learntoquestion ltq discussions

Readings and Streamings:

Note: It’s important that you read and/or watch at least FOUR (4) of the 12 items listed below AND clearly reference them in your post. I would especially urge you to include within your choices #1 from Human Rights Watch (HRW) for a global perspective on this topic:

Reading options:

1. “Covid 19 fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide,” Human Rights Watch, May 12, 2020. https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/05/12/covid-19-fueling-anti-asian-racism-and-xenophobia-worldwide

2. Ivan Natividad, “Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies,” Berkeley News, February 12, 2020

https://news.berkeley.edu/2020/02/12/coronavirus-fear-of-asians-rooted-in-long-american-history-of-prejudicial-policies/

3. Stephanie Garcia, “’I am not a Virus’: How This Artist is Illustrating Coronavirus-Fueled Racism,” PBS, April 1, 2020. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/arts/i-am-not-a-virus-how-this-artist-is-illustrating-coronavirus-fueled-racism

4. Anna Purna Kambhampaty and Haruka Sakaguchi, “’I Will Not Stand Silent.’ 10 Asian-Americans Reflect on Racism During the Pandemic and the Need for Equality.” Time, June 25, 2020. https://time.com/5858649/racism-coronavirus/

5. Sarah Li, “Anti-Asian Hate Has Surged during the Coronavirus Pandemic, Reports Find,” Teen Vogue, September 18, 2020. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/anti-asian-racism-stop-aapi-hate

6. Felix Sitthivong, “Coronavirus has sparked another epidemic in my prison: Anti-Asian Racism,” The Marshall Project, December 3, 2020. https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020/12/03/coronavirus-has-sparked-another-epidemic-in-my-prison-anti-asian-racism

7. Liz Mineo, “The scapegoating of Asian Americans,” Harvard Gazette, March 24, 2021. https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2021/03/a-long-history-of-bigotry-against-asian-americans/

8. Michael Eric Dyson, “Why don’t we treat Asian American history the way we treat Black history,” Washington Post, March 26, 2021.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/asian-black...

OR if you are blocked by a firewall, use this link for a PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Cirx-q5wXJWd4bw0...

9. Jay Caspian King, “The Myth of Asian-American Identity,” The New York Times Magazine, October 5, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/05/magazine/asian-...

OR if you are blocked by a firewall, use this link for a PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qdAXaBKpA4qG6ycL6...

10. Sakshi Venkatraman, “Asian hate crimes rose 73% last year, updated FBI data says,” NBC News, October 25, 2021.https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-asian-hate-crimes-rose-73-last-year-updated-fbi-data-says-rcna3741

Streaming options:

11. Video from the Los Angeles Times: Epidemic of Hate: Asian Xenophobia and Coronavirus, February 3, 2020 [7:55] https://youtu.be/7nlenypkMww [7:55] and the accompanying article Suhuana Hassan, “Fear of coronavirus fuels racist sentiment targeting Asians, Los Angeles Times, February 3, 2020. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Z4iu--gthgMAwX2iuQdjeCkrGDwqvmTx/view?usp=sharing

12. Article and video: Erin Donaghue, “2,120 Hate Incidents Against Asian Americans Reported During Coronavirus Pandemic,” CBS News, July 2, 2020 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/anti-asian-american-hate-incidents-up-racism/

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The former President repeatedly referred to it as the “China virus” or the “Asian flu.” Insofar as we first became aware of a COVID-19 in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, that association has regrettably stuck for many Americans. What COVID has unleashed, not only in the United States but in far-flung places around the world, is anti-Chinese vitriol and, because of the long history of Asian interchangeability by non-Asians, anti-Asian views more broadly.

Xenophobia directed at Asians isn’t new, as we have/will see this week in class. What COVID has inspired is just the latest in a long history of anti-Asian hate.

