Work

Honorary Whites and Overlooked People of Color: The Racial Conundrum of Multiracial Americans and Asian Americans

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Multiracial Americans and Asian American populations are two of the fastest growing racial groups in the United States. Our article is the first to highlight three similarities that show how these groups are uniquely racially misunderstood: (a) both are subsumed under racial umbrella terms that obscure tremendous diversity, (b) both have been considered “honorary whites,” and (some type of) model minorities, and (c) both groups' status as people of color is often overlooked, despite increasingly well‐documented experiences with multiple forms of racial discrimination. We analyze the implications of dominant narratives that foreground privilege and camouflage inequality, including intra‐group marginalization. We conclude with suggestions for future research and recommendations for reconceptualizing existing frameworks for privilege.

Source: Sociology Compass

DOI: 10.1111/soc4.70154

Authors: Chandra D. L. Waring, Lisa Delacruz Combs, Fanhao Nie

Institutions: University of Massachusetts Lowell, University of North Texas

Language: English

Topic: Racial and Ethnic Identity Research

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,350