Before “Too Many Asians,” It Was “Too Many Jews”

Political commentator Helen Andrews just went viral — for outlining a terrifying new threat. She claimed on X that Asians in America were undermining the country. They were too successful, and even worse, allegedly teaching everyone to cheat. 

“​​Asian immigrants are often openly contemptuous of American education norms — like that Vivek tweet — because they think the only reason someone would opt out of grind culture is because they’re lazy and stupid,” Andrews wrote. She went on to add: “It’s a policy choice…to continue inviting millions of Asian immigrants to settle in America. We don’t have to do that.” 

The blowback was swift. Asian immigrants pay taxes, are smart, and aren’t, as Andrews claims, “bad at sports” (you only have to look at the Winter Olympics). But as anti-Asian hate takes hold, there’s one question we’re compelled to revisit: why do Americans claim they want a meritocracy until an “undesirable” group starts taking too many spots at the top?