President Biden signed S.937, the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, sponsored by Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), in May 2021. At the signing ceremony, Biden spoke eloquently of the “why” behind the legislation:

“We heard how too many Asian Americans have been waking up each morning this past year genuinely — genuinely — fearing for their safety just opening the door and walking down the street, and safety for their loved ones. The moms and dads who, when they let their kids out the door to go to school, were worried.

Attacked, blamed, scapegoated, harassed during this pandemic. Living in fear for their lives, as I said, just walking down street.

Grandparents afraid to leave their homes even to get vaccinated, for fear of being attacked.

Small business owners targeted and gunned down.

Students worried about two things: COVID-19 and being bullied.

Documented incidents of hate against Asian Americans have seen a shocking spike — as the Vice President has outlined at the front of her comments. Let alone — let alone the ones that have never been reported.

Gut-wrenching attacks on some of the most vulnerable people in our nation — the elderly, low-wage workers, women — brutally attacked simply by walking outside or waiting for a bus. Asian American women suffer twice as many incidents of harassment and violence as Asian American men.

And the conversation we had in Atlanta is one we’re hearing all across the country, that all of this hate hides in plain sight — it hides in plain sight — and too often, it is met with silence: silence by the media, silence by our politics, and silence by our history.

For centuries, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders — diverse and vibrant communities — have helped build this nation only to be often stepped over, forgotten, or ignored. You know, lived here for generations, but still considered, by some, the “other” — the “other.” It’s wrong. It’s simply — to use the phrase — it’s simply un-American.

My message to all of those of you who are hurting is: We see you. And the Congress has said: We see you. And we are committed to stop the hatred and the bias.”

The Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) population in the United States, according to the US Census (as of 2020), is believed to number approximately 20 million people, roughly 7.7% of the total population in the nation. It constitutes the fastest growing population in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, Asian-Americans constitute the “highest-income, best-educated and fastest-growing racial group in the United States.”

So many non-Asians can’t distinguish among Asians—witness Valerie Soh’s keenly observed short All Orientals Look the Same [pointedly using the pejorative term, “Orientals”]--so they lump Asians all together. Not unlike the Native American voices we heard who wish that we would identify Native peoples by their tribes and not label them all “native” or “indigenous,” many Asians too wish people would acknowledge their specific places of origin, their differing circumstances, cultures, and histories, and not simply assume that “sameness.”

We know that Asians have been the target of dismissive language; think of the episode when then Boston School Committee chair, Michael Loconto, was caught on tape (in fall 2020) mocking Asian names. And they have been the target of growing violence—think most especially of the killings of Asian women at spas in Atlanta in spring 2021.

For you to consider in this post, after choosing from the readings/streamings above:

Why the hate? And why is this hate not new but is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination? And why are most non-Asians—and some Asians--minimally aware of this history?

How have Asians—who we already know are classified as “white” when it’s convenient (think of the example of the Boston School Committee) and are also classified as “other” or “POC”—confronted this othering? The latest version may be triggered by COVID but we know this has a long and sordid history.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle?

Maybe those are foolish questions. What we know from our work on discrimination and othering thus far is that issues of “us” and “them,” “superiority” and “inferiority,” the desire to identify an “in group” and an “out group” governs much of human interaction.

Please weigh in on these questions in a thoughtful, well-supported post, supported by what you learned from class, from the readings/streamings and from what you know from your own experiences. Don’t just generalize—be specific! And please do post a question for the next person to respond to in their post (and respond to the question posed prior to your posting!).

Why the hate? And why is this hate not new but is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination?

And why are most non-Asians—and some Asians--minimally aware of this history?

