Lesson Plan, Article, Video Perpetual Foreigner - Systemic Racism Against Asian Americans

Perpetual foreigner stereotyping is a form of systemic racism used against Asian Americans and other communities of color. They have historically been stereotyped as foreigners in the United States no matter their duration of time living here or whether they were American-born. The perpetual foreigner stereotype is maintained by institutions such as Hollywood, private and public sectors, and elected public officials. Throughout U.S. history, Asian Americans have been scapegoated as the cause of the country’s various problems and catastrophes including economic despair, wars, terrorism, and the coronavirus pandemic.

Objectives

• Learn about and discuss what systemic racism is.
• Learn about and discuss the perpetual foreigner stereotype as a form of systemic racism against Asian Americans.
• Learn about and discuss the challenges Asian Americans face due to being viewed as perpetual foreigners in Hollywood, private and public sectors, and by elected public officials in the United States.
• Learn about and discuss the consequences of perpetual foreigner stereotyping on Asian Americans.
• Discuss personal experience with stereotyping and the harms it might cause.
• Research stereotyping in various communities.
• Discuss how stereotypes are used to pit races or groups against one another, and how certain groups are taken advantage of by those with power and authority.
• Discuss why and how to combat stereotyping.