In last week’s post, I compared Jeremy Lin to Jackie Robinson, making the point that Lin might open doors for other Asian American athletes in pro sports. One reader, Angela, astutely pointed out that the analogy is problematic: “There was an actual structure preventing such players from participating, a structure that doesn’t exist for Asians … Continue reading »
Asian American stereotypes
Is Jeremy Lin like Jackie Robinson?
As a student of stereotypes and intergroup relations, the Jeremy Lin phenomenon makes me wonder whether Lin has opened the door for Asian American athletes to finally stop being overlooked in American sports, much in the same way that Jackie Robinson opened doors for African American athletes. There is reason for pessimism, you see. As … Continue reading »