Is the D.C.-Baltimore Area the Center of Asian American Conservatism?

he greater D.C. metro area (including Baltimore and Northeastern Virginia) is not only the seat of the national government but the center of the U.S. defense establishment. The contractors and the large intelligence agencies -- most of which are headquartered there -- are easily the biggest employers of the region's affluent science and engineering professionals. An estimated 22% of these technologists are drawn from the 400,000 AA who make up 8% of the region's 5 million residents. This heavy concentration in the defense sector makes the area's Asian Americans not only the nation's most affluent, but also the most politically and socially conservative.
Mall Sunrise
Home of AA Conservatism?

     The Asian influx into the D.C. area is largely a post-Vietnam War phenomenon. The capitol's small but comely Chinatown on H Street between 6th and 8th boasts about 20 restaurants and a number of shops but they cater mostly to tourists and the lunch-hour crowd. Currently only about 1,000 Chinese live in Washington D.C. -- and that number has been shrinking steadily. Most live in the suburbs of northern Virginia (46,000) and southern Maryland (52,000). The D.C. area hosts only the 10th largest Chinese American population but a high percentage are degreed science and tech professionals with security clearances.
     Similar credentials are found among the 110,000 Corean Americans who make up the area's largest Asian nationality. They enjoy access to 53 Corean restaurants, mostly in Annandale, Arlington, and in Aspen Hill in Maryland's Montgomery County. The vast majority of Coreans here are staunchly Republican -- not surprising since their fortunes turn on the dollars allocated to defense spending.
     Vietnamese are another Republic-leaning Asian nationality with a heavy D.C.-area presence. Virginia is home to the nation's third largest Vietnamese population (40,000), mostly in the state's northeastern part. Less than half that number make their home in Maryland and D.C. combined. They do manage to support a nascent Little Saigon in Wheaton.
     Indians, who received over half the H-1B visas issued to foreign tech workers beginning in 1992, have been drawn by the area's defense sector. In 2001 the 52,000 Indians living in Virginia surpassed Filipinos as that state's most numberous Asian nationality thanks to a 143% increase since 1990. An equally large number of Indians have immigrated to take advantage of Maryland's abundance of science and tech jobs.
     Another good indicator of the D.C. area's political conservatism is the relative scarcity of Japanese Americans who have traditionally skewed strongly in favor of democrats. Neither Maryland nor Virginia ranks among states with the top 10 JA populations.
     Is the D.C.-Baltimore area really the home of AA conservatism? Or have the more recent waves of young AA newcomers begun embracing the more liberal values of the Clinton era?

(Updated )

I also am curious as Man of Lha-sa (mancha) is. I do think living here would be extremely difficult for anyone regardless of race if you are not in a certain socio-economic category. The rent is extremely ridiculous. From living in Florida and NC before, I was used to rent prices being anywhere from $300-$800 for extremely decent places to live. Rent only starts at $800 here and that is an extreme rarity.
I think poverty is difficult for anyone, but see it as even more difficult if you are an immigrant stuck in the cycle and a hard working job, with little English skills. in a place like NOVA.
Don't hate everyone that is white because of this. Being in an inter-cultural relationship, I have experienced prejudice from Asian people just the same. I know how hurtful those dirty looks and those little whispered giggles can be from someone that is making fun of you because they don't approve of your race.
How should we fight this? Any suggestions? Is this more of a social and economic prejudice here than actually a racial one?
NOVA is more tolerant and racially diverse than many places in this country.
Hannybunbun
   Friday, May 31, 2002 at 06:17:17 (PDT)
"It's ok to make initial, upfront assessment of the area, known as NOVA. Live there long enough, and you will come to realize and feel the deep-rooted
anti-Asian hate. Outside Asians . . . will not see it . . . because they come into NOVA already successful, and hate won't touch them much . . . but if these outside Asians decide to raise their children in NOVA... the children will be put through a racist, subtle or very open . . . deep-rooted anti-Asian hate oriented system . . . Work together to prevent the vicious cycle."

Metropolitan Aware,

I admit, I'm a Northerner who has lived here in NOVA for only 3 years so I probably don't see much of the anti-Asian hate oriented system you are refering to. I am not trying to deny that it exists, but am curious as to how it manifests itself? Could you provide some examples (subtle or otherwise) in school, housing or business?

Is it blatant racism, like refusal to show Asians homes in certain neighborhoods, caps on Asians in certain high schools, desceration of Asian religious sites or businesses, or physical attacks on Asian people? More restrained perhaps like racial slurs, dirty looks, "chingchong" talking? Subtler things possibly like lousy service at restaurants and stores, teachers stereotyping children into math, or refusal to grant allowed absences for cultural holidays (lunar new year)?

I'd be happy to "work together" to overcome Anti-Asian hate in NOVA, I just need to know what it is exactly and where these "old guard" are hiding.

Man of Lha-sa(mancha)
   Wednesday, May 29, 2002 at 15:03:03 (PDT)
Hmmm, always consider the racial history of a region or the racial history of any organization that you are in... You'll see the culmination of the backside, the frontside, and anything in-between.

It's ok to make initial, upfront assessment of the area, known as NOVA. Live there long enough, and you will come to realize and feel the deep-rooted anti-Asian hate.

Outside Asians, who may come and go, depending on the job prospects, will not see it, since they will not be in NOVA for long, and they can't see it, because they come into NOVA already successful, and hate won't touch them much, since "they" will not take on capable, successful, and affluent Asians (but they will hate deeply), but if these outside Asians decide to raise their children in NOVA... the children will be put through a racist, subtle or very open (depending on the opportunity for them), deep-rooted anti-Asian hate oriented system.

Native-Virginian Asians, successful or not, would have felt it, and they will feel the backlash of it, when these outside Asians move on to their next job prospect, leaving behind hate in the eyes of those who will wait to lash out. Then you have to deal with all those "old guard" who are used to being racist and their children, and etc...

Work together to prevent the vicious cycle.

Metropolitan Aware
   Wednesday, May 22, 2002 at 18:21:03 (PDT)

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