Asian American Is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family

by OiYan Poon

A mother and race scholar seeks to answer her daughter’s many questions about race and racism with an earnest exploration into race relations and affirmative action from the perspectives of Asian Americans

Before being struck down by the US Supreme Court in June 2023, affirmative action remained one of the few remaining policy tools to address racial inequalities, revealing peculiar contours of racism and anti-racist strategies in America. Through personal reflective essays for and about her daughter, OiYan Poon looks at how the debate over affirmative action reveals the divergent ways Asian Americans conceive of their identity. With moving sincerity and insightful study, Poon combines extensive research with personal narratives from both herself and a diverse swath of individuals across the Asian American community to reflect on and respond to her daughter’s central What does it mean to be Asian American?

Poon conducts interviews with Asian Americans throughout the US who have been actively engaged in policy debates over race-conscious admissions or affirmative action. Through these exchanges, she finds that Asian American identity remains deeply unsettled in a contest between those invested in reaching the top of the racial hierarchy alongside whiteness and those working toward a vision of justice and humanity co-constructed through cross-racial solidarity.

Poon uses these contrasting viewpoints to guide her conversations with her daughter, providing a heartfelt and optimistic look at how understanding the diversity and nuances of the Asian American experience can help us envision a more equitable future.

Genres: Nonfiction, Race, Audiobook, History, Politics, Asian American, Aapi

232 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 2024

About the author

Dr. OiYan Poon is an educator, author, speaker, and race and education scholar. She is a Senior Research Fellow for Education Equity at the NAACP LDF Thurgood Marshall Institute and co-director of the College Admissions Futures Co-Laborative (CAF Co-Lab). Through the CAF Co-Lab, she is serving as a consultant to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker’s office on higher education policy. Dr. Poon’s research has focused on the racial politics of Asian Americans, education access, affirmative action, and admissions systems and practices.

She is the author of Asian American Is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family, which explores how Asian Americans are shaping the future of race relations through debates over education policies like affirmative action, using personal narrative and interviews of Asian Americans across the country.

Reviews

[Books Amongst Friends · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not have much to say about Asian American Is Not a Color, but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great read. Earlier this year, I read Biting the Hand, and I was really looking forward to this one as well. I’m so glad I picked it up. Along with The Color of Success by Ellen D. Wu, I think all three of these books are absolutely worth reading.

This book focuses primarily on affirmative action, but what stood out to me most was the range of perspectives and opinions within the Asian American community that the author highlights. It’s so easy to fall into casting a wide net over any group of people, assuming they all share the same experiences or beliefs, but Oiyan Poon does a fantastic job breaking that down. She opens up the floor to discuss how affirmative action has impacted people from a variety of backgrounds—those who felt it helped them, and those who felt it didn’t.

For me, this was a much-needed reminder of how important it is to be in communication with other marginalized communities. Just as we want to be heard, we need to make space for others, especially in a world designed to keep us apart. Poon also connects this to her personal life, reflecting on how she’s raising her daughter to ask questions and engage in these conversations early on. It’s inspiring to see how these ideas influence her commitment to bridge-building between communities.

While I felt like some of the information wasn’t entirely new—likely because I kept up with the Supreme Court case while it was happening—there was still so much value in the way the author frames these discussions. I really appreciated the emphasis on thinking beyond our individual groups and imagining a future where marginalized people can advocate for each other more effectively.

This is such an insightful and meaningful book, and I’d definitely recommend it, especially if you’re not familiar with the details of the case or want to hear a broader range of perspectives.

[Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thorough, clear, and well-written, this book tackles a wide range of subject matter around the topic of affirmative action related to Asian Americans and people of all races.

One major thing I believe could have been improved and made more explicit was the true nature of affirmative action. We are told many times about misconceptions and what it is not, but I think it was a huge missed opportunity to set information straight. It’s all there between the lines, but this would have been MUCH more impactful and effective for change-making with a more direct and unmistakable clarification of what affirmative action IS. There are many times when the author doesn’t correct myths and misconceptions. She will say what interviewees thought and state that it was based on outdated or debunked theories, but she does not go on to say what the truth is. For that reason, I would find it very hard to hand this book off to my parents or friends because they wouldn’t learn truth from it.

Something she did do continuously is show that many people actually do support EXACTLY what affirmative stands for; they just don’t realize they do. They’ll say they don’t want affirmative action in its current form, and then describe their own version they’d prefer more, which is actually what affirmative action is in its current form. An important takeaway is that a humongous portion of the population is totally misinformed about what affirmative action looks like and is intended to do (and they are voting a with that misinformation).

