As the “model minority,” Asian Americans have received a sort of discourse of potential from American society.  On a superficial level, Asian Americans seem to be treated with a bias regarding a hidden potential to become influential, powerful leaders in their communities.  However, this “token of affection” that Asian Americans have received in America is offered mainly to keep the Asian American community from developing a strong political voice to question the embedded social and economic discrimination.  Just as African Americans and Latino Americans, minority groups known for demanding equity, are targets of racist hate to discourage them from speaking up; Asian Americans, known for not questioning the hierarchical structure, are treated with racist love to reinforce their quiet and passive behavior.  Although, less obvious than racist love, the extremely detrimental effects of racist love are no less far reaching.

        The efforts put into maintaining the stereotype of the quiet and passive Asian American is done without drawing much attention.  Try to think to yourself of any Asian American activists or radical voices for affirmative action or any cause not widely accepted in America.  Your mental search will most likely come up blank, or you will conclude that there is no such thing politically vocal Asian American.  Such influential activists as Bill and Yuri Kochiyama, Asian Americans deeply involved in fighting for equality and improved relations for all minorities in America even before the black Civil Rights Movement, are often neglected or left out of the media.  This directly correlates to and maintains the image of Asians as non-confrontational.  The lack of exposure that Asian American revolutionaries receive prevents the Asian community from developing broad-based coalitions or leaders to publicly address Asian American issues.
 
        One can even look to the political arena to see the obvious lack of Asian American politicians.  Yet those that do exist, such as Matt Fong, still do not specifically address Asian American issues or question societal inequities.  The majority of Asian American politicians serve as nothing more than conforming puppets of conservative Republicanism and signs of a diverse society.  One must look past the initial deception and question how and why it is that these politicians were able to make it to where they are.