First of all, it is necessary to understand why the advisor said this particular phrase to Anthony. Most likely, they started from Anthony’s appearance and origin, thereby acting according to the stereotypes prevailing in society. Many people automatically attribute to people of a certain race a complex of traits that they supposedly should be present in them. This also applies to a particular type of food: while the Japanese will most likely try to feed sushi, the Chinese may well be offered wonton soup since they are supposedly more familiar. However, a person with Chinese roots may not necessarily be from China, as in Anthony’s case. Even if people explain that their family has lived here for generations, many individuals will ignore this and consider people of a different race to be “newcomers” to the current country (Kiang, n.d.). Unfortunately, this stereotype is challenging to fight, given its systemic nature; however, it is possible to form a specific course of action for the student himself.
From my perspective, Anthony’s best advice is to calm down and try to understand the reasons for the advisor’s behavior. As mentioned above, most likely, this phrase was said not as a mockery but as an attempt to establish friendly contact. Naturally, the fact that the advisor used a stereotype for this is unacceptable. However, they most likely did not have malicious intent. Therefore, Anthony’s best course of action would be to calmly explain to the advisor his origin that, despite his Chinese roots, he is American and such stereotypes are not applicable. In addition, if Anthony can explain how to treat people in his society, he can establish contact with the adviser and dispel basic stereotypes. Such a situation will be beneficial for both and allow for spreading positivity, eradicating the distorted attitude towards people. However, if a university employee continues to use stereotypes, the administration will have to intervene to resolve the conflict.
Reference
Kiang, P.N. (n.d.). Understanding our perceptions of Asian Americans. Asia Society.