I also feel that the author did a spectacular job differentiating between facts and her own opinions and views. She does divulge her opinions often, but she never suggests them to be more than that. The only time she ever outright opposes an interviewees comment is when factual evidence exists, like a court case ruling or standing policy.

I appreciate the research done and the interviews conducted because that methodology is extremely time consuming and yields the most interesting results by far. However, reading this book was ALSO extremely time consuming and took me over a year and a half to get through (with MANY other books taking precedent in that span of time). To finally be finished feels like a weight off my shoulders.

[C · Rating 4 out of 5]

During the SFFA vs Harvard trial the New York Times ran a long-form piece called
"Where Does Affirmative Action Leave Asian-Americans?" by Jay Caspian Kang. I read and re-read a few times but was never satisfied with it. This book is the best I've read on this debate. The author interviewed Asian American opponents and supporters of affirmative action, conveyed, and recapped their views. Because she worked as an admissions officer the author also shed light on how Asian Americans should write the college application. The information is repeated more often than I would like. In the end I learned a lot.

[Steven Ng · Rating 1 out of 5]

Turns out no one can explain how affirmative action actually works, even the author. Framing as future letter to daughter was nice though

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciated the perspective of Poon addressing her daughter in this narrative, but it did feel quite academic like I was reading a well written research paper. I could probably write up a pretty accurate outline naming her thesis, main points, analysis, and conclusion HAHA. Which, to her point, does show clarity and a distinguishable voice. I think the anecdotes of her piece most resonated with me: I loved learning about her family's history in Massachusetts. Hearing her name Forest Hills and Quincy where her family lineage has crossed with mine pulled at my heartstrings.

Overall, I wish the book read less like a research article and was a bit more engaging. I wanted more weaving of her anecdotes to the piece. Instead they felt like they were stitched in as reflections and afterthoughts to the research and data she was presenting. I did learn a bit more about dissenting views on the topic, but before I really got to ponder them, Poon immediately gets to dissembling their argument. Interestingly, I feel like maybe I would have wanted more opportunity to do that work myself befofe she dives right into it. Ya, overall, an interesting perspective but would have appreciated a more personal narrative.

[Cal Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re a fan of BITING THE HAND or EVERYTHING I LEARNED, I LEARNED IN A CHINESE RESTAURANT, this may be your jam.

Tho the Supreme Court struck down race conscious admissions, the author breaks down important research on affirmative action and misconceptions of it. She interviews Asian Americans on *both* sides of the debate (in part bc Asian Americans have such a unique role in the debate aka sometimes used as a tool against other communities of color….). With more accessible research, this part reminded me of BITING THE HAND. She also includes a thorough history of affirmative action in the US.

The book also is part memoir and letters to her daughter about what it means to be Asian American. I know y’all like mother daughter books. It was also interesting to learn more about the author’s own journey to Asian American identity as well (reminded me of Curtis Chins book here).

Def recommend if you’re interested in learning more about race and affirmative action.

[Tensy (bookdoyen) · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review comes with some caveats. I am a lawyer by training and also worked at a university and I am an avid newspaper reader. With that in mind, there was nothing in this book that was new or revelatory if you keep up with the news and the changing state of affirmative action cases in the US. I enjoyed the personal anecdotes and interviews. My family is a real melting pot, I am Cuban by birth, my husband is Jewish and I have a granddaughter who is half Vietnamese. I picked this book up to learn more about the current state of Asian American policies in our country but it read more like an academic paper and I already knew quite a bit about holistic admission policies. Others may find this book insightful. The rise in anti-Semitic, anti-Asian, anti-immigration incidents in the US is frightening and hits too close to home. It is a mirror of an American culture in crisis.

I often find it interesting how racists categorize communities into one homogeneous group, when in fact, as Poon shows here, there are as many opinions, tensions and disagreements within marginalized communities as there are in any other sector of American life. Recent political data shows that Hispanics are a much more diverse voting block because they self-identify as different communities based on their birthplace. It is this temptation to put people into tidy boxes, whether to vent vitriol at them or to select them for universities, that is the most frustrating part of being an American. We love lauding the historical melting pot theory, but Americans in fact prefer to stay in their own little enclaves and create systematic laws to keep everyone else out. The goal of admission directors is to get past that little check-mark on the application to see the whole student, not just their race. It continues to be a constant struggle to fight against those systematic rules and erase those perceptions.

[Quan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book about affirmative action, and I found it interesting and thought-provoking. I really appreciated how the author tells the history of affirmative action through key Supreme Court decisions such as Bakke, Gratz, and Grutter, etc. She also examines how Asian Americans perceive their racial identity and affirmative action based on their immigration experiences, such as when and how they arrived in the U.S.

