Interactions with Asians in Higher Education: Beyond Multicultural Myths

Abstract

Abstract One of the critical issues in education today is how to help all students to maximize their fullest potential. Achieving this goal seems to be difficult for many people who come from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. At all levels, they endure direct and indirect disenfranchisements, disadvantages, and disillusionments, especially if they learn differently, are racially different, demonstrate different behavioral patterns, have different personal idiosyncrasies, or come from different countries. Despite these apparent impediments, Asians are viewed by many as “model” minorities when compared to African Americans, Latinos, and Native Americans. This view has continued to affect how Asians view themselves and how the society as a whole views them. Coming originally from Nigeria to the United States, I have had myriad interactions with Asians as student, professor, scholar, leader, and professional. In this article, I share my experiences with Asians and how these experiences have exposed multicultural realities and myths.