Original author: "Our Lack of Role Models"

A role model is one who provides an example for the group that he or she represents. As individuals, role models are people who have actualized the values held dear by their groups: they have "made it" according to the standards of their people. For American immigrant groups in particular, a role model must fulfill all the expectations of specific ethnic values as well as those of American values. They must realize the American dream, for in doing so they achieve all that their immigrant communities hoped for themselves in coming to America. However, role models must extend beyond their limitations as individuals and become unifying principles for a people, symbols of the inherent potential in each and every member of the community they represent.

People whom we call role models--Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X, for example--share an additional property essential to the nature of a role model. They are cultural icons. Their essence is so ingrained into the mass psyche of their communities that they are part of what defines their group as an autonomous entity. They are, in fact, the very definition of what it means to be a member of that group. Not only have they reached a personal level of achievement deemed successful by the communities they represent, but they have also reached a level of public achievement recognized by the larger American society. In this way, Dr. King and Malcolm X were true African Americans, fulfilling the potential arising from the crossroads of two groups.

Role models originate from a demand for them. They emerge as a result of a general dissatisfaction within a community and as a reassurance when its people wonder, "Is that all there is? Is that all that we can be?" They put to rest insecurities about a group?s potential to succeed in American society, and they actively lead its members to the fulfillment of that potential. Without a role model, a dissatisfied group?s breadth of vision is severed, obliterating its brightest and highest point. The possibilities are no longer endless but severely constrained. Conversely, a community with no need for a role model is secure with itself. It needs no symbol to look up to as a realization of its goals, for the group itself has already achieved the. There is no demand for a role model, and hence there is none.

Such is the case with the Asian American community. Despite our status as a "model minority," providing a shining example of what good little immigrants are supposed to do, we provide no conspicuous models for ourselves. We have no analog to Dr. King or Malcolm X. We do not have an individual that embodies what it means to be Asian American, an individual whose spirit is a vital component of every Asian American?s self-identity.

If role models emerge from a community?s generalized insecurity and dissatisfaction, then the lack of Asian American role models suggests that we are satisfied with what we have achieved. We have reached the goals we set up for ourselves, and we have built an adequate structure around us to perpetuate our values and provide means for realizing them. We feel we do not need role models. We are not a people in trouble, in need of a guiding force to raise us out of what we are to what we could be. Instead, we are a self-satisfied people, satisfied by our quiet, prosperous lives.

Indeed, Asian Americans are prosperous. As a minority group, we are disproportionately successful in our financial, academic, and professional endeavors. For the most part, Asian Americans are professionals or small businessmen. We have aspirations to become doctors, scientists, and accountants. In other words, the main goal of the Asian American is to achieve private, individual success. What is conspicuously missing from our goals is the desire to exert a direct and public force on the course of American culture, including that aspect of it that looks specifically at us. Granted, the "model minority" label has its deleterious effects, squeezing a diverse group into a flat, unidimensional mold. However, it is an infinitely far cry from the very real oppression experienced by other immigrant groups. Consequently, despite occasional instances to the contrary, Asian Americans have a comfortable position in America. As a result of our perpetual "foreignness," we have generally been left in peace to pursue our own quiet goals. It is only when someone begins to rock the boat, to challenge that structure that contains him or her that those who hold the structure together feel threatened. We have not mounted such a challenge, so we have not been stamped down. And because we have not been stamped down, we do not feel the need for someone to raise us up.

Therefore, we can gain comfort from the fact that we have achieved our goals. However, these are goals not of Asian Americans, but of Asians in America. We have admirably held up the Asian end of the bargain, but not the American one. As a people, our presence leaves almost no mark on the very foundations of American functioning. We have adapted well to the American system, using it to achieve success, but we have not made it adapt to us; we have not reconfigured it to accommodate our status as Asian Americans. Perhaps this is part of the source of the prevailing American perception of Asian Americans as eternally foreign, and undoubtedly it is a major part of the reason why we have no role models. We have no Asian American role models because in our actions we are not yet Asian American.

Do we need role models? If our goals remain the same as in the past--to achieve private prosperity--then the answer is no. We have achieved this goal remarkably. But if we choose to extend our range of goals, to expand our influence as a very real component of American society, then we will very rapidly need role models to bear the burden of the inevitable fallout from this expansion. When we are made to question ourselves and to reconsider the fundamental definition of "Asian American," we will need individuals who can provide the answers. We know already that we are satisfied with ourselves as Asians in America. The question now is, are we satisfied with ourselves as Asian Americans?

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By Najin Lee
hcs.harvard.edu/~yisei/issues/spring_95/yisei_95_4.html
Copyrighted by Yisei Magazine
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This is really sad

puy

Did someone call this man a leader before?

Holmes, did he Dr. Azagua note that the original author of this piece was Najin Lee or did he plagiarize it?

