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Interesting point. Years ago I had a friend who was of Chinese ethnicity, born in Singapore. His reaction to the stereotype that Asians were smarter on average than the US population in general? For the ones who are in North America, it's true; but it isn't backed up by his experience in Asia. His conclusion: only the smartest or the most focused/determined made it here, so the stereotype is based upon a sample that's not representative.

"His reaction to the stereotype that Asians were smarter on average than the US population in general? For the ones who are in North America, it's true; but it isn't backed up by his experience in Asia. His conclusion: only the smartest or the most focused/determined made it here, so the stereotype is based upon a sample that's not representative."

There are two sides to the Asian model. One side is exemplified by the overachieving young Asians who can kick 1600 on their SAT's in their sleep, the other side are entire Asian families who do well for themselves due to a strong family-work ethic.

Here in Nashville, we have a sizeable Asian population, and they follow a predictable pattern. Entire extended families will occupy one house, and not necessarily a really large one at that. EVERYONE will work, and for a short period, everyone tosses most of their pay into the family pot. With a lot of income and few expenses, the family quickly acqires the means to buy or open several businesses, and within a few years, all the businesses are thriving and the extended family has dispersed, each to their own new homes. The Asian families will make the short-term sacrifice for the sake of opportunity, and they all will take maximum advantage of it. Asians have a strong spirit of entepreneurship that you find a great deal less of in other minorities, especially Black. This is fatal, because the key to wealth and empowerment is thru entepreneurship. Asians understand this, whether here or IN Asia.

Michael