Civil Rights Issues Facing Asian Americans in the 1990s

In 1989, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights held a series of roundtable conferences to learn about the civil rights concerns of Asian Americans within their communities. Using information gathered at these conferences as a point of departure, the Commission undertook this study of the wide-ranging civil rights issues facing Asian Americans in the 1990s. Asian American groups considered in the report are persons having origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, and the Indian subcontinent. This report presents the results of that investigation. Evidence is presented that Asian Americans face widespread prejudice, discrimination, and barriers to equal opportunity. The following chapters highlight specific areas: (1) "Introduction," an overview of the problems; (2) "Bigotry and Violence Against Asian Americans"; (3) "Police Community Relations"; (4) "Access to Educational Opportunity: Asian American Immigrant Children in Primary and Secondary Schools"; (5) "Access to Educational Opportunity: Higher Education"; (6) "Employment Discrimination"; (7) "Other Civil Rights Issues Confronting Asian Americans"; and (8) "Conclusions and Recommendations." More than 40 recommendations for legislative, programmatic, and administrative efforts are made. Many of these suggestions would benefit all minority groups in the United States. Four tables present statistical findings, and an appendix contains supplemental correspondence and fact sheets. (SLD)