Holmes, is that Sherlook? You discovered a fraud...

It is not called fraud; It is called plagiarism.

As you know, in this age of tecnhology no one escapes being checked. However, I must say (with proof) that if you read the original piece, you'd notice that credit was given to its source. Down the line, someone who hates Dr. Azágua for being the ONLY KNOWN educated/social critic in the US who's also under the media TELESCOPE. He speaks for the little PEOPLE. He's one of the few voices we have in the CV community and he deserves a President's Medal for his work. Said and done!

Dr. azágua speaks his mind and I know him as a computer (also economics) scientist who has proven his intellectuality at Babson College and MIT.
Are you jealous? Indeed you are!

I am a female, Harvard Educated and University Professor (not in MA) who happens to be a great friend of Dr. Azágua and his admiror. And I like him very much...

Let's not put CV people who have knowledge down. No other country does half of what we do in this regard. Shame on your lack of common sense!

Eh, they tried many times to bring dr. azágua down. Guess what? No one can! He surrounded by CV Mafia (the little people). Don't mess with this guy.

He's the Larbac and X-Man. The Social-Revolucionist.

If he wanted power believe me, he'd get it in a heartbeat. We know this guy. H'es TOO BIG!

By the way, we know all of you. You can change your name but you can't escape!

Waz up, BINO,


They can't hide. They own the FORUM, we own THEM! We're the dot.com guicks. We went to the real school of know how.

dr. azagua is the icon. CV icon.

Well, if you are "that" educated, you should know that when you are re-publishing something from another author, there is no need to have "by yourname" below the title.
I don't know the guy, but I became curious after reading the initial e-mail that I googled his name and came up with a bunch of stuff written by others that he claimed.
Is he a university professor as well? Certainly hope not.

Dr. MasBurro
Plagerism is a form of fraud

This is from dictionary.com

fraud ( P ) Pronunciation Key (frôd)n.
A deception deliberately practiced in order to secure unfair or unlawful gain. A piece of trickery; a trick. One that defrauds; a cheat.
One who assumes a false pose; an impostor.

OK kids let's stop this back and forth. Can we talk about better things?
Thank you,

FORCV

I will always love Dr. Azágua. Indeed, my true love; and true love never dies.

Hey folks,

In CV and around the globe we have authors translating english books to portuguese then claiming as their work of art. Real romance. Has anyone translated Romancing the Stone" yet? It has been a while so, no one will ever find out.

By the way, FRAUD is used in LAW, plagiarism in LITERATURE. Any doubts?

Sadly, our role models are yet to be born.
The machoism of our society prevents people we are supposed to look after from being our shining stars.

what i don't understand is why do we have a few people here bashing this Dr Azzagua,,,, so far he is doing something constructive here regardless if it's " Plagiarism "... I mean really, what CV role models are out there? It's senseless for him to even reply back to some of these Idiotic comments made by the " guess" members.....
You had to find something "grammar" to question him....

This is the message the moderators of this forum has been trying to reinforce but some people are shutting their ears to it. I think we need to stop picking on smalls little things like grammar to attack others, but focus on the issues and topics on debate. Attacking people's charecters and personalities will only keep sincere people away from these debates. People who come here to sincerely share opinions on the interesting subjects here should focus on the problems not on the visitors.

before we can be comfortable with anything or try to define another identity we need to first understand our birth identity and heritage...being cape verdean. we cant understand being cape verdean-american if we dont know cape verdean. there is no need! why are cape verdean ppl so interested in being something else (portuguese,american...) but not cape verdean? is that sucha bad thing?

What's involved in being cape verdean?

isn't the only requirement to be capeverdean is to be born in cape verde ?

TonyPreto

Hmmm. What about a kid who gets born, for example, in USA and both parents are from Cape Verde?

According to the CV consultate, they are entittled to claim the Cape Verdean citizenship.

but they are american born of capeverdean descent !
they can claim capeverdean citizenship but already have american citizenship and what about their children born in the US, can the next generation claim CV citizenship.

I'm pretty sure the Cape Verdean consulate has written guidelines on this subject. can anybody try to get a hand on it and post it here?

They're in the corner bars drinking "grogu" and beer.

YOU GUYS FROM MPD ARE JEALOUS BECAUSE MY GOVERNMENT WON BY A LANDSLIDE THANKS TO DR. AZAGUA'S CRITICAL THINKING WRITINGS TO SHUT YOU ALL UP!

YOU CAN'T COME ONE INCH CLOSE TO THIS GUY. YOU ARE HISTORY!

Jose Maria Neves, Pedro Pires, sao os nossos maiores "HOLE" "models"!

We all should follow them, and be swalled up by the black "HOLE".

What a role model They are! real examples of Human being!

True Capeverdians! Our Pride!!!!!!!!!