Political Activation of Japanese American Youth 1

Japanese Americans have been cited as a model minority who have attained middle class status through hard work and conformity to social order. Recently, however, the validity of the quiet, conforming Japanese American image is challenged by politically active third‐generation Japanese American youth (Sansei). A total of 508 Sansei college students in California were interviewed to identify sociological correlates of Sansei activism. Political activists are not homogeneous; hence the Sansei were divided into four types based on the dimensions of acceptance versus rejection of traditionalism and involvement versus detachment from social issues. In line with the symbolic interactionism hypothesis, subjective status of father as perceived by Sansei is more closely related to the Sansei politicalization than is his objective status. Sh, h, h … ! A Quiet American is speaking … As the Black and Brown communities push for changes in our present system, the Oriental is set forth as an example to be followed—a minority group that has achieved success through adaptation rather than confrontation … the Yellow Uncle Tom … [Gidra, 1969, p. 6].