By Carolyn Bick
NORTHWEST ASIAN WEEKLY
Business owner Tony Au wants to make one thing very clear: he is all for the repeal of Initiative 200.
“It is actually a negative impact to our community, and the Chinese community,” the hair salon and real estate investor said. “[If I-200 is repealed,] I can see a lot more opportunity for the minority, and more fair chances.”
With the exception of King County and Seattle, I-200 was enacted in Washington state in 1998, and prohibits preferential treatment based on race or gender. Opponents of the law argue that it has hurt minority communities, citing statistics ranging from a significant decline in college acceptance rates for First Nations people, to a decrease in government contracts with minorities from 13 percent in 1998 to just 3 percent today.
The push to repeal the initiative is headed, in part, by Democratic Sen. Bob Hasegawa. While the repeal of I-200 is officially dead for this legislative session, that doesn’t mean it won’t make a comeback.
Hasegawa said that all communities of color, including the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, suffer under I-200. He compared it to young children standing on boxes, trying to see over a fence. Some of the children aren’t as tall as others, and need taller boxes to stand on to see over the fence.
Likewise, different minority groups need different levels of assistance when it comes to academia and business.
For the AAPI community, the current law translates into loss of business, Hasegawa said. Other than “a couple of architectural firms or engineering firms,” he said he can’t think of any AAPI-owned companies that contract with the state of Washington, and that “there are any number of opportunities small businesses in our community would have, were it not for I-200.”
But not all in the AAPI community are behind the effort to repeal I-200. Linda Yang and her husband, Wenjie Shi, are part of a grassroots organization called Washington Asians For Equality that is against repealing the law.
Yang said that a repeal would hurt the AAPI community, particularly in the realm of education. According to a Princeton University study, cited on the organization’s website, under the current law, “Asian American students need to score 280 SAT points higher than African American students to be accepted at elite universities.” If the law is repealed, Yang said, AAPIs would have to score even higher.
Moreover, she said, graduation rates show that AAPI students are benefitting from the current law, because it places everyone on equal footing in the eyes of academic institutions, where they focus on “the best and brightest” — which is what higher education is all about, she contended.
“If we look at the graduation rates for the 2010 cohort, Asian Pacific students have the highest graduation rate,” Yang said, citing statistics for Washington state from the National Center for Education Statistics. “So why would you want to enforce the racial quota, to cap them? Only because they work hard? They work hard, they want to get … merit-based admissions. … And when they go into college, they have the highest graduation rate. That tells you what? That they should be there.”
But a 2006 study, entitled “Affirmative Action in Washington State,” shows that minority admissions to college, including admissions of AAPIs, declined the year after I-200 was passed. In some cases, the declines were in the double digits, though the study notes that this decline was lower in the AAPI community.
Yang also thinks that the drop in AAPI representation in business ventures and government contracts is being blown out of proportion, and that it’s not as bad as people like Au and Hasegawa say it is. She said many people she has spoken with in the AAPI community are just as upset as she, and feel as though Hasegawa and other legislators who support the bill are doing wrong by their constituents. “We are all Asian. United we stand, divided we fall.”
Shi agreed, saying that AAPIs are already largely ignored on a national level, and “it’s the same in Olympia,” where Hasegawa and the rest of the Washington state legislature are based.
Hasegawa takes a different view of the AAPI community, and believes that those who are “threatened” by the push to repeal the law are those with privilege.
“Asians are not a monolithic demographic. Just because a sliver of that might have money and access to privilege – [does] that mean that we should actually sacrifice everybody else under that demographic, so that that privileged sector can maintain that privilege? I don’t think so,” Hasegawa said.
Carolyn can be reached at info@nwasianweekly.com.
NEWS says
lol not getting into harvard does not keep asian kids from succeeding. So many people feel entitled to an acceptance at top schools because they think being uppermiddle class in california is so awful, without even thinking about how little they have to offer the University. Newsflash: being a study robot doesn’t make anybody a special snowflake. If a 4.3/32 ACT black student with some personality is qualified to be at a school, having a 4.5/34 ACT with zero demonstrated interest, bad interview skills, and apparently resentment towards dark skinned people isn’t going to help you lmao.
Before you start blaming the 20ish percent of black + hispanic applicants, maybe look at your yawnfest common app essays about violin? How about your letters of rec from teachers that only like you because you got an A and know nothing else about you? How about the fact that there are thousands of applicants just like you and maybe a school wants somebody that founded a mentorship group, did heavy service work, etc instead of another generic east asian?