Much of anti-Asian hate (specifically in the United States) had occured for centuries- and has long time been a way to find simple solutions and place blame on people who aren’t at fault. It’s a lot easier for people to hurt others than face the truth- and this is seen from Covid-19 to Pearl Harbor the the Chinese Exclusion Act of the 1880s. As Teen Vogue’s article “Anti-Asian Hate has Surged During the Pandemic” mentions, the “ narrative was intended to pit minorities against each other and allows a segment of the country to avoid any responsibility for addressing racism or the damage it continues to inflict.” The white segment of our country continues to ignore the problems it has induced on our world since it’s initial presence. Rather than fixing the issues and attempting to introduce conversations about racism, and even lesser-discussed anti-Asian hate, fear mongering and xenephobia allow people to live in states of bliss where they are unaware of the history of racism, and continue to benefit from its unacknowledged existence. As Berkley poses the existence of “the perceived threats [asian-immigrants] pose to America’s dominance domestically and abroad” calls for the acceptance of eastern power and dominance in economics and power worldwide- and to diminish the existence of ‘seperate-peoples’- allowing all groups to thrive at the same time where “no group dominates.”

How have Asians—who we already know are classified as “white” when it’s convenient (think of the example of the Boston School Committee) and are also classified as “other” or “POC”—confronted this othering? The latest version may be triggered by COVID but we know this has a long and sordid history.

NBS news’s article about the rise in Anti-Asian hate notes that the change in the way we speak about people of other races, cultures, and ethnicities a step in the right direction of diminishing the “other” category. The Marshall Project also details the experience of an Asian man from Laos in prison, and the ways in which he has called some people out on being “othered”- informing them that not all Asian people are from the same country- let alone are they responsible for Covid-19 and Pearl Harbor.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle?

I believe that everyone should bring more awareness and attention to the history and daily occurrence of Anti-Asian hate in the world. I think that the CBS News video brings attention to the stark difference of experience Asian people have had in the presence of Coronavirus compared to the SwineFlu and other diseases. I believe that acknowledging the hate and helping to educate people and call them out on hateful actions and words will slowly start to help diminish anti-asian hate, so that maybe some day it doesn’t exist at all.

The hatred among Asians arose in the late 18th century. At the time, it was directly solely at Chinese immigrants who were becoming a large part of the American population. Originally, much of this hatred was due to the fact that white Americans felt threatened by job loss from the growing Chinese middle class. As the construction of the transcontinental railroad came to an end, Chinese immigrants looked elsewhere for job opportunities. Consequently, white people felt as though their jobs were put in danger: especially at a time when the economy was fluctuating, a massive wave of economic insecurity swept over these working white Americans (source 2). In my opinion, this marked the root of hatred among Asian peoples. Unfortunately, this only heightened in decades to come. The most recent resurgence of this was fueled by the outbreak of the Coronavirus—of which originated in China. We are all aware of the repercussions this brought upon Asian communities, but what really exacerbated this issue was the ill-fated comments made by our president at the time on the current situation. Donald Trump is on record referring to Covid as the “Chinese virus,” undermining it with racist biases (Source 1). I am still uncertain as to why so many non-Asians are aware of these offenses. Taking a logical guess, it might be because society has not forced it onto the political agenda enough to the point where it is today. That is why we are seeing more and more of these headlines highlighting the ongoing struggle for equal rights for Asian Americans.

Regarding how Asians are handling this issue, there isn’t nearly enough going on in support of them. We have seen some hashtags circulate social media, such as “#IAmNotAVirus” (source 3), try to raise awareness for this human rights infringements. When it comes to black history, everyone is quick to jump on board and fight these injustices; however, when it comes to anti-Asian hate, it lacks any sort of movement. A cause of this might possibly be the absence of important figures or events to be spread into mainstream media and textbooks. I do think the movement is just beginning (and will hopefully expand into a much larger and more powerful movement), but currently there seems to be some struggles with really taking off. The countless incidents on the NYC subway alone serve as a representation that further exemplifies why people might be so slow with advocating for this issue. People turn their backs on the stereotypical name-calling and othering in fear that they will be put in danger if they stand up. Onlookers of these incidents explain their fear that the aggressors might “follow [them] without anyone else to bear witness to what might happen” (source 4). Society hopes that someone else will start the movement for them: they are looking for a leader in this movement, uninterested in doing it themselves.

