“Asians are doing well.” This mindset has cast Asian Americans aside and overshadows communities in need. It is a form of a micro aggression many Asian Americans have experienced known as the “model minority myth.” Isn’t it a good stereotype? Shouldn’t we, as Asians, accept the “model minority” name as a compliment? No, absolutely not. The “model minority myth” washes over the diversity of Asian American communities and data disaggregation reveals that.

With a median net worth of $320,900, the overall highest graduation rate, are well-represented in the technological field of work and attend many of the elite universities in the U.S., Asians sound very successful. There is no doubt that many Asian American communities are successful, and that is something to celebrate. However, aggregated data that only looks at Asian Americans as a whole sometimes upholds the false impression that Asians and the Asian American experience is a monolith. Aggregated data has assumed almost 19.4 million Americans as well off and “white adjacent,” disregarding Asian American experiences.

Data disaggregation means breaking down large data sets and looking even closer at the numbers; looking at the numbers within numbers. Instead of by race, data disaggregation looks at how Asian Americans are doing by ethnicity. First, let’s take a look at the ethnicity that most people might think about first, Chinese Americans.

Accounting for 19.7% of Asian Americans, the median household income of Chinese Americans is $98,400. About 72% of Chinese American adults 25 years and older have some college education. 12% of Chinese Americans live in poverty.

However, if we take a look at Hmong Americans, the largest Asian population in Minnesota with more than 94,000, the data looks very different. The median household income of Hmong American households is $85,700. Compared to Chinese Americans, only 26.6% of Hmong adults have a bachelor’s degree or more. 14% of Hmong Americans are living in poverty.

Another prominent and recent Asian immigrant community in the Twin Cities is the Burmese, specifically the Karen (Kuh-ren). The median income for a Burmese household is $67,000. 23% of Burmese American adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Higher than the Hmong, 21% of Burmese adults live in poverty.

Just looking at general data on three ethnicities, it is evident that the Asian American experience cannot be pinpointed. Community experiences, needs and strengths vary. Data disaggregation recognizes the diverse experiences of Asian Americans, and, thus, is the first step to revealing inequities and bringing efficient and well-targeted change.

People believe in what they see; there is truth in numbers. If all that is told is one story, people will believe that it is the whole book. Data disaggregation changes what we see, whose voices count and where resources flow.