Reporter’s notebook: How Minnesotans perceive Asian people and notions of success

Recently released polling data found Minnesotans think it’s harder for Black, Hispanic or Indigenous people to succeed here compared to people who are white or of Asian descent.

The survey found about 2 in 5 Minnesotans think being Black or Brown makes it more difficult to be successful in Minnesota, while only about 1 in 5 say the same about being Asian.

The results around Asian Minnesotans were intriguing. It felt like a small but important difference in perception that was worth exploring. I talked to some local researchers about it and it led to some discussions about how Minnesotans view race and opportunity.

I asked Richard Lee, who teaches psychology and Asian American studies at the University of Minnesota, to take a look at the data.

‘You don’t see the full story’

A little ba