The Asian-American and Pacific Islander community is making strides as the United States gears up for the 2024 presidential election. With Vice-President Kamala Harris as an AAPI presidential candidate, the community is celebrating its achievements as the nation’s fastest-growing ethnic group, doubling its numbers from 2000 to 2022 and increasing political representation in Congress.
Despite these successes, the AAPI community faces political challenges due to an identity problem. Unlike European-Americans, who are not homogenized, Asian-Americans are often viewed as a monolithic group despite their diverse origins from over 40 countries representing 60% of the global population.
Since the 1965 immigration legislation, Asian-Americans have experienced a political awakening, adopting the term “Asian-American” to replace derogatory labels. However, this term has limitations as mainstream society still sees AAPIs as a single entity in casual interactions, hindering true cultural appreciation.