All you need to know about Asian disaggregation and why we oppose it!

 What is Asian disaggregation? 

In a nutshell, the sole purpose of Asian disaggregation is to subdivide the tiny Asian population, 5.6% of the total American population, into many even smaller subgroups by ethnic origin. Asian disaggregation has no mention whether or not the Asian community is more diverse than the rest of the remaining 94.4% population. In implementation, one simple example is that under California AB1726 Asian students in California are required to self-identify their ethnic origin by filling out the form similar as below.

 What are the Asian disaggregation bills that have been passed in USA? 

Asian disaggregation bills have been passed in the following states, (not limited to) : CA (AB1726), and RI (S0439).

2016 California AB1726 is the awakening call for Asian community. Under the vehement protest from the California Asian community, the bill limits the use of the collected data for health purpose.

2017 Rhode Island S0439 is named “All Students Count Act”. However, the sole purpose is to subdivide the tiny Asian population (3.6% in Rhode Island) into many even smaller subgroups by ethnic origin. There is no mention whether or not Asians are more diverse than the rest of the remaining population. Moreover, the data collected can be used for both health and education purposes.

 Why do we oppose Asian disaggregation? 

As much as we want to give the benefit of doubt to the advocates, we found the harms of Asian disaggregation greatly outweigh the marginal, if any, benefits, to the subgroups and the Asian community as whole. Asian population is merely 5.6% of the total American population. In the case of Rhode Island, the number is even smaller, 3.6% to be exact. To further disaggregate an already finely disaggregated population yields impractical and unreliable data for any meaningful statistic data analysis.

More importantly, the data could also be manipulated to abet political policies targeting at specific subgroups, therefore, intensify intragroup competition for resources and foster divisiveness among subgroups.

Our message to the supporters of the Asian disaggregation with good intention is: the solution to inequality within Asian community is communication, understanding and helping among subgroups. Racial disaggregation has never been the solution to inequality. History has demonstrated the disastrous outcomes to minorities from any forms of racial disaggregation. We strive for making our community better, not by dividing among us, but by uniting and helping each other.

 What is the greatest harm the Asian disaggregation could do to USA beyond the Asian community?

We call every American’s attention to Asian disaggregation. The racial disaggregation has started with the Asian community. However, we have no doubt that it is not the end of racial disaggregation if we don’t take action now. We can only make America better by uniting together. We don’t support any forms of division that could provoke friction and even hatred. We ask you to be vigilant of any such attempt and unite with us to ward off such attempt. When you have doubt in our motivation, look at history.