On Merit with Journalist and Author Kenny Xu

Today I talk to Kenny Xu, a young Asian American journalist that is working to confront discrimination happening in Ivy League schools in efforts to make the school population more diverse. He has done a lot of research on the topic and we discuss his findings in his recent publication, An Inconvenient Minority: The Attack on Asian American Excellence and the Fight for Meritocracy.

The concern, stated by Kenny in this conversation, is that meritocracy is under attack on school campuses, specifically Ivy Leagues, giving preferences to individuals based on race and discriminating against Asian Americans who have met the standards on merit alone.

This is a complex issue - One that I personally am currently removed from, but have great interest in as I believe deeply in competition via merit, performance and ability.

Our American history is flawed and systems were put in place preventing some, fully capable and worthy opponents, from even entering the arena to compete. This artificially allowed some of us to rise and squelched the potential of others. Yes, there were systems in our past that present problems today. These issues are now embedded in our culture and what we prioritize. Kenny’s concern is that we are unknowingly creating new problems, squeezing out another group, Asian Americans.

But like our Declaration of Independence states, life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness - we Americans are always pursuing something greater. A greater version of ourselves.

We should appreciate something really beautiful about American culture and that is the idea that anyone can succeed here, if they work hard enough, if they have access to quality education, if they have the tenacity to keep going and the support to keep them in the fight.

As we see with so many immigrating from all over the world to find success here in America, much is possible. I found this to be a very interesting conversation that educated me both on Chinese culture, what is happening in elite circles and Ivy League schools and the negative impact it can have on Asian Americans and those they are attempting to help. I hope that you take from it, what you feel valuable.

This conversation was originally recorded on April 22, 2021.

Show Notes & Links:

On Pursuing - On Merit - Episode 8

Social Media for Kenny & Book

Instagram

Twitter

An Inconvenient Minority Podcast

An Inconvenient Minority Book on Amazon - Available on July 13, 2021

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