Similar to what was mentioned above, I feel as though the first step should be defining a movement altogether. The hashtags are a great way to get it to circulate social media and get people on board with it. Additionally, people need to take initiative and start standing up when they see actions infringing upon human rights first hand. I feel the biggest role in achieving justice is to get this issue printed in textbooks. This is where non-Asians can educate themselves on the perpetrations and connect with the Asian community who must battle this hate together. Not until then will progress be made towards achieving true equality.

In order to include Asian American history in our curriculum, we need to start advocating for it. Recently, this movement has grown with the upsurge of anti-Asian hate, but we must continue to push this onto the political agenda so that effective change can be made. I feel as though courses such as Facing History and an incorporated aspect of Asian history in our US History courses is a great start to getting it permanently in our curriculum. With time I do believe that we will begin to see their history appear in textbooks more frequently.

Question: How can/should we teach our next generation to be more accepting of different races and ethnicities? Will this be an effective way to counter the hate present in society?

Asian American hate has such a long, complicated history that it cannot all be summed up into a single essay. With that being said, there are a couple of points that anyone with the smallest understanding of racism can comprehend.

First of all, Asian American hate stems from the idea of “us vs. them” or “the other”. When Asians started migrating to the US in the first place, there was the worry of the unknown and the threat that they are “taking what doesn’t belong to them”. This is *very* ironic, considering the first American colonies were established on stolen land. The hypocrisy of taking what does not belong to you, and then accusing others of doing the same thing is absurd. The craziest part about it is these Asians were doing the jobs other Americans did not want to do. As learned in class, during the gold rush Asians were made to do dangerous mining, as well as the more dangerous parts of building railroads. They did this because it was the only work they could get, and no one wanted to do it in the first place. They simply took what they could, and suddenly white Americans were frustrated by this, even though no one was doing these jobs in the first place. Hate around this time period is almost never taught in history classes, but so many groups of Asian Americans were victims of hate, violence, and even hate-fueled murder. A doctor post fellow discusses “the Chinese massacre of 1871, when a mob in Los Angeles’ Chinatown attacked and murdered 19 Chinese residents, including a 15-year-old boy, a reflection of the growing anti-Asian sentiment that came to its climax with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882” in the article The scapegoating of Asian Americans. It goes to show how far back this hate dates. In relation to Asian American hate, the article Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies also details how this hate goes so far back in history. An interviewee discussed the hateful things they hear about exchange students and how “I don’t know if people mean it in a malicious manner, but I don’t think it’s beneficial.” Some people don't see the gravity within their words and why it is so hurtful, but that is all because we are so ignorant of how hateful it is.

Asian American hate is very different from that of Black hate, and that is because discrimination stems from different ideas. What both groups have in common is that they are both considered “the other”, which automatically makes them less than. This is evident, especially in youth, where many asians can attest to being hated on because the food of their native country looked different, and therefore odd. Or their facial features were different, and therefore odd. The problem of racism in america is that we are afraid of what we dont know, and therefore put it down instead of try to learn. The worst part about Asian American discrimination is that it isnt taught the way it should be in history classes. In all honesty, i believe this is for the same reason that all minority groups are neglected in US history curriculums; if we dont talk about it, its as if it doesnt exist. This ideology is so flawed, because all that does is prevent awareness, and therefore the chain of hate continues to spread.

There is also the argument of black vs white, and no inbetween. Because we are so set on seeing life in the two extremes, other groups (native americans, latinos, asians) are simply left out of the picture, and therefore get no justice. They are ignored, unless they are being mocked.

I often see Asian Americans using their voice to say “we are our own group of people, and we will not be ignored”. Asians are so often grouped into other groups, but they hold a culture like no other. No minority group is the same, and our world is so bent on trying to say they are. Even within Asia, each country has its own customs and culture. No two countries are the same, yet they are treated as such. This is apparent when people claim that all asians look the same, as displayed in the video we watched: “All Orientals Look the Same”.

