Chinese for Affirmative Action
Encyclopedia
Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA) is a San Francisco-based advocacy organization. Founded in 1969, its initial goals were equality of access to employment and the creation of job opportunities for Chinese American
s. The group broadened its mission in the subsequent decades. As of 2007, its stated mission is "to defend and promote the civil and political rights of Chinese and Asian American
s within the context of, and in the interest of, advancing multiracial democracy in the United States"
, a 1974 United States Supreme Court
case expanding access to bilingual education.
In 1978, CAA successfully advocated for the United States Census
to break down the single "Asian" category on the questionnaire into multiple distinct groups, to help better understand the Asian American population. In 1999, CAA helped advocate for increased outreach in undercounted communities for the 2000 Census.
From 1982 onwards, CAA was involved in the national campaign on behalf of Chinese-American hate crime victim Vincent Chin
.
In 2000, CAA helped organize a national coalition in support of Taiwanese-American scientist Wen Ho Lee
.
In 2003, Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center
, and the Asian Law Caucus
jointly launched Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE), a Sacramento, California
-based organization doing progressive Asian American state-level political advocacy.
in defending a consent decree that capped attendance at Lowell High School
from any given racial group. Per the policy, Chinese-American students had to score higher to attend than other groups. CAA's stance was at odds with that of most Asian parents, who opposed the policy.
Chinese American
Chinese Americans represent Americans of Chinese descent. Chinese Americans constitute one group of overseas Chinese and also a subgroup of East Asian Americans, which is further a subgroup of Asian Americans...
s. The group broadened its mission in the subsequent decades. As of 2007, its stated mission is "to defend and promote the civil and political rights of Chinese and Asian American
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
s within the context of, and in the interest of, advancing multiracial democracy in the United States"
Major campaigns
CAA represented the plaintiffs in Lau v. NicholsLau v. Nichols
Lau v. Nichols, 414 U.S. 563 , was a civil rights case that was brought by Chinese American students living in San Francisco, California who had limited English proficiency...
, a 1974 United States Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
case expanding access to bilingual education.
In 1978, CAA successfully advocated for the United States Census
United States Census
The United States Census is a decennial census mandated by the United States Constitution. The population is enumerated every 10 years and the results are used to allocate Congressional seats , electoral votes, and government program funding. The United States Census Bureau The United States Census...
to break down the single "Asian" category on the questionnaire into multiple distinct groups, to help better understand the Asian American population. In 1999, CAA helped advocate for increased outreach in undercounted communities for the 2000 Census.
From 1982 onwards, CAA was involved in the national campaign on behalf of Chinese-American hate crime victim Vincent Chin
Vincent Chin
Vincent Jen Chin was a Chinese American beaten to death in June 1982 in the United States, in the Detroit, Michigan enclave of Highland Park by Chrysler plant superintendent Ronald Ebens, with the help of his stepson, Michael Nitz...
.
In 2000, CAA helped organize a national coalition in support of Taiwanese-American scientist Wen Ho Lee
Wen Ho Lee
Dr. Wen Ho Lee is a Taiwan-born Taiwanese American scientist who worked for the University of California at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. He created simulations of nuclear explosions for the purposes of scientific inquiry, as well as for improving the safety and reliability of the US nuclear...
.
In 2003, Chinese for Affirmative Action, the Asian Pacific American Legal Center
Asian Pacific American Legal Center
The Asian Pacific American Legal Center , a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, is a non-profit legal aid and civil rights organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education and building coalitions on behalf of the Asian Americans...
, and the Asian Law Caucus
Asian law caucus
The Asian Law Caucus , a member of the Asian American Center for Advancing Justice, is a non-profit legal aid and civil rights organization dedicated to advocating for civil rights, providing legal services and education and building coalitions on behalf of the low income Asian Pacific Americans...
jointly launched Asian Americans for Civil Rights and Equality (AACRE), a Sacramento, California
Sacramento, California
Sacramento is the capital city of the U.S. state of California and the county seat of Sacramento County. It is located at the confluence of the Sacramento River and the American River in the northern portion of California's expansive Central Valley. With a population of 466,488 at the 2010 census,...
-based organization doing progressive Asian American state-level political advocacy.
Asian admission quotas
In the 1990s, CAA sided with the San Francisco Unified School DistrictSan Francisco Unified School District
San Francisco Unified School District , established in 1851, is the only public school district within the City and County of San Francisco, and the first in the state of California...
in defending a consent decree that capped attendance at Lowell High School
Lowell High School (San Francisco)
Lowell High School is a public magnet school in San Francisco, California. The school opened in 1856 as the Union Grammar School and attained its current name in 1896. Lowell moved to its current location in the Merced Manor neighborhood in 1962....
from any given racial group. Per the policy, Chinese-American students had to score higher to attend than other groups. CAA's stance was at odds with that of most Asian parents, who opposed the policy.