Exclusion from the Good Life: The Impact of Anti-Asian Racism on Asian Nebraskans

To understand how Americans of Asian descent experienced, adjusted, and overcame negative experiences in Nebraska, recognizing the external forces on their lives is paramount. The experiences of Asians in their diaspora across the U.S. and Nebraska during a 150-year span have been shaped by both external (global and domestic) and internal (personality and resilience) factors. The presence of stereotypes specifically targeted toward Asian Americans due to exotic imaginings, pseudoscience, and economic fears, in addition to the images created by national media, gave rise to society’s acceptance of stereotypes. These external factors contributed to a belief that continues to this day by non-Asians that Asian-looking people do not fit the image of who an American is. Government policies enacted over the past couple centuries seemed to cement the impression that careful diligence must be directed toward this group of people – based solely on their genetic inheritance and society’s preconceived notions. This chapter provides the background to realizing the impact of anti-Asian racism on Asian Nebraskans.