Covid has been such a difficult period for our asian population, because it was used as a way to put them down further. America has a deep, deep history of trying to blame minority groups for epidemics, and this is another example of looking for the easy way out. Furthermore, those who blamed *all of asia* were the ones not getting vaccinated and not wearing masks. The sheer irony…it is so infuriating. Furthermore, it has been a catalyst for hate crimes against asians, and the feeling of feeling unsafe in public because of hte way you look is so debilitating.

As shown in the article Coronavirus Has Sparked Another Epidemic in My Prison: Anti-Asian Racism many asians have had to fear for their life in public with this recent uptake of crime, and many businesses have been the target of vandalism. So many hardworking individuals can’t even keep their business safe because of ignorance- ignorance that can clearly be avoided if we teach our youth the beauty in different cultures and learning to embrace them. The write of this article details and said I “was concerned for his safety out on the road by himself. My son listened reluctantly as i went through the do's and don'ts of his reaction if he ever found himself in a sketchy situation. I wondered to myself if this was how generations of Black parents have felt when they had to have another version of "the talk" with their sons.” While this fear of violence comes from different roots, it all leads to the same conclusion: being different causes harm to so many people, and no one should have to live like that. Another article by teen vogue titled Anti-Asian Hate Has Surged During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Reports Find.

details the same issue, where a respondent to a survey about how COVID has affected them said “I feel scared to let my grandparents go out in fear that they may be harassed. I feel anger and confusion since society has normalized it so much that when we try to speak up about it, people still try and joke around about it”. This article details the way to stop this hate, and they came to the same conclusion as me: teaching our youth acceptance.

As allies, the first step is to listen to our asian peers. Listen to what they have been through, and absorb this information to show them that their experience and history is valid. If we fail to listen, we fail to learn.

• The sad reality of prejudice and racism in America exists in a simple truth that one doesn't have to look far to uncover the nation’s long history of vile attacks against non-white citizens. American expansionism is rooted in manifest destiny, the divine right bestowed upon Anglo-Saxon settlers to conquer and rule above all. The single greatest threat to this principle is diversity; and diversity exists in many capacities: diversity in thought, in speech, in culture, in race, and in color. Though our government may preach peace and diplomacy, history has proven time and time again that we are unafraid to rule with an iron fist, especially when threatened with diversity. The wave of Asian immigrants in the early 20th century introduced new cultures to America; proud and resilient cultures with empowered peoples. Their unwillingness to assimilate into an oppressive culture and distinguish themselves in a foreign land was inspiring, although foreboding to decades of violent and prejudicial outbreaks to come. As a nation we have often turned a blind eye to the suffering of Asian Americans, yet are too quick to scapegoat these Americans when we’re too ashamed to take responsibility for the faults in our oldest institutions.

• It is no secret that in America there is a strong correlation between race and economic class. The model minority myth has trapped generations of Asian Americans under the notion that they are predestined for economic success due to their physical appearance and cultural upbringing. While crediting many Asian cultures for inspiring success in their children in the face of adversity, Korean-American New York Times writer Jay Caspian King (source 9) has a rather different take. Reflecting on his childhood and the communities he was raised in, in reference to the number of Asian Americans in the country, he writes, “We, the 20 million, are either poor or we are assimilation machines. Those are the two outcomes.” This argument centers around a concept that “whiteness” is only as measurable as the size of your bank account. Economic prosperity has been weaponized to oppress and divide Asian communities across the country. Again he writes, “we know, at least subconsciously, that the identity politics of the modern, assimilated Asian American are focused on getting a seat at the wealthy, white liberal table. Or, if we want to be generous, we fight about food and representation and executive-suite access because we want our children to live without really having to think about any of this — to have the spoils of full whiteness.” This weaponization of success is actively diluting the rich and beautiful cultures of American citizens, and it needs to stop now.

• I believe that Asians and non-Asians alike must come together and establish a movement with attainable goals. To be allies in today’s world must mean so much more than instagram posts and tweets. Expectations must be established through critical engagement with communities and generations of diverse populations. Only then can a sound course of action be laid out. When we are united in solidarity we are most powerful against hate. Of course some may disagree with the course of action, but it is the allies’ responsibility to let those people voice their concerns and integrate their ideas into an ever-adapting fight for justice. We must not allow factions to destroy such movements from within.

