"Too Asian?": Racism and Post-Secondary Education in Canada

by Jeet Heer (Editor), Michael C.K. Ma (Editor), Davina Bhandar (Editor), RJ Gilmour (Editor)

Overview

The now notorious Maclean's article ''Too Asian?'' from the magazine's 2010 campus issue has sparked a national furor about race in Canadian higher education. Since the founding of the federal policy of multiculturalism, Canadians have prided themselves on their ability to integrate diversity into a broader multicultural environment, but the often heated discussions about race point to fissures in this national project. This collection uses the controversy about the Maclean's article as a flashpoint to interrogate issues about race and representation on Canadian campuses and what it means for students and learning across the country.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781926662787
Publisher:	Between the Lines
Publication date:	05/26/2012
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Jeet Heer writes for The National Post, The Walrus, the Guardian, the Globe, and is finishing his doctoral thesis at York University.

Michael C.K. Ma is professor of Criminology at Kwantlen Polytechnic University and a board member of the Chinese Canadian National Council - Toronto Chapter.

Davina Bhandar is a professor of Canadian Studies at Trent University.

RJ Gilmour holds a PhD in History from York University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements vii

Foreword ix

Introduction Jeet Heer 1

Section 1 Myths of Meritocracy

1 The Parable of the Textbook: Education, Meritocracy, and Why History Matters Henry Yu 17

2 Asians and Affirmative Action on Campus: An Historical Canada-US Comparison David Weinfeld 28

3 Pink Pancis, Yellow Perils, and the Mythology of Meritocracy Sarah Ghabrial 38

Section 2 Colonial and Imperialist Legacies

4 Graduating Photos: Race, Colonization, and the University of Manitoba Adele Perry 55

5 Condemned to Repeat?: Settler Colonialism, Racism, and Canadian History Textbooks Mary Jane Logan McCallum 67

Section 3 Race in the Classroom

6 Ruling through Discourse: The Experience of Chinese-Canadian Youth Dan Cui Jennifer Kelly 83

7 "Way Too Asian!": The Classrooms as a Site of Protest, Personal Growth, and Teachable Moments Ray Hus Julia Paek 95

8 Studying Identity, Complicating Ourselves: Engaging with Privilege and Place in Higher Education Victoria Kannen 104

9 Too Privileged?: A Response to Maclean's Magazine's "Too Asian?" Article Anita Jack-Davies 115

10 Telling Multiple Stories of "Race" in Canadian Higher Education Soma Chatterjee Mandeep Mucina Louise Tam 121

11 Teaching White: Constructing Lawyer Identity in Canadian Law Schools Diana Younes 134

Notes 147

Contributors 161

Index 165

Editorial Reviews

PRAISE FOR "Too Asian?"

"An intelligent, scholarly, and sanity-restoring response to Maclean's Magazine's "Too Asian?"-one of the shabbiest and laziest pieces in the history of Canadian magazine journalism."
—Heather Mallick, staff columnist, Toronto Star

"This book is fundamental reading about the perception of race, identity, and belonging in Canada. It astutely connects Maclean's "Too Asian?" article to the broader historical context of racism and the place of visible minorities in our higher education institutions. It invites readers to probe into our past to understand and unlearn the current patterns of discrimination and exclusion."
—Ayman Yassini, executive director, Canadian Race Relations Foundation

"Maclean's Magazine's "Too Asian?"article provided the stimulus for a powerful series of articles written by young scholars that focus on the dynamics of race, racialization, and Indigeneity in post-secondary institutions. [Going far beyond the "Too Asian?" of the title . . . this highly stimulating and informative book is a must read for all students and professionals who want to broaden their understanding of critical race analysis."
—Dr. Frances Henry, F.R.S.C., professor emerita, York University, and co-author of Racism in the Canadian University

"Apologists of institutional racism and discrimination prevent Canada from reaping the benefits that all people bring to this country. Congratulations to the editors and writers of this important book for dealing with the complex nature of racism, power, and privilege in a dispassionate manner. The inability of people to learn from the past makes it mandatory for us to engage in relentless dialogue coupled with political activism."
—Ken Noma, president, National Association of Japanese Canadians

From the Publisher