I did feel uncomfortable with her frequent focus on Chinese Americans, especially first-generation immigrants. But it also made me reflect on questions like: Are we too focused on our self-interest? (But, is solidarity with others just an extended form of self-interest? )Are we engaging in opportunity hoarding?

I found her discussion of WeChat and its echo chamber effect particularly relevant. However, it also made me wonder: How do first-generation immigrants receive civic education after moving to the U.S.?

Another valuable perspective she offered is that affirmative action isn’t just about students. It also impacts the entire campus environment—faculty, courses, and the overall learning experience.

Her study’s sample size felt too small, and the author appeared to rely on stereotypes or bring her own biases into the interviews. This made me question whether her interviews were truly neutral and non-leading. Additionally, her explanation of race-conscious admission process still felt vague, like a “black box.” . She didn’t provide solid evidence to show that these policies don’t harm Asian Americans.

[Daoud M · Rating 4 out of 5]

"In Search of Asian America" by OiYan Poon offers a poignant exploration of race, identity, and affirmative action through the lens of personal reflection and scholarly inquiry. Poon, a race scholar and mother, embarks on a heartfelt journey to answer her daughter's probing questions about race and racism, weaving together personal narratives and extensive research to illuminate the complexities of Asian American identity.

Through a series of reflective essays, Poon delves into the intricate dynamics of the affirmative action debate, revealing how it exposes divergent perspectives within the Asian American community. Drawing on interviews with a diverse array of individuals, Poon navigates the tensions between assimilationist aspirations and the pursuit of racial justice, offering profound insights into the evolving landscape of Asian American consciousness.

As Poon grapples with her daughter's central question—"What does it mean to be Asian American?"—she invites readers to reconsider prevailing notions of identity and solidarity. With sincerity and optimism, Poon charts a path towards understanding and empathy, showcasing the transformative power of recognizing and embracing the diversity of the Asian American experience.

(And thank you for the opportunity to engage with this thought-provoking exploration of race and identity.)

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Beacon Press and Oiyan A. Poon for a copy of Asian American is Not a Color: Conversations on Race, Affirmative Action, and Family for a honest review.

Growing up, both of my parents were opponents of Affirmative action. I never really thought about how it may or not benefit others especially Asian Americans. However, as I matured, I found myself supporting Affirmative action and was disappointed by the current ruling. Only time will tell how this will affect minorities across the board.

The fact that this book was in part written for Poon's daughter on what it means to be an Asian American was very moving to me. Growing up, my Asian American status was never really discussed at home. In fact, I was amazed by how many of the individuals Poon interviewed had taken Asian American studies. I had never taken any classes pertaining to Asian American history because my parents thought it was a waste of time. I didn't know several of the facts that Poon mentioned. I feel like I missed so much. Included in the book were some references and of course the court cases. These are things that I feel I must read up on some.

If race relations, Affirmative action, and activism are areas of interest, I highly recommend this book. Asian American Is Not a Color is a very interesting and informative book. Thank you again for the great read!

[Sahara Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5
The personal anecdotes, letters to Tété, and the final chapter were all delightful.
this book does a great job demonstrating that Asian - Americans are not a monolith in social nor political thought while proposing a new meaning to the identity imbued with solidarity and empowerment.
It only loses stars because the book spends a lot of time debunking myths and misconceptions that individual interviewees had about affirmative action without ever explicitly explaining what affirmative action policies actually are and do. I consider this a huge missed opportunity because it makes it very hard to recommend this book to people in my life who are strong affirmative action opponents who, like many interviewees, don't have a firm understanding of the policy in the first place.
Additionally, most chapters read too much like an academic paper with the delightful and meaningful personal stories tacked on. I would have personally preferred a reading experience that weaves in both study and anecdote, like the last chapter.

[William Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thoughtful look at an important topic. Race relations in the US has typically focused on black-and-white, given the prominence of racial tensions between those groups. This tension was fueled by a disgraceful history that includes slavery, the civil war, and the Jim Crow era.

But it’s now time for the United States to take a hard look at how it treats Asians, too. Asians have a long history, themselves, of being discriminated against in the United States. This history includes the widespread internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II and racist enforcement of the law against Asians.

Racism in all its forms is a pernicious evil. The plight of Asians in the United States has been ignored for far too long. This book can be a catalyst for a holistic effort to rid this three United Statesof racism -- including against Asian Americans.

William Cooper is the author of How America Works ... And Why It Doesn't

[Veronica Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

“To be sure, cross-ethnic and cross-racial solidarity work isn’t easy. It requires deep investments and efforts to navigate through conflicts.”

