“Black Genius, Asian Fail”: The Detriment of Stereotype Lift and Stereotype Threat in High-Achieving Asian and Black STEM Students
When dealing with assumptions about their abilities, Asian and Black STEM students actually share many things in common. From 2010 to 2014, Dr. Ebony McGee carried out a study with postsecondary, high achieving STEM students of color (Asian, Black, Latinx) which included 23 Asian and 23 Black students. Her findings show that students experience the same stresses whether they are facing “stereotype lift” (the myth of the intellectual superiority of Asians) or “stereotype threat” (the myth of the intellectual inferiority of Blacks). Systematic marginalization has put both groups on opposite ends of the racial STEM hierarchy, pitted them against each other, and influenced drastically different achievement outcomes. However, as Dr. McGee concludes, students of color have many shared experiences that can serve as starting points for the formation of strong coalitions.
To Be Asian with a Face Mask During the Coronavirus Outbreak
Martin Luther King, Jr. wisely said “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” The same prejudices levied against the Black and Latinx communities extend to many other groups. The COVID-19 outbreak has put a spotlight on the indignities that Asians often face. Dr. Sherry Wang (Faculty, Counseling Psychology, Santa Clara University) shares how, time and time again, racism has fueled harmful, anti-Asian responses to outbreaks, even in academia (Read or click on the “Listen” symbol for the podcast, 14 mins).
“Botched”
Black academics face alarmingly high rates of tenure denial. In June 2020, the cases of Drs. Paul Harris and Tolu Odumosu tenure denials made national headlines. From the outset, there were two fundamental problems, (1) a lack of diversity on the tenure and promotion committees and (2) committee members who were not familiar with the candidates’ scholarship. Academics of color know all too well that they have to be “twice as good” to be considered “good enough”. To learn more about the experiences of Black faculty in academia, watch the very honest “Fight for Tenure” hosted by Diverse Issues in Higher Education (1hr. 30 mins).
Countering Coronavirus Stigma and Racism: Tips for Teachers and Other Educators
There are effective ways to mitigate the influence of prejudice in our personal and professional circles, and our classrooms. Prior experience or intensive training is not required. Here a few simple steps from the National Association of School Psychologists that we can all take.
