Middleman minority theory explains why certain minorities in America have made impressive socioeconomic achievements. It is found that their occupational patterns play an important role in their socioeconomic success. Middleman minorities usually concentrate in certain occupations and dominate these occupations. The term "middleman" indicates that such ethnic minorities are functioning as middleman between lower and upper class, customer and producer in the host society. The three preconditions through which middleman minorities get into these occupations are cultural, contextual and situational variables. The cultural variables concern mainly the homeland of the minorities, the value system of their native culture, and the economic background of the minorities. The second precondition consists of situational variables such as immigrants' intention to return to their homeland. This intention of being "sojourners" prevents assimilation of the ethnic minorities into the host culture. The hostile attitudes and strong structural discrimination are the contextual variables of the third precondition. Structural discrimination closes many job opportunities of the minorities.

The professional social worker needs to understand, wide social issues, including the culture and cultural background of minority persons and groups in the United States. One mlnorlty group wlth whlch soclal work has not much contact, and thus has llttle knowledge about, ls the Chlnese. Regarding professional social work knowledge about minority groups, the Chinese could be considered a "silent minority."