Reorienting the Orient: Expanding upon Anti‐Asian Racism Scholarship through the Lens of Colorism Theory

Abstract

This article challenges scholars to broaden their definition of anti‐Asian racism and whiteness through the lens of colorism theory. Existing literature on Asian Americans finds that the racial category is unique in its high percentage of foreign‐born individuals, yet little attention has been paid to how systems of discrimination and social stratification relevant in the Asian regional context have translated to or are relevant in the U.S. context. Through a systematic review of Asian American racialization literature, this article interrogates how the literature has continued to operate within a Black‐White binary and why the challenge to break out of said binary remains a timely one. Ultimately, this article encourages scholars to consider Global South perspectives on colorism and racism, thereby challenging scholars to orient away from Whiteness as it is understood in the limited U.S. racial context, and instead contend with the status of whiteness as it is understood in the Asian regional context. Such a theoretical reorientation promises to advance scholarly knowledge of intricate Asian American intra‐group dynamics and contribute to the growing literature on transnational anti‐Asian racism.