Misleading Assumptions: The Case of Asians and Pacific Islanders

Pam Tau Lee
from Unity in A Multicultural USA
Vol 16 No. 1, Summer 1993

In the last decade growing evidence has shown that environmental degradation does not impact everyone equally. This phenomenon is called "environmental racism" because persons and communities of color are the most frequently and severely affected. While a number of published studies cite the effects of environmental racism on the African American, Latino, and Native American communities, very little has been written regarding Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S.

One possible explanation could be the "model minority" myth, which has blinded society to the realities that Asians and Pacific Islanders face in the U.S. This myth stereotypes most Asian Americans as having "made it" and achieved success. A related myth is that Asians are all "alike" in culture, language, and physical appearance. Other stereotypes view Asians in a whole range of self-contradictory ways: they are seen as inscrutable, as industrious, or as dangerous hordes. As a result of these myths and stereotypes, Asian American history has been marked by pain, neglect, oppression, and exclusion.

Exclusion manifests itself in almost every facet of our lives - past and present. Racist immigration Exclusion Laws restricted immigration in the 19th century, Asians were unjustly made scapegoats whenever economic conditions began to decline. A visit to almost any Chinatown or Manilatown will find elderly bachelors in rooming houses, often without hot water, living out their final years in loneliness because they were forbidden by the American judicial system to marry or bring over a wife. Discrimination continues today, with hate crimes against Asians reaching an all time high.

Many Chinese, Filipinos, Vietnamese, Cambodians, Koreans, and Laotians work on farms, but the majority live in cities. They live in overcrowded apartments or public housing; most of this housing was built before 1950 where many families are exposed to toxic lead paint. These neighborhoods also have heavy automobile traffic, causing both pollution and accidents involving seniors and children. Charles Lee, in his study "Toxic Waste and Race in the U.S.," found that 50 % of all Native Americans and Asian families live in areas with uncontrolled toxic sites.

One such site is in Westminster, Orange County, California. Last sear, the state Dept. of Health Services concluded that one of the housing developments is contaminated with oil refinery waste materials dumped in the 1930s. Back yards are covered with a tar-like substance which seeps from the ground. Many of the Vietnamese homeowners living there grow their own vegetables. They were advised not to eat them unless grown in containers well above ground level.

Environmental justice issues are manifested clearly in the workplace as well as in the neighborhoods. Policy makers need to remember that American workers also include Laotian auto body workers, Korean electronics assembly line workers, Filipino hotel workers, Chinese garment workers, to name a few. Exploration into the working conditions of this population will reveal high unemployment, and evidence that Asian workers earn less than other workers. As a whole, Asian workers are generally denied access to their workplace rights, including the right to a safe and healthy work environment.

Native Hawaiians have no sovereignty rights over their land as do Native Americans on the Mainland. Military toxics, bombing tests, tourism, and geothermal development are destroying the beauty of these islands, including Native sacred lands.

As awareness of environmental justice issues increases, so does the need to involve Asians and Pacific Islanders. Past trends of exclusion must be replaced by inclusion.

First, Asians and Pacific Islanders need to be included in matters of public policy, especially when policies being addressed directly affect them. Access to information and health care must be provided in a way that is effective, as well as culturally and language sensitive. Second, standards, and regulations, can't just remain words on a piece of paper, but have to be enforced. Third. more research needs to be conducted with active participation from Asian communities. Educational outreach should be initiated into such communities; it must be culturally appropriate and empower Asians and Pacific Islanders in creating safe, healthy environments in both their neighborhoods and workplaces. Finally. environmental policy and educational outreach should look towards economic sustainability and job creation within the Asian and Pacific communities.

This article is taken from written testimony to the House of Representatives, Subcommittee on Civil and Constitutional Rights. On March 3, 1993, Pam Tau Lee also presented oral testimony to the Congressional Subcommittee.

Pam Tau Lee is a labor coordinator with the Labor Occupational Health Program, UC Berkeley. She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and is a Board Member of the Southwest Network Training Institute Task Force.