The Dynamics of Surviving and Excelling: Exploring Intergenerational Racial Understanding Within Chinese Immigrant Families

• In Event: Research on the Move: Consequential Research Examining Caregiver and Family Communities

Abstract

Asian Americans, the fastest-growing ethnic group in the U.S., face unique and enduring forms of racism, exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly affecting Chinese immigrant families and the broader Asian American community. This critical ethnographic case study explores how Chinese immigrant parents navigate conversations about race and racism with their school-aged children, amidst heightened racial tensions. Drawing on Asian Critical Race Theory (AsianCrit), the study examines parental investment in education, navigation of the racial landscape, and intergenerational racial understanding. Findings reveal diverse strategies in education and varied parental engagement, highlighting the need for culturally responsive interventions to promote racial literacy and social justice.

Authors

• Wenyu Guo, University of South Florida

• Yuechen Sun, University of South Carolina