Being American Between Black and White: Second-Generation Asian American Professionals' Racial Identities

Scholars in critical race and the sociology of religion have independently drawn attention to the ways in which cultural ideologies drive beliefs about inequalities between groups. Critical race work on “abstract liberalism” highlights non-racially inflected language that tacitly reinforces White socioeconomic outcomes resulting from an allegedly fair social system. Sociologists of religion have noted that White Evangelical Christian theology promotes an individualist mindset that places blame for racial inequalities on the perceived failings of Blacks. Using data from the National Asian American Survey 2016, we return to this question and ask whether beliefs about the importance of equal opportunity reveal similarities or differences between religious Asian American and Latino Christians and Black and White Christians. The results confirm that White Christians are generally the least supportive of American society providing equal opportunity for all. At the other end, Black Christians were the most supportive. However, with the inclusion of Asian American Christian groups, we note that second generation Asian American and Latino Evangelicals hew closer to the White Christian mean, while most other Asian and Latino Christian groups adhere more closely to the Black Christian mean. This study provides further support for the recent claims of religion’s complex relationship with other stratifying identities. It suggests that cultural assimilation among second generation non-Black Evangelical Christians heads more toward the colorblind racist attitudes of many White Christians, whereas potential for new coalitions of Latino and Black Christians could emerge, given their shared perceptions of the persistent inequality in their communities.

Download Full-text

KIBRIA, Nazli, BECOMING ASIAN AMERICAN; Second-Generation Chinese and Korean American Identities

Journal of Comparative Family Studies ◽

10.3138/jcfs.35.3.510 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 35 (3) ◽

pp. 510-511

Author(s):

Aditya Raj

Keyword(s):

Asian American ◽

Second Generation ◽

Korean American

Download Full-text

Race Differences in Antisocial Behaviors and Attitudes and Early Initiation of Substance Use

Journal of Drug Education ◽

10.2190/3bhh-3nat-bynk-d3vc ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 115-130 ◽

Cited By ~ 32

Author(s):

Elizabeth A. Wells ◽

Diane M. Morrison ◽

Mary R. Gillmore ◽

Richard F. Catalano ◽

Bonita Iritani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antisocial Behavior ◽

Racial Differences ◽

Asian American ◽

Economic Status ◽

Fifth Grade ◽

Racial Groups ◽

White Children ◽

Black And White ◽

Antisocial Attitudes ◽

American Children

This article examines racial differences in self-reported delinquency, school trouble, antisocial attitudes, and toughness and in teacher-rated aggressive and inattentive behaviors among fifth grade black, white, and Asian American subjects. Also examined are the relationships of these variables to substance initiation within each racial group. Controlling for socio-economic status, racial groups differed from one another in self-reported delinquency, school trouble and toughness, and in teacher-rated aggressiveness and inattention. Antisocial behavior and attitudes were stronger predictors of substance initiation for Asian American than for black and white children. For white children both self-reported and teacher-rated behavior were significantly related to substance initiation. For black children, only self-reported antisocial behavior, and for Asian American children only self-reported delinquent behavior and attitudes predicted substance initiation. Implications for prevention and research are discussed.

Download Full-text