Racial Triangulation, Interest-Convergence, and the Double-Consciousness of Asian Americans

This Essay is part of the 26th Annual Georgia State University Law Review Symposium, Social Equality and Racial Justice: What's Next? It integrates Professor Claire Jean Kim’s racial triangulation framework, Derrick Bell’s interest-convergence theory, W.E.B. Du Bois’s notion double-consciousness, all to examine positioning Asian Americans dilemmas we face as a result. To do so, it considers history immigration U.S., model minority perpetual foreigner stereotypes, Americans’ in affirmative action debate, COVID-19 related hate bias incidents, Andrew Yang’s 2020 Democratic presidential candidacy. The examines how stereotypes have emerged through historical cycles valorization ostracism, analyzed framework. analyzes political interests U.S. government converged with those educated professionals countries, leading changes policy emergence stereotype. various ways that been simultaneously valorized minorities ostracized foreigners. highlights where cast high-achieving victims race-conscious university admissions policies pitted against other groups people color, culminating current Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard lawsuit. Finally, focuses on bid—particularly his navigation reflected double-consciousness parallels faced by many Black Americans. concludes arguing build coalitions work towards justice, Americans, color need recognize their own also see relates experienced others.