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Asian American Panethnicity is a sociological study of forces impelling Asian Americans to coalesce for mutual benefits. Historical experience demonstrates that such alliances are often short-lived, but Yen Le Espiritu argues that Asian Americans must stand together in the face of racism and the tendency of outsiders to cluster together groups such as Asians, Latin Americans, and Native Americans.
Asian Americans are defined as American-born Asians and post-1965 Asian immigrants who hope to make the United States their home. Espiritu defines Asian panethnicity as "a politico-cultural collectivity made up of peoples of several, hitherto distinct, tribal or national origins." In establishing her view of panethnicity, she reviews the sociological theories of "communities of culture" and "communities...