Why haven't Chinese Americans and Asian Americans in general, been more active in politics?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

For newly arrived Asians, grassroots organizations and political parties are a new concept. With the exception of Asian Indians, the immigrants come from nations where political participation was unheard of or looked on with skepticism and sometimes fear. At least six factors have been identified that explain why Chinese Americans—and, to a large extent, Asian Americans in general—have not been more active in politics:

1 . To become a candidate means to take risks, invite criticism, be assertive, and be willing to extol one's virtues. These traits are alien to Chinese culture.

2 . Older people remember when discrimination was blatant, and they tell others to be quiet and not attract attention.

3 . Many recent immigrants have no experience with democracy and arrive with a general distrust of government.

4 . Like many new immigrant groups, Chinese Americans have concentrated on getting ahead economically and educating their children rather than thinking in terms of the larger community.

5 . The brightest students tend to pursue careers in business and science rather than law or public administration and, therefore, are not prepared to enter politics.

6 . Chinatowns notwithstanding, Chinese and other Asian American groups are dispersed and cannot control the election of even local candidates.