:: Home

Your Turn

ASIAN AMERICANS AREN’T ‘ASIANS’

In her April 11 article, “Staff Mirror Faces of L.A.,” Staff Writer Anne Burke makes an error that is, unfortunately, all too common: she refers to Asian Americans as “Asians.”

A quick glance at your dictionary will tell you that “Asian Americans” are Americans of Asian ancestry, while “Asians” are residents of Asia. In short, the words have very different meanings, and my guess is that Burke, since she was writing about UCLA staff, was referring to Americans of Asian descent. However, if UCLA’s staff actually resides and works in Singapore or Seoul, my apologies.

Burke did use the word “African American” to refer to Americans of African descent. I wonder if she views African Americans as being more American than Asian Americans. Something has to explain the difference.

It is more than a little ironic that Burke made this error in an article celebrating ethnic diversity (and the wonderful sensitivity we all gain from working with each other).

Brian Gee
Torrance, CA