I go to a top 20, am asian, and have several highly accomplished asian friends. I promise you that in ADDITION to test scores, my friends’ personalities, motivations, research, etc would blow most of these petty, anti-black asians out of the water in grad school and the career world.
MaryS says
WOW! You’re so smart that you missed the WHOLE point! Lets call a spade a spade here, no pun intended. If a school’s MAIN criteria for admission to an elite university, is looking for someone who has “founded a mentorship group”, then by all means, let that 1 person in; however, if the MAIN criteria for entrance is academics, which I believe it is, then all other accomplishments that may or may not be deemed worthy, are subjective and should be treated as such. This means they don’t, automatically deserve a place just because some idiot responsible for their education has gamed the system instead of doing what they were being paid for. If all other extraneous accomplishments mean so much, then I’ll take my doctorate from Harvard now. Please.
Generally speaking, the reason why many Whites, Blacks, Hispanics…don’t qualify, academically, is because the PUBLIC SCHOOLS too often fail them (many students, even those hailed as the brightest in their schools, are unprepared for college and end up having to take remedial classes at the college that accepted them). There is an exception, the handful of students some public school teachers wish to actually educate. The public school failures are generally blamed on the parents. That’s partly true because many cultures think money can fix anything, a they irresponsibly keep voting to increase school funding, but the Asians have demonstrated, more than any other culture, that education is too important to leave up to others. They don’t wait for others to make their lives better. I am not Asian, but like the Asians, I too am an extremely hard worker and raised two children myself because the job was too difficult for my Hispanic husband who thought life would be easier with an illegal alien. That too did not work for him, but his running out on our family didn’t break me. I was determined to raise my children with ethics, independent thought, and the best I could manage as far as education. As for a “study robot”, maybe we would all be better with a bit more of that and a lot less of what is not in a child’s best interest. I managed to send both children to a parochial school during a few formative elementary years and they were better off for it, scholastically. They were punished for it when they attended a public High School, in California. Ah yeas, Public Schools, that’s where most discrimination resides. And as in REAL LIFE, that’s where the powerful political left has their way without accountability.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, this is yet another power play by the Democratic Party to keep people from achieving their goals without being totally dependent on them, the party. Yet another area where they will be able to pick and choose and far from an equal playing field, although I understand how you might think it would be.
P.S. both children have good solid careers, and have always contributed to their communities, no thanks to the HORRIBLE education system that only sought to destroy them until I lawyered up!
Kenneth Fulbright says
I have long loved hiring Asians into bean counter, accounting and other mathematical positions. They tend take orders well and are great at following instructions. They don’t question authority and their Ivy league degrees And I am so glad that I-200 is in place. I couldn’t imagine being forced to hire an Asian to serve as a senior-level executive or major supervisor. That would be a nightmare. When it comes to management, image counts, and I want my company to remain as white as possible. Just like how blacks don’t trust other blacks and Hispanics don’t trust other Hispanics, Asians don’t trust other Asians. But, everyone trusts a white guy, and that is why I tend to only put them into management. Could you imagine a nasal accent or squinty eyes in a commercial ad? Who on earth wants that? Now, I can make an exception for some Asians. Some try to look as European as possible by lightening their skin, bleaching their hair blonde and getting eye surgery done. They practice having a North American accent and they shy away from traditional clothing and dietary habits. They are role models.
no scare tactics says
What you just described is the EXACTLY behavior that I-200 bans – discrimination based on race! Dare you to publish your company name, and see you in court!
MaryS says
Hopefully, Kenneth Fulbright, you are joking. Not at all funny…
Jay Oh says
I dare say most of the commenters on here need AA more than other minorities, so they can learn to:
1. Stitch together a grammatically correct sentence in English.
2. Improve their spelling
3. Learn to actually reason
Hasegawa has actually made a rational argument, but commenters here seem to want to lean on their spurious nationalist identies. Aside from within Asian communties how does that actually benefit you?
Once Asians get past college they are discrimminated against like other minorities. How many East Asian CEOs of Fortune 500 companies are there? Ever? Or, civic leaders? I could go on, but no need to rub salt further into wound.
Understand that until minorites learn to work together to address our common problems, as the former Mayor of San Francisco, RIP showed us, or Gary Locke working with president Obama, then all the Asian community will ever have to show for their hardwork is high SAT scores. Goodluck running for president or national office with that!
