In Lisa Sun-Hee Park’s “Assimilation”, she focuses on the definition of the word “assimilation” and how the word has come to mean a race or ethnic group adopting and becoming one of the other culture, in this specific case, how Asian Americans “assimilated” to become white. To explain the definition of the word, Park first takes us through the history of the word and how it has been shaped over history. Park explains how Du Bois. in his 1897, said there was no need for the word, it was an excuse for racism, as he saw “racism as the problem” (Park 14). Then further down the line, Robert E. Park continues this discussion in another view point, as he is for assimilation, since he saw it as “a solution to racial difference” (Park 14). After going through the history of the word, he uses Asian Americans as the “perfect” example. Park how this group that were once “low-skilled, low-wage laborers” were now assimilated into “enjoying high education achievement, good (white) neighborhood…” (Park 16). Essentially, since the Asian Americans assimilated to the white culture, participated in interracial marriages, and more, they were able to be successful in America cause of it.
Throughout passage, Park introduces two main terms and concepts. The most apparent one is defining the term “assimilation.” She introduces many different definitions of the words through different perspectives of several authors. As mentioned before, Du Bois defines it as to “absorb into white America” and Robert Park defined it as inevitable and a solution to racial difference (Park 14). The other concept Park introduces is “model minority.” Park describes it as “assimilation exemplified” and discusses how Asian Americans are the model minority, since most have found success by assimilated into white culture in many different ways.
Lisa Sun-Hee Park’s definition of the word assimilation can be seen in “A Letter to My Sister”, by Lisa Park, where she writes to her passed sister who committed suicide. Her sister had committed suicide because she was always trying to fit in. This is an example of an assimilation, only it is hyperbolised as the sister had done everything, even alter her physical appearance (Park “A Letter to My Sister” 65). She also goes onto bring upon another idea that is referenced in Sun-Hee’s passage, the “model minority.” She argues that it is not doing well, and describes it as a lie, and is used to punish those who do not succeed in assimilating (Park “A Letter to My Sister” 67).