Advertisement
Opinion | Biden’s Medal of Freedom picks a reminder of US lack of regard for Asian-Americans
- In the nearly 60 years since the establishment of the highest civilian honour in the US, only 11 Asian-Americans have been chosen among almost 700 recipients
- Addressing this underrepresentation would be a meaningful way for Biden to show he is sincere when he says he cares about Asian-Americans
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
3
When US President Joe Biden handed out his first Presidential Medal of Freedom awards last week, he said “this is America” in reference to the diverse array of people to receive the nation’s highest civilian honour.
Advertisement
In many respects he was correct, as the recipients were diverse in race, gender, age and sexual orientation. But, just as Biden’s promise to appoint a cabinet that “looks like America” fell short of inclusion for Asian-Americans, members of the community were also under-represented as recipients of the award.
President John F. Kennedy established the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1963 to recognise contributions to “the security or national interests of the United States, or world peace, or cultural or other significant public or private endeavours”.
Recipients have included luminaries in film, music, athletics, academics, government, journalism and science. Biden’s list included gymnast Simone Biles, actor Denzel Washington, late Apple founder Steve Jobs and the late Republican Senator John McCain.
Over the years, many of the most recognisable names of the 20th century have been honoured, such as poet TS Eliot, civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jnr, astronaut Neil Armstrong, athletics star Jesse Owens, actress Audrey Hepburn and singer Aretha Franklin.
Advertisement
Biden himself received the medal from president Barack Obama in 2017. While a president can award the medal at any time, typically the announcement of recipients is made around July 4 with the awards distributed soon thereafter.
Advertisement