Model Minority in the TV Show "911"

       The Fox television show titled 911 follows the lives of Los Angeles first responders: police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and dispatchers.  Premiering in 2018, 911 chronicles the stories of a diverse group of people including an African American, female police officer, an African American, lesbian paramedic, and a fire chief struggling with his mental health.  As the show attempts to confront stereotypes through their diverse characters, the model minority myth is evident within Asian American Howard Han's narrative. Chapter 39 of the course reading states that the model minority myth is an idea within American society that Asian Americans excel far beyond other races.  The belief places stereotypes on Asian Americans and holds them to much higher standards.  The myth also makes it difficult for Asian Americans to pursue fields outside of high earning and academically rigorous areas such as science and engineering.

  https://9-1-1.fandom.com/wiki/Howard_Han

   Howard, who frequently goes by the nicknames Howie, Chim, and Chimney is a firefighter and paramedic at Station 118.  Episode twelve of season two, titled "Chimney Begins" looks back at Howie's story and how he became a firefighter and paramedic.  In the episode, him and his close friend, Kevin, work at a karaoke bar which sets on fire.  After saving people from the fire, Howie discovers that firefighting is his calling in life.  Kevin also chooses to follow in his footsteps and become a firefighter.  Howie and Kevin then tell Kevin's parents about their new career path.  Kevin's parents took Howie in after his mom died when he was a teenager because his dad lives in South Korea.  Kevin's dad responds like a stereotypical Asian father.  He is concerned that firefighting is not a real job.  He is also very apprehensive that they want to do civil service as it is a lowly job.  Though, being a good father, he agrees that while he does not fully support it, it is honorable.  The model minority myth of the businessman, stern father is supported when Howie later calls his father in Seoul to tell him about his new job.  His response is that he is busy and does not care.  This is because as a traditional Asian father, having a son that is a firefighter is shameful, according to the myth. Overall, Howie faces difficulty as he tries to break away from the model minority myth placed on him by society and reinforced by his elders.

Concept Reference:
Zhou, M. (2003). “Are asian americans becoming ‘white’?” In M. L. Andersen & P. H. Collins (Eds.), Race, class, & gender: Intersections and inequalities (pp. 374-379). Boston, MA: Cengage.