Efforts to combat the U.S. obesity epidemic have been ongoing in earnest for nearly two decades, informed by a substantial body of knowledge and guided by numerous programmatic and policy recommendations. Yet, although there are some bright spots, I sense frustration in the public health community with the overall lack of clear progress in…

What explains the persistent gap in college retention between white American college students and those who are members of ethnic minority groups? Some argue that a large part of the answer is campus racial climate: a negative climate disproportionately harms minority students and leads to worse outcomes. Existing theory provides some basis for…

The article explores the ways "uneven geographical development" conditions and is conditioned by local placemaking practices. Guided by David Harvey's work along with Henri Lefebvre's three dimensions of spatial production--spatial practices, representations of space, and spaces of representation or the "spatial imaginary"--I…

The decision of the United States Census Bureau to make a distinct classification of Asian-Indians is indicative of the growing awareness of this minority group on the American scene. The Asian-Indian organizations found in this country can be classified as parochial (based on language or caste) or Pan-Indian. These groups serve as foci for…

Examines the lives of Asian American youth in the U.S. in terms of background, stereotypes, and future aspirations. Points out these youth are setting the educational pace by simply working harder to achieve. Concludes by emphasizing that these "whiz kids" are not a threat to society, but a challenge. (BR)

The White/Other binary serve as normative racialized discourses in US society and educational research and practice. In this article, I discuss the implications of this binary on teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander students by first examining the positioning and representations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the US racial…

Explains how misperceptions of Asian Americans have led to inappropriate conclusions by the public and by policymakers concerning medical school enrollment and financial assistance and health needs research. The article makes recommendations for increasing and expanding targeted data collection efforts in the Asian Pacific American subcategories.…

Relates personal experiences of a sociologist of Asian origin in an effort to illustrate problems inherent in the process of becoming accepted as an academic sociologist. Identifies important themes of marginality, credibility, and impression management. Points out ways in which the Asian sociologists can go about achieving credibility. (KO)

Deconstructs certain naturalizing features of the concept "Asian American" in contemporary discourse, and argues the term is now obsolete and detrimental for political purposes. The author suggests an active practice of coming to terms with ever-changing social conditions, an exercise that may change what Asian American means, while…

Provides examples of the advantages minority journalists can bring to their work, including life experiences and cultural insights. Interviews three journalists on how their minority backgrounds enriched and improved their job performance. (LS)

The minority presence on boards of trustees is too small to have a significant impact on redirecting policy and funding support programs for minorities. Minority trustees have a responsibility to prod members to increase the minorities on campus and to make trustees aware of the implications of new demographic projections. (MLW)

Explores suggested contradictions to grasping contemporary Asian America as a socio-ideological formation. It is suggested that the emergence of Pacific Asian economies in the global economy has had a transformative effect on the Asian American self-image, causing Asian Americans to see themselves as either grounded in local communities or as…

There is a widely shared belief that Asian Americans have overcome the bondage of racial discrimination to become a successful model minority. In this essay, the empirical basis of this success contention is examined against its historical background and the remifications of the belief are explored. First, the ascendance of the Asian American…

Approaches the categorical construction of "Asian American" through an interdisciplinary examination of its contemporary literary emergence. Investigates the ways with which race, gender, and class are embedded within or absent from an evolving Asian American critical and cultural discourse, and reflects on the interplay among race,…

Discusses how postmodern theories might contribute to the development of Asian American Studies as an intellectual field of inquiry and a vehicle for political and social change. The author explains how the postmodern direction toward inclusion, multiplicity, and heterogeneity is particularly well suited to an analysis of the contemporary Asian…