisa]] ''Immigrant Acts: On Asian American Cultural Politics'' Durham: Duke University Press, 1996. {{ISBN|978-0-8223-1864-4}}
* Matsumoto, Jon. "[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-sep-04-ca-19285-story.html Asian Americans Anchor Their Influence] ." ''[[Los Angeles Times]]''. September 4, 1998.
* Okamoto, Dina G. ''Redefining Race: Asian American Panethnicity and Shifting Ethnic Boundaries'' (Russell Sage Foundation, 2014)
* Pyong Gap Min ''Asian Americans: Contemporary Trends and Issues'' Thousand Oaks, Ca.: Pine Science Press, 2005. {{ISBN|978-1-4129-0556-5}}
* [[Frank H. Wu|Wu, Frank H.]] ''Yellow: Race in American Beyond Black and White'' New York: Basic Books, 2002. {{ISBN|978-0-465-00639-7}}
* [[Helen Zia|Zia, Helen]] ''Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People'' New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2000. {{ISBN|978-0-374-52736-5}}.
* "[http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/07/Asian-Americans-religion-full-report.pdf Asian Americans: A Mosaic of Faiths] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027223430/http://www.pewforum.org/files/2012/07/Asian-Americans-religion-full-report.pdf |date=October 27, 2014 }}". (full report) [[Pew Research Center]]. July 19, 2012.
* {{cite AV media |first=Jeff |last=Bieber |first2=Dalton |last2=Delan |first3=Stephen |last3=Gong |first4=Donald |last4=Young |first5=Sally Jo |last5=Fifer |first6=Jean |last6=Tsien |first7=Renee |last7=Tajima-Pena |first8=Eurie |last8=Chung |first9=S. Leo |last9=Chiang |first10=Geeta |last10=Gandbhir |first11=Grace |last11=Lee |others=WETA, Center for Asian American Media, Independent Television Service, Flash Cuts, Tajima-Pena Productions |date=2020 |title=Asian Americans |medium=Documentary |url=https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/ |format=Multiple episodes |publisher=Public Broadcasting Service }}
{{Refend}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Asian Americans}}
* [https://www.census.gov/about/partners/cic/resources/data-links/asian.html Asian American Data Links] — demographic information and reports from the United States Census Bureau
* [http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/ UCLA Asian American Studies Center]

{{Asian Americans}}
{{Demographics of the United States}}
{{Overseas Asians}}

[[Category:Ethnic groups in the United States]]