Asian-Americans: Proud and Free (At Last!) in America

1. Asian-Americans: Proud and Free (At Last!) in America Eva Lerner-Lam President Palisades Consulting Group, Inc. Tenafly, NJ Presented to the US Missile Defense Agency In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month May 3, 2004

2. Speaker Background • “First Generation” Asian-American, daughter of immigrants from China • Admitted to Princeton University in 1972 • Elected President of Class • Elected President of Eating Club • Appointed University Trustee

3. Speaker Background • Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering, MIT • Director of Planning & Operations for San Diego Metro Transit Development Board • Board Member, New Jersey Transit Corporation • Founder and President of Palisades Consulting Group, Inc. • Leadership in Professional Societies: • American Society of Civil Engineers • Institute of Transportation Engineers

4. Asian-Americans: Helping to Build a Strong America • 5,000+ year-old civilizations • 150-year history in America • Hard work, determination to succeed • Continuing struggle to overcome institutional stereotypes, discrimination and intimidation

5. History of Asians in America • 1840s: Gold Rush • First large-scale immigration of Asians into the U.S. • Foreign Miners’ Tax targeted Chinese laborers

6. History, con’d. • 1860s: Transcontinental Railroad • 12,000 Chinese workers • Paid 60% what European workers were paid • Excluded from Promontory Point ceremonies

7. History, con’d. • 1882: Chinese Exclusion Act • Railroad completed, gold rush finished, Chinese workers were seen as a threat • 1890’s: Japanese workers replaced Chinese workers • Followed by Korean and Filipino workers • 1908: “Gentleman’s Agreement” • Excluded Japanese immigrant workers • 1920’s: National Origins Act • Set “2% quotas” on all countries (except England) to limit immigration; explicitly excluded East Asians

8. Becoming Americans • All Asian groups in America fought hard for rights to own property and become citizens • Significant strides in past 40 years • Still a “work-in-progress”

9. History, con’d. • 1940’s: World War II: Executive Order 9066 • 120,000 Japanese citizens imprisoned in desert camps

10. History, con’d. • 442nd Regimental Combat Team • composed entirely of Japanese Americans, including Senator Daniel K. Inouye • most decorated combat unit of its size in the entire U.S. military during World War II

11. History, con’d. • Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 • Immigrants were to be admitted by their skills and professions rather than by their nationality • Outgrowth of civil rights movement of the 60’s • Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 • Nationalized permanent inhabitants • Immigration Act of 1990 • Allowed substantial increase in immigration

12. George W. Bush Administration's Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Appointees

13. Today’s Demographics • The AAPI population is the fastest-growing minority population in the United States, with a 72% increase from 1990 – 2000

14. Demographics • There are approximately 10.4 million AAPIs in the United States (4% of the total U.S. population)

15. Demographics • The four largest sub-populations among AAPIs are Chinese (2,432,585), Filipino (1,850,314), Asian Indian (1,678,765), and Vietnamese (1,122,528).

16. Demographics • The population is projected to reach 37 million (9.3% of the US population) by the year 2050

17. Cultural Themes • Confucian Ethics • Emphasis on Education • Professional and technical careers

18. Confucian Ethics • “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you” • “Do your best for others” • “Harmonize with Nature” • “Treat your elders with respect” Confucius 551-479 BC

19. Emphasis on Education • Although only 4% of the nation's population, Asian Americans comprise nearly 20% of all medical students • 12% of California's populace, but 45% percent of Berkeley's freshman class • Just 3% of Texas populace, but 18% of the freshman class at UT-Austin

20. Professional Careers • Computer Sciences • Engineering • Medicine • Finance/Accounting

21. Sports Journalism Music Technology Fashion Architecture Business Government Other Asian-American Contributions to American Society

22. Sports • Michael Chang, Champion Tennis Player

23. Sports • Michelle Kwan, Champion Figure Skater

24. Sports • Yao Ming, Basketball Player

25. Journalism • Connie Chung, TV news journalist

26. Music • Midori, violinist

27. Music • Yo Yo Ma, cellist

28. Technology • Dr. Steven Chen, inventor of the Cray supercomputer

29. Technology • Jerry Yang, Co-Founder of Yahoo!

30. Fashion • Vera Wang, Fashion Designer

31. Architecture • I. M. Pei, East Wing, National Gallery

32. Architecture • Maya Lin, Vietnam War Memorial

33. Engineering • T. Y. Lin, Structural Engineer

34. Business • Andrea Jung, CEO, Avon Corporation

35. Government • Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Hawaii

36. Government • Elaine L. Chao, US Secretary of Labor

37. Government • Norman Y. Mineta, US Secretary of Transportation

38. Government • Carol C. Lam, US Attorney, Southern District of California

39. AAPI Issues • Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are often viewed as a model minority with few health or social problems • However, emerging data on AAPIs show significant disparities and barriers to health care and social service access • Tongans, Cambodians, Laotians and Hmong face tremendous cultural and linguistic barriers to health and social services

40. AAPI Issues • The poverty rate of AAPI families (14 percent) is higher than that of non-Hispanic White families (8 percent)

41. AAPI Issues • AAPIs lack health insurance at a higher rate than the total U.S. population, with Korean Americans being the most likely racial/ethnic group to be uninsured • An estimated 2 million AAPIs are uninsured

42. AAPI Issues • AAPIs suffer disproportionately high rates of hepatitis B, diabetes, cancer and tuberculosis

43. AAPI Issues • Infant mortality rates in the U.S.-associated Pacific Island jurisdictions exceed the U.S. rate, in cases more than twice as much

44. AAPI Issues • Fewer than 6 percent of Tongans, Cambodians, Laotians and Hmongs have completed college • The high school graduation rate for Hmongs is just 31 percent

45. Looking to the Future • Asian economies are growing at breakneck speed in 2003 and 2004 • Chinese companies are beginning to invest heavily in North America and Europe • This will have positive and negative impacts on Asians in America