寫在前面的話：美國華裔在政壇上幾十年來聲音微弱，在社會問題上立場模糊的情況，隨著Andrew Yang 參與總統競選有了很大改變。他由於支持率低退出競選之後，不但沒有沉寂，反而在新冠疫情之下，強有力地繼續推動他「全民收入保障」 （Universal Basic Income）的主張，得到了包括Elon Musk和小札等矽谷企業家的廣泛支持。他在政治舞臺上影響力的不斷增長，更是鼓舞了很多亞裔年輕人積極參與美國政治， 發出聲音，採取行動，對政策制定產生影響。
今天我們摘選了17歲的華裔高中生Andrew Wang的一篇作文–Andrew Yang：A Good Start for Asian American Representation
Andrew Wang
New Trier High School
我們都認為Andrew Yang 很酷。他的風格挺幽默也挺放鬆，不是典型的死板又緊張兮兮的那種類型。他的支持者中，除了亞裔之外，其實有很多白人和西裔的年輕人擁護他。
他最近做了下面這些事情，讓他的熱度不減反增：
一）Lauch Humanity Forward：成立了這個非盈利組織，給生活有困難的美國人直接發錢。
Andrew Yang是個很有行動力的人。新冠肺炎發生後，美國有幾千萬人丟了工作，讓他的」全民收入保障「主張立刻有了實踐的機會。需要幫助的人通過社交媒體聯繫Humanity Forward，說明自己的情況，符合條件的就可以得到$250 到$1000美元不等的支票。至今他的組織已經發放了超過700萬美元的救濟金。目前還要10萬在候補名單上。他歡迎更多的人給他的新冠肺炎基金捐款。
二）Endored Joe Biden 背書支持拜登成為民主黨總統候選人
很多人問Andrew Yang 下一步的打算。會不會競選紐約市長，2024年會不會再次競選總統。他三月份背書支持了拜登，目前全力為他11月的大選在努力。
」I continuie to make it clear that I think four more years of a Trump presidency would be an utter disaster and that Joe needs to win and become our next president." 他在接受CNBC採訪時說，如果川普再當四年總統，會是天大的災難。我們需要拜登贏得大選，成為我們下一個總統。
有人在推特上說，如果拜登當選，可以為Andrew Yang設個類似「技術部長」的職位，為下一任政府效力。他說他會很高興做這種工作。
下周，Andrew Yang 會在民主黨全國大會（Democratic National Convention) 上發表演講。相信出了說支持拜登之外，會繼續推進他的全民收入保障主張。美國政府在新冠爆發之後，已經給每個公民發過一次1200美元的支票。在失業率居高不下的情況下，國會正在制定政策繼續給公民發錢，來讓人民生活有基本保障，減輕貧富分化造成的社會矛盾。
Andrew Yang 在政壇上的升起，對亞裔整體是很大的鼓舞。一個曾參加他洛杉磯總統競選集會的韓裔學生說：「我以為亞裔美國人在政壇上走到這一步還需要10，20年。這是一步巨大，巨大的飛躍。」
文章的英文原文節選：
Andrew Yang：A Good Start for Asian AmericanRepresentation
（excerpts fromAndrew Wang's Essay)
Systemically racist policies and sinophobia also shaped the current political landscape to disregard Asian voices. The portrayal and message of Asian Americans as being the 「model minority,」 who always mind their own business and are never outspoken on social issues, has been damaging to their communities.
In the past, Asians internalizing this portrayal in media and politics remained quiet and unobtrusive. If they did voice their opinions, their lack of political clout from white lawyers or politicians prevented their causes from being heard. Only recently have the latest generations of Asian Americans started to break this cycle on a local, state, and national level by rallying with other minority groups in order to make political progress. In fact, the Asian vote has started to become important in the eyes of U.S. politicians for future elections.
Historically a largely overlooked constituency, Asian Americans are increasingly courted by major political parties and individual campaigns. The Democratic and Republican parties have begun to take serious note of the group, drawn by several examples over the last decade of the electorate's ability to sway competitive elections, particularly at the state and local levels (Fang).
A testament to this recent increase in Asian political importance can be seen in 2020 democratic presidential candidate Andrew Yang and California Congresswoman Judy Chu. Yang and Chu are both examples of positive future representation for the Asian American community. Andrew Yang is the first ever Asian American candidate to gain the positive reception he did this past year. He was a legitimate contender for the presidency and is expected to run again in future elections. Many Asian Americans were surprised at his impact:
'Honestly I didn't think this would happen for like another 10, 20 years. It's insane to me because you know we don't have as much representation in the West as we'd like. So, this is like a giant, giant step,' said Korean American student Austin Koh, who attended Yang's Los Angeles rally (Lee).
Congresswoman Chu was elected Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus, which advocates for the needs and concerns of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community across the nation. She has been vocal in advocating for the rights of people of color. However, Yang’s run for office and Chu’s inauguration alone do not shift the political climate to solve all issues concerning Asian Americans. While these two politicians mark political progress for Asian Americans, the fact that there are so few in office alongside them proves we still live in a predominately white political and cultural sphere in America. Yang and Chu are cited as examples of change but are only exceptions to the rule of a white majority. It is up to Asian Americans to ensure accurate political representation continues and becomes normalized for the betterment of Asian communities.
Works Cited：
Fang, Jenn. "The Decade in Asian America."NBC News, 30 Dec. 2019.NBC News, www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/decade-asian-america-n1108581. Accessed 27 Apr. 2020.
Lee, Elizabeth.FirstAsian American Presidential Candidate Scrutinized by AsianAmericans.Federal Information &News Dispatch, LLC, Washington, 2019.
ProQuest, https://search-proquest-com.newtrier.idm.oclc.org/docview/