Why the hate? And why is this hate not new but is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination? And why are most non-Asians—and some Asians--minimally aware of this history?

There is hate because there is fear. As we observed in class, we noticed that the propaganda around Asian people included subjects that would be used to promote fear. This fear turns into hate. People use hate because it is believed that the “problem” will disappear. In the article “Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies,” written by Ivan Natividad, Winston Tseng says “Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans may be scapegoated for things other than the coronavirus.” I agree with this claim. I believe that there is some sort of desire in people to put blame on someone rather than some thing or idea. Blaming someone is easier than blaming an idea because with people, there will be reactions. It does not matter if the reactions are good or bad. In instances like these, it’s easier to put blame on the people with lesser power. In the case of the bombing of Pearl Harbor, racists didn’t entirely shake their fists to the government who ultimately decided to bomb Pearl Harbor. No. They focused their attacks on Japanese people because they were the closest group of people who could acknowledge and feel what the racists wanted them to feel. This is also true in the case of the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Instead of people focusing their attention and energy on the work system, people focused on Chinese people, basically blaming them for “stealing” their jobs. Racism against Asians is not that noted as racism. It has been extremely normalized in the Asian community and of other communities as well. My friend told me of this experience they had at their school. They were walking down the hallway and a group of guys were walking past. One of them purposely bumped into my friend and laughed about it with his friends. As they walked off, the group referred to my friend as the c slur. When my friend told their other friends, their friends said something along the lines of “it is what is it” and left it at that. They brushed it off like it was nothing. And it wasn’t like this was the first time my friend experienced something like that in their school either. This just goes to show how under-cared racism against Asians is. In the Teen Vogue article “Anti-Asian Hate Has Surged During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Reports Find,” a youth campaign survey writes that “[t]his narrative was intended to pit minorities against each other and allows a segment of the country to avoid any responsibility for addressing racism or damage it continues to inflict.” I also think that the model minority myth has a play into it. By having this stereotype, people do not seem to care as much as Asians are thought to be not hurt by the system. People are aware of this history; however, we are given so little information about it, it’s like we don’t even know it in the first place. There is a quote in “Why don’t we treat Asian American history the way we treat Black history” that I really like. Michael Eric Dyson says “Asian American history is often footnoted or compartmentalized, recounted and analyzed as a subplot in the bigger narrative.” I think this quote goes really well with what I said previously.

How have Asians confronted this othering?

There was a “Stop Asian Hate” movement that was popular for a few weeks? But if I’m really honest I haven’t seen that much talking about the racism outside of school. I mean just recently I heard that there was a protest in Chinatown many months ago regarding Asian hate. I only knew of that information because somebody had a presentation about it. With that being said, I do believe there are more people sharing their experiences with racism on social media.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle?

I think that we should be united. It’s easy to say, but it will take a lot of effort to bring people together. On a smaller scale, it’s best to stand up against the people who are being blatantly obvious with their racism. It is also good to not participate in trends that could be and are racist. An example of this would be the “bing chilling” thing going around. It has died down by now but I still see some comments about it. For context, “bing chilling” refers to a video of John Cena speaking Chinese. I think the original intention of it was to poke fun at John Cena’s pronunciation, but it soon turned into a more obvious attempt at racism. Multiple times I have seen people comment “bing chilling” on a TikTok regarding anything remotely Asian. It did not matter if there was no mention of John Cena or of the meme. There was also another joke similar to that when Squid Game, a Korean show, was in its peak. I believe that it is crucial to call out all forms of media and people that are big parts of this, whether it’s TV shows having stereotypical characters to news sources having fear mongering headlines. The Harvard Gazette’s “The scapegoating of Asian Americans” explains that Trump’s description of the coronavirus has led to a rise to anti-Asian hate. A person coupled with a very outspoken mass is not a recipe for good times. In the written piece, Jason Beckfield says that it is also “the project of people who are in power too.” Having someone with a lot of influence is one of the best ways to get a message across.

travelalarmclock’s question: Why is COVID different from other worldwide disease outbreaks in causing such a plethora of racism and discrimination?

