The recent incidents involving both Black American and Korean American communities across the United States have reopened the old wounds between the two minority communities, recalling the two tragic incidents in the 1990s: the death of Latasha Harlins (1991) and the Los Angeles Uprising/Sa-I-Gu (1992). Revisiting and reevaluating these two cases, this article argues that the myth of true Americanness, channeled and reinforced through the concept of model minority, has not only shaped and sustained a contentious relationship between Korean immigrants and Black Americans but also intensified the racial tension among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States. We conclude that American people of all demographics must debunk the myth of model minority and challenge the false Americanism by embracing “deep diversity,” not merely distinctive group identities and outlooks, which offers a more diverse and rich interpretation of America as a whole.
This article explores the concept of solidarity among Blacks in a majority Black and White context. Although past studies have shown the influence of Black solidarity, recent studies have concluded that the effects of Black solidarity are diminishing. Despite their findings, these studies have failed to identify why the role of solidarity has reduced. This study explores the contextual effects of Black solidarity. Specifically, this study asks the question: Does racial context influence Black solidarity; that is, is there more Black solidarity in a majority White context than in a majority Black context? Ordinary least squares regression results identify several important findings: (a) Blacks who lived in a majority White context displayed greater levels of Black solidarity and (b) linked fate is positively associated with Black solidarity. Further results and implications are discussed.
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