Jeremy Lin and Tiger Woods overlooked as LAAUNCH survey finds 42 per cent of US can’t name single Asian-American

Nine per cent name Bruce Lee as prominent Asian-American despite martial arts star dying in 1973, 11 per cent say Jackie Chan

Jeremy Lin

Jonathan White

Published: 6:03pm, 15 May 2021

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Sports stars Jeremy Lin and Tiger Woods were named among the prominent Asian-Americans to be overlooked in a recent US survey that found 42 per cent of Americans could not name a single well-known Asian-American.

Some of those polled named Asian actors in international films or deceased celebrities instead of living Asian-Americans, with both Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan polling more than the “Linsanity” star and 15-time major winning golfer.

The survey was conducted by LAAUNCH – Leading Asian Americans to Unite for Change – a non-profit founded in San Francisco last September to get Asian-Americans to vote in November’s US presidential elections.

LAAUNCH describe the survey and resulting report as “a comprehensive, national assessment of attitudes and stereotypes towards Asian Americans” adding that it is “one of the first such studies in the last 20 years”.

US golfer Tiger Woods smiles while speaking to the press in 2014. Photo: AFP

They said that the results of the report were based on a survey of 2,766 US residents, aged 18 and over, conducted online between March 29 to April 14 this year. Those polled included Asian-Americans.

The survey took in topics such as the perception of Asian-Americans and their visibility within the media, amid the backdrop of an increase in violence against the community since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic.

‘I more than proved I was an NBA player,’ Jeremy Lin tells fans

Lin and Woods were among a number of notable Asian-Americans mentioned by name in the last aspect of the STAATUS Index Report 2021, which stands for Social Tracking of Asian Americans in the US. The report was published on May 10.

“In our final section, we asked Americans to name prominent Asian-Americans that come to mind,” the report said.

“Despite the high profile of Asian Americans like Kamala Harris, Andrew Yang, Sanjay Gupta, Jeremy Lin, and Tiger Woods, the most commonly cited answer was ‘Don’t know’ (42 per cent), followed by Jackie Chan (11 per cent), a Hong Kong actor and martial artist who appeared in mainstream American films between 1998-2008, and Bruce Lee (9 per cent), an Asian-American actor and martial artist who died in 1973.

Lin in action with the Toronto Raptors in 2019. He has not played in the NBA since leaving the team at the end of the season. Photo: AP

“Lucy Liu (5 per cent) was the most frequently mentioned Asian-American woman, followed by Connie Chung (2 per cent). Only 2 per cent of Americans cited Kamala Harris, our country’s first Asian-American, first Black American and first female vice-president.”

LAAUNCH summarised this among their top five takeaways from the report.

“Americans struggle to name prominent Asian-Americans, despite several (eg. Kamala Harris, Andrew Yang) being in the news this year.”

Lin ‘unapologetic’ if activism costs him NBA spot

Lin has been an outspoken voice amid the rise of anti-Asian prejudice and violence in the US, making regular media appearances while also trying to realise his dream of returning to the NBA.

The 32-year-old starred for the Santa Cruz Warriors in the NBA G League but is yet to get a contract in the NBA. Lin also reported that he was called “coronavirus” by another player while inside the bubble at Walt Disney World in Florida.

Lin would be eligible for the play-offs if he is signed by a team before the end of the regular season, which finishes Sunday night in the US.

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