The Good, the Bad and the Ugly: Is there such a thing as a good stereotype?

• "The Myth of the Model Minority" brought me back to my high school years. My group of friends only had one Chinese-American. Everyone thought he was the smartest of the group, but when he didn't make the top ten of our class everyone was so surprised they thought it was a mistake. They stereotyped him, and started saying things like "He must be upset" and, "His parents must be so disappointed". He was the only one in our friend group they said that about, and I do not think anyone stopped to ask him how he felt about it. They just assumed. He was still in the top twenty, and that is definitely something to be proud of. Unfortunately, everyone thought they knew his family dynamic because they knew his race. 
• I do not understand why some people think there are "good" stereotypes and "bad" stereotypes. If you ask me they are all bad, just like the author in "You're Asian. How Could You Fail Math? Unmasking the myth of the model minority" states in the article. I recently had a conversation with my students about this. They think if the stereotype is accurate then there is no harm in using it. Much like what Chang stated at the end of his article, I told them by using a stereotype, regardless of its truth, they are only fueling the fire. They are legitimizing all stereotypes by saying there is truth in one. They cannot pick and choose when a stereotype is fine to use and when it is not, but they did not fully understand this. It made me think that I need to rethink how I went about the situation and find a different way to address the issue in order for them to understand it better. Much like how Heidi Tolentino wishes she had her students reflect on race through writing in order for them to come to their own conclusions.
• In this short video from NBC you can see how what might be seen as a "good" stereotype can harm someone from that particular group. Kim is half-Filipino and half-Korean, and was hurt holistically as a person from "the myth of the model minority". While the the stereotype drove her to succeed in school, it hurt her emotionally and socially. She aspired to be the "model minority" but it cost her. NBC News - Behind the Model Minority
• Chang also brought up the issue behind using the word Asian to identify all people whose background is Asian. Asia is a continent that is made up of many different countries and we shouldn't group them all under one label. This made me wonder about African Americans as well. Africa is also a continent with many different countries, why don't we make note of people's specific ethnicities and not their "general" ethnicity?
• I could relate to Heidi Tolentino's constant questioning of how she handled sensitive subjects about race in her classroom. I am always questioning myself as to whether I addressed a problem the right way or said the right thing. I take as much feedback from my students as I can in these situations. I do not pretend to be the expert when I am not, and open up the floor for them to discuss their ideas and feelings. Although, I might take a page out of her book and use writing as a means of communication every now and then.