Model Minority Myth In Village Called Versailles

The documentary “Village called Versailles” challenged the notion of the model minority myth by presenting the problems of an Asian community that is not well acknowledged by the mainstream American public. When people think of Katrina and the devastation it left on the community they think of the African American community and other minorities in the area, not Asian or Vietnamese. The government also overlooks the Asian communities needs and wants, expecting them to just accept any decision they make. This notion that Asian groups are beyond disasters and problems is a basis of the model minority myth, they face the same issues and fight back when their community is in danger. Asian communities are often overlooked, both by the government and public, when it comes to support in disasters because of their model minority status that they can handle problems themselves or will just accept any situation. When the narrative by the media is presented of natural disasters the Asian communities are never the focus. The struggles of the community are often disregarded and are pushed to their limits by the government that is supposed to support them.

This community was not completely supported by the government or support groups as they were disregarded by them. An example was that there were not enough Vietnamese interpreters as Spanish translators in the disasters camps, the prominent Vietnamese community was unacknowledged by support groups. In particular older Vietnamese who don’t know or struggled with English, they could have had more support or at least have been acknowledged as a group. There was also trauma because of their Vietnamese refugee status, the past history of displacement first from Vietnam, and then New Orleans really scarred the Vietnamese