Posted on May 4 2003, 10:52 AM

Well one of the predominant stereotypes in the movie, of course, is the model minority myth - overachieving Asian students eagerly trying to succeed in stifling environments. You can't discount that stereotype even if they do some things that don't seem so "Asian" nor positive.

I think we agree on this point, right? Stereotypes don't necessarily have to be negative nor do people have to avoid fitting a stereotype. Perhaps you did put it in a better way..  

This is perhaps where I disagree... Although something might be difficult to do, it doesn't mean that we should avoid it. Of course, if it is a matter of safety and well-being, I wouldn't advocate for individuals to speak out. However, if we (or I) have the power to say something about the issues in BLT, then it would be "desirable" to try and educate others. Also, if you cannot find anyone locally or offline to talk about this stuff, you can find other outlets. Totally biased on my part, but sites like YW are perhaps good outlets for those who feel unsafe in their own environment.

In building community, I would hope that other communities of color would be willing to embrace this movie as a significant achievement in American filmology (hope that's a word..). Just as how there are other groundbreaking films out there that deserve merit, Lin's BLT should be viewed not only by Asian and Pacific Islanders, but also by other communities of color. Through my own experiences, our umbrella term of "community of color" doesn't necessarily mean that we are entirely competent about each other cultures. Albeit people's disagreement over positive portrayals, it is important for people to watch it so they can develop dialogue. One of my favorite mottos is, "Don't take silence for complacency."
 

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