“Practicing solidarity challenges self-interest instincts. It can lead to changes in social conditions that end violence and trauma.”

This book was very eye-opening as it shows that there was (and still is) a mass misunderstanding of what affirmative action is/was and how it functioned in college admissions. Misinformation and disinformation reigned supreme, which helped to usher in the SFFA v. Harvard & SFFA v. UNC decisions. A question that has come & stayed in my mind is how to narratively fight back with truth when mis & disinformation are more likely to stick in the mainstream media, discourse, and understanding. How can we brainstorm more effective + modern ways to speak truth to power to protect & continue progress? Much to think about!

[Will Pujol · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.99/5 OiYan Poon is awesome and so is this book. For a relatively small book you get a lot of good information. Some background knowledge would help you a lot but i wouldn’t say it’s necessary as the majority of the book discusses her interviews, and the court cases she talks about are explained in enough depth that you’d be fine if you’d never heard of them.

The way it’s framed (as a letter to her daughter) gives this book an engaging and personal touch that a lot of more academic works lack.

You could know very little about affirmative action and race (like I did) and come out of this book with a much better understanding. Even if you know a lot, I’d be willing to bet you’d come out of this book with some arguments/ideas you’d never considered. It gets -0.01 star for the simple fact that crammed in the footnotes Dr. Poon mentions she is a fan of the Boston Celtics, one of the most corrupt and disgusting criminal enterprises that caused me great harm in the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals. Jayson Tatum is cringe af. Other than that fantastic book.

[leo uwu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nuanced, poignant, heartfelt, and personal. I felt lucky to have a window into these experiences, stories, and perspectives. Ultimately it was also very biased. The samples for the Chinese-Americans mostly coming from anti-AA WeChat groups created a certain narrative. The snowball collection of samples from other ethnic groups, beginning with the author's colleagues, also created a certain narrative. Putting those two groups in separate chapters only amplified the juxtaposition their views took on. I hope future studies will rectify the skewed perspectives these narratives took on through the small and specifically targeted sampling through using different methods of recruiting respondents.

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weaving interviews, history, and analysis, the book shows the rich complexity of Asian American opinions of the affirmative action policy. Many of those interviewed who expressed opposition to the policy did not have a complete understanding, but respond out of a scarcity mentality, and as victims of oppression and racism. The Asian American identity is complex and means something different to each person depending on family history and personal experiences. By framing the discussion as a conversation between mother and daughter, there is room for genuine curiosity and authentic exploration, and thus serves as a model for other such conversations.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable yet insightful and thought-provoking - captures a lot of complexity within Asian American communities across ethnic background, generation, immigration status, class etc. Interesting to see examples of all the misinformation + misunderstanding that surrounds affirmative action, as well as the logic that leads people to support or not support the policy. I appreciate the call to action and vision for cross-racial solidarity. And I am proud to be Chinatown Chinese :) :)

[Sandhya Kajeepeta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Poon expertly reviews and provides new insight into Asian American perspectives on race-conscious admissions and the importance of cross-racial solidarity. The book also includes touching anecdotes from conversations with her young daughter. Highly recommend, especially as equal access to education continues to face new attacks.

[Camila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read most of this book, enough to understand the message and arguments. I enjoyed it. I thought the use of ethnography and anecdotes about Tété was an amazing way to understand the politicization and misinformation of affirmative action as a microcosm for larger racial dynamics.

[TheNextGenLibrarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

An eye-opening nonfiction book that combines research with personal narratives and interviews with Asian Americans about race and affirmative action. Great for #aanhpiheritagemonth or any time.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book on race relations.

[a.rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this arguably too quickly to absorb all of the information but still learned a lot about affirmative action and also the many misconceptions of its role. 3.5/5

[Ashley : bostieslovebooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dr. Poon provides a well-researched and insightful exploration of Asian American identity and race relations with specific regard to Asian American perspectives of affirmative action. I appreciated that she interviewed a heterogeneous population (a reminder that Asian Americans are not a monolith) and included responses both for and against affirmative action. Woven into the research, Dr. Poon addresses her young daughter’s questions of race and racism through a series of letters. These personal narratives strengthened my engagement. Though there were times where the writing teetered on the edge of being quite academic, on the whole, this was an accessible read. There’s a lot here, rightfully so. These are big topics that deserve attention and Dr. Poon’s book is a great point to facilitate discussion from. Definitely timely!

[Cook Memorial Public Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 2024 Staff Nonfiction Favorite for Elyas! Similar to Big Little Man: In Search of My Asian Self by Alex Tizon and Minor feelings: an Asian American reckoning by Cathy Park Hong.

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