Asian Americans in American History: An Analysis of Social Studies Curriculum Standards

• In Event: 14.044 - Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: 14.044-24 - Issues of Immigration and Representation in Social Studies Education

Abstract

Employing Asian Critical Theory as a theoretical framework, this paper interrogates Asian American representation in US history scripted in ten states’ k-12 social studies standards documents. In doing so, the paper discusses a benefit of Asian Critical Theory as a theoretical lenses to read, criticize and find alternatives in incorporating Asian American experience into official narrative of US history. It also adds a new knowledge to the long-held scholarship on minority representation of official school knowledge. Finally, it calls for educators to trouble the racist curriculum and help students develop more nuanced understanding of race and racism by bringing silenced but abundant counter-stories of Asian American experiences documented in Asian American historiography.

Author

• Sohyun An, Kennesaw State University