The Suburbs

While a sudden influx of Asian-Americans into prominent suburbs has elevated the average living standards and has heightened the educational drive, Asian-Americans expose themselves to the risk of becoming complacent in their own culture. Due to the “...high rates of homeownership, income levels, degree of educational attainment, and integration into White communities…” (Pg. 7), many believe that Asian-Americans are like the new “whites,” a class of population that represented a higher level of living standards. In the past, greater representation of the white class in a suburban town translated into higher real estate value and competitive public education system. However, the composite of such prominent suburban towns has been shifting over the past few decades. Just 40 years ago, a city called Fremont was composed of 97% white population. Now a melting pot of different Asian cultures, Fremont is 52% Asian. A similar trend is present in Irvine, where I was born, for the city has now progressed into a mecca for Koreans immigrants. Irvine’s housing prices have soared during past few decades, and its public school system boasts college acceptance rates into the nation’s most prestigious universities. As seen in Chan's family case, the increase of Asian-Americans has advanced education and lifestyle. On the other hand, a comfortable environment that takes pride of embracing Asian cultures prevents many immigrants from learning about American culture.  Many Asian Americans do not need to struggle with the foreign culture unlike the older generations faced when they immigrated years ago.  Without the need of learning English or eating American food, many Asian-Americans can enter these suburbs with their culture, untouched and unfazed. Asian groceries are around the corner, and even sales associates are speaking in their native language cater to their needs in department stores. Eating their comfort food, speaking their language, befriending only those of the same nationality, many Asian-Americans are exposed to the risk of becoming too comfortable in their own culture. This act of complacency will be the ultimate demise of Asian-Americans in America. The hard work, courage, and determination of the older generation to overcome the intimidation and minority complex of being one of few Asians in a town are unknown to the new generation of Asian-Americans.  The sharp minds of the older generation who struggled to fit into the foreign culture will all be unraveled if we continue this cyclical path of complacency. Instead, many Asian-American who are represented widely in the suburbs should strive to acculture themselves into the American culture by learning English, being open minded and courageously participating in many community activities with people of diverse backgrounds.