How America Sees Us: National survey shows many Americans prejudiced against Chinese Americans (in National News) Oakland Cultural Center Changes Name — Again (in Bay Area News) International Showdown: Selling arms to Taiwan (in Business) Mistress of Self: Interview with author Chitra Divakaruni (in A&E) Emil Amok: Busting Stereotypes (in Opinion)

Seen But Not Heard

Who says Asian Americans are sneaky, snobby and dull? Actually, quite a few people think so, at least according to a recent survey sponsored by the Committee of 100. Among the findings: 46 percent of those polled felt Chinese Americans were ready to pass secrets to China; 82 percent viewed us as always wanting “to be at the head of things”; and 67 percent found it hard to make friends with us.

We all know racism exists, but few would have imagined that we provoke such negative feelings in the minds of so many people. Sometimes, it seems the only way to combat these oppressive stereotypes is to do just that — fight back.

Three young people featured in this week’s issue — Ronald Cruz, Hoku Jeffrey and Janelle Charles — are leading the way. They are showing the larger public that Asian Americans are leaders, that we are full-fledged Americans who care about the big issues that affect society.

While Cruz, Jeffrey and Charles head a radical movement to reaffirm affirmative action, Stanford University students are also speaking out. Last week, they held a rally to protest hate graffiti that defaced the campus’s hallowed halls. Many participants were just as angry with the administration’s mild response to the incident as they were to the actual act.

Words of indignation also echoed south, to Los Angeles. There, Asian Americans of all ethnic backgrounds gathered in front of the Japanese consulate to demand the government compensate women enslaved for sex during World War II.

And in Oakland, Councilman Danny Wan was the vocal leader of an ordinance that ensures non-English speaking residents have access to city departments and programs, in their own language.

We are loud and proud. But is America listening?