2009 National Survey: Public Attitudes Toward Chinese and Asian Americans
Released: 04.20.09
The Committee of 100 is grateful to the Prudential Financial, Rockefeller Foundation, W.K. Kellogg Foundation, Wells Fargo Foundation, Verizon Foundation, and Minneapolis Foundation for supporting this project.
As an update to the 2001 report, the Committee of 100’s survey—conducted by Harris Interactive among both the U.S. general population and Chinese Americans by telephone from January 5-30, 2009—reveals the current perspectives and obstacles for Chinese and Asian Americans in the U.S. On one hand, the general population largely holds favorable views of both Chinese and Asian Americans and is positive about the increase in the size of the Asian American population. The majority of Chinese Americans are also optimistic about their opportunities in the U.S. On the other hand, a portion of the general population still holds stereotypes and misperceptions about Chinese and Asian Americans. There is also a significant disparity in perceptions between the general population and Chinese Americans on race relations and on equal rights in government, education, and the workplace. In addition, the perceptions reported by the general population are affected by a lack of knowledge about Chinese and Asian Americans.
The study is chaired by C-100 Vice Chair for Research Frank H. Wu, coordinated by C-100 Research Director Yong Lu, and is conducted in collaboration with the public opinion research firm Harris Interactive. The public outreach effort is led by C-100 Vice Chair for Media Helen Zia. The study received invaluable input from the C-100 Research Committee and Survey Advisory Committee members.
C-100 Research Committee (Comprised of C-100 Members)
Frank H. Wu (Chair), Author of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White
Michael Fung, Wal-Mart Stores
Robert W. Gee, Gee Strategies Group
Cheng Li, Brookings Institution
Michael C. Lin, Organization of Chinese Americans (retired)
Weiming Lu, Urban Planning and Development Advisor, Minneapolis Foundation
Xiaobo Lu, Columbia University
Betty Lee Sung, CUNY
Chi Wang, U.S.-China Policy Foundation
Benjamin H. Wu, U.S.-Asia Institute
Jeremy Wu, U.S. Census Bureau
Linda Tsao Yang, Asian Corporate Governance Association
C-100 Survey Advisory Committee (Comprised of Independent Experts)
Terry M. Ao, Asian American Justice Center
Mitchell J. Chang, UCLA
Yen Le Espiritu, UCSD
Jane Junn, Rutgers University
Jerry Kang, UCLA
Madhulika Khandelwal, CUNY
Claire Jean Kim, UC Irvine
Munson Kwok, Chinese American Citizens Alliance
Taeku Lee, UC Berkeley
Pei-te Lien, UCSB
S. Floyd Mori, Japanese American Citizens League
Don T. Nakanishi, UCLA
Karen K. Narasaki, Asian American Justice Center
Paul Ong, UCLA
Larry H. Shinagawa, University of Maryland
Janelle Wong, USC
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