Asian American Empowerment - Asian Political Association Hopes To Incite Activism

By Andrea Hernandez
The Daily Cal (University of California at Berkeley)
September 30, 2003

Although Asian-American students at UC Berkeley make up the bulk of a student body both famous and infamous for its activism, their level of political influence has yet to match their numbers.

Even though they make up 42 percent of UC Berkeley's undergraduates, many Asian-American students are steering clear of politics, said Asian-American student leaders.

A band of 50 active members, the Asian Political Association aims to foster activism in Asian-American students.

They table on Sproul Plaza regularly, but many students turn to more popular groups such as the Asian Business Association or the Asian American Association, reporting 400 and 900 members respectively.

"A lot of people shy away from the term 'political' so that makes it harder for us to attract people," said the group's president Alice Chiang. "It sounds a lot more daunting than it actually is."

The group's membership is symptomatic of a larger problem—Asian Americans have the lowest voter turnout rates of all major ethnic groups. Only 43 percent of eligible Asian Americans voted in the last presidential election, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

A small presence in state politics as well leaves many Asian-American youth without mentors in the political arena.

Growing up in the Midwest, UC Berkeley junior Fang He, the group's external vice president, said media images of Asian Americans were the stereotypical accomplished students or martial arts specialists.

"I think having Asian Americans in political prominence is important to provide a new view of Asian Americans as political leaders who do not fit these stereotypes," he said.

But political apathy among Asian Americans combined with low participation among young voters makes the group's goals particularly challenging.

And with a growth of more than 30 percent between 1990 and 2000 in California's Asian-American population, the problem is poised to become even more prominent in the future.

A major hurdle standing in the way is ensuring that Asian Americans are eligible to cast ballots. While only 2 percent of non-Hispanic whites are not U.S. citizens, compared to 40 percent among Asian Americans, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

"In terms of being recent immigrants, they tend to make the focus on individual goals and education," said Harvey Dong, who teaches Asian-American studies on campus.

A legacy of discriminatory laws withholding citizenship and voting rights from Asian immigrants still has a detrimental effect on their descendants today. McCarthyism and internment camps left an imprint, suppressing activism among many Asian Americans, Dong said.

But the university setting brings distinct advantages to reach young Asian-American voters.

Debates on Proposition 54 and affirmative action sponsored by the group have drawn larger crowds, Chiang said.

"We just want you to dip your toes in the water and see what it's about."