True Asian Americans says
Well, your arrogant tone showed that you are as out of touch with TRUE Asian Americans as Hasegawa,who called us “privileged”,is . Nothing was handed to us. We worked hard to get where we are. We know education is the ticket to a better life. Hasegawa wants to take this ticket away from us. Do you think you can become a CEO or run for president with only a high school degree? How many presidents graduated from a 2nd tier university. Do you think that stand at the very end of the line behind Blacks, Hispanics, and hope them to spare you some that they have left is for the best interest of Asian Americans? Even worse, they now want to take away what’s in our bowls. And you foolishly think it is OK?
AA is racial discremination! says
Au, show me the evidence that the I-200 has the negative impact on the community? I-200 is against racial preference and discrimination. how did it have negative impact? Do you have any direct evidence other than your guess to conclude that it’s i-200 that caused the “negative impact?”
Hasegawa, you are sacrificing ALL ASIANS’ rights to be treated equally and color blindly by promoting racial quota. Any promotion for racial quota on outcome is racial discrimination!
Lijun says
Shamed on you Au and Hasegawa! You are not Asian! You are not represent us. Every one should be treated equally. Not based on skin color!
NO AA 4 U says
Racial quota will not only make the receiving end of the “benefits” weaker, it will also make the whole community weaker, in turn, make America weaker as a nation. I-200 was a historical achievement by the voters to institute a fair system for all, regardless of their racial background, and it should be guarded like a treasure of our state.
No AA says
It is a noble cabuse to help the weak and poor. However, using race in place of social economical status to decide who needs help is injustice. Hence I am against the racial equity proposal.
Cindy Somingo says
Bravo Tony Au and Bob Hasegawa. AFfirmative action is an important remedy to address historical and institutional racism! We must overturn I-200
Haining says
Discrimination is wrong. You don’t solve discrimination with more discrimination. No one should be judged by their race. It’s racism.
Jenny Rath says
No matter what it is called, allocate resource base on race is discrimination, it is absolutely wrong!
Kenneth Fulbright says
I agree. It’s discrimination against us white males, and I’m so glad that the government is no longer forcing me to hire Asians.
Haining says
“Hasegawa takes a different view of the AAPI community, and believes that those who are “threatened” by the push to repeal the law are those with privilege.”
Those so called “with privilege” are immigrants start their life in America the same way as others if not more discriminated against by people like Sen Hasegawa. Their “privilege” is their culture. They focus on their education, they work hard. What do Sen Hasegawa wants to achieve by punishing them?
No Aa 4 U says
This nuts. Affirmative action or attempted racial quota is giving the Asian Americans community a hard time, from college admission at Ivy League schools and work places. They have to work much harder to get the same level of recognition.
Unfortunately our elected representative is not advocating for the interest of Asian Americans. They have to be let go in the next election.
Kenneth Fulbright says
I agree. When us whites are free to choose only whites in management positions and we no longer are forced to accept Asians, it will be a better world here in America.
whatever says
Hasegawa,explain why in the ivy league where AA is epidemic Asian kids have to score 200-400 higher i.e. 15-30% higher than other race kids to be admitted?! Hasegawa, you are using asian people’s votes and taxes to hurt their own kids! shame on you!! No one should be judged by the color of the skin. Racial quota is simply wrong!
Kenneth Fulbright says
The Ivy League colleges are private institutions. And if you think people aren’t to be judged by their race, try living in Korea or Japan. The Asians there have it right. They protect their own. We white people here in America need to do the same and limit the number of Asians. I’m so glad that they banned affirmative action. It made easier to get rid of the blacks and Hispanics. Asians are next.
She-Who-Should-Not-Be-Named says
This is racist. Are you a white supremacist? I’ve visited Japan and Korea, and as it turns out, they have little to no segregation. They protect everyone that has a good heart. Everyone. Regardless of race mind you. Did you even graduate from 5th grade? It seems that my 11-year-old niece is more educated than you. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Declaration of Independence had proclaimed all men to be free and equal. All men, regardless of race. America was not founded by white people, note all the Native Americans (or as us Canadians like to call the First Ones) that existed here way before your ancestors did. Only 5.2% of the USA is Asian, compared to the whopping 73.3% of Caucasian people. That makes you wonder, as clearly it’s not a population issue… (•ε ू•᷈,) Also, what do you mean by “get rid of”? I know plenty of brilliant African Americans and Hispanics that live in America. Targeting people by race is illegal due to the law of your nation, I hope you do realize that. I know that you feel rage, whatever 4Chan or Reddit stream you are following is using rage to get the good of you. Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rE3j_RHkqJc&t=380s to see what actually is happening.
Roger Clegg says
Racial discrimination is wrong and the government, of all entities, should not engage in it — politically correct or incorrect. It’s that simple.