I think it’s partly due to the fact that this disease is so “modern” that we notice the racism and discrimination that comes from it. It’s so easy to see everything that happens. Whereas back then, there wasn’t much talk because of the fact that there is no platform to speak about it. I think another reason is because racism against Asians is so normalized that racists are comfortable with doing and saying racist things.

My Question:

We know that this type of awareness and care for hate against any group appears and disappears. What do you think is the cause of this? Do you think there is a way for people to permanently care?

As the Berkley News article mentions, I think much of the hate against Asian-Americans, especially in the past couple of years is rooted in the blame for the origin of COVID-19. I think it’s normal for human nature to put the blame on someone, as it seems like it’s something that we have always done, however, I definitely believe that this is not a justification for hateful actions, like violence. And sort of continuing this point, I don’t think that any of this is new, because Asian-Americans in this nation have always been blamed for making “normal” Americans’ life more difficult. At first, it was the “stealing of jobs” beginning in the nineteenth century and now it’s the starting a virus that shuts down how society was so used to functioning.

For me, it’s no surprise that this history and discrimination is commonly not known in many groups because I see that Asian-American history is so overlooked. The Teen Vogue article mentions exactly this in a way. Even though we don’t commonly talk about the past of Asian-American history, it also isn’t dealt with in the present. When only about 10% of harassment in public spaces are actually intervened with. There’s this implicit bias that society has already on certain groups, like Asians, and also the general notion in society that typically people choose to be the bystander. The NBC News article also mentions how many of these incidents aren’t even reported in the first place, which once again, demonstrates how Asian-Americans are overlooked in society.

I think Asians have confronted their “other” spot in society in a solemn way, which reflects the constant fear the younger generation has for the elderly, and also how Asians tend to respond meekly to their discrimination, knowing that, typically, nothing will be done. This is also seen in how it’s considered a benefit in society, for those half-Asian and half-white, too look more white, because they can pass looking as white, hence avoiding the blatant stereotypes and biases in society. This is what Jay Capsian Kang describes when he first met his daughter. It’s an unfortunate reality, but it seems like every day, in my eyes, Asians live in this bubble. We are judged for not being white enough, yet our struggles are overlooked because we seem more successful in society, than other minorities, which the model minority myth directly reflects.

As allies to the Asian-American community, I think the first step is to listen. As important as it is to learn and educate others, I think the Asian voice hasn’t even come into fruition because of how much happens to our community. There isn’t a time in society where people have stopped to fully listen and process these stories. After listening, I think a moment of reflection is crucial. If there’s a theme within these stories, think of why, and what is a valid and efficient solution. For example, constantly Asian students are the ones whose names are mixed up. I think this poses a great question of why and how we can do better as a society and even in the classroom setting.

To respond to M3L0D7’s question, I think this type of awareness and care comes and goes in waves, because society frequently only chooses to focus on the present. If the issue isn’t relevant, we frequently chose to push it into the back of our minds. I’m not sure if there’s a permanent solution to the situation you propose, but as simple as it is, I think we need to better educate ourselves in society first. Once we educate ourselves, we can start being able to better pay attention to how to approach and stand up for others.

My question is why do you think society has found it acceptable to pass on the discrimination against Asian-Americans, and why has this group been one of the most overlooked, especially when it comes to US history.

Similarly referenced in “The scapegoating of Asian Americans” by Liz Mineo, the hatred (as ugly as it sounds) has always been there however the surge and essential rise in COVID-19 cases was a catalyst for these horrific acts. In the article, a massacre around the time of the Chinese exclusion act was described as a reflection of a long-growing hatred. I would agree that this could also describe the current hatred today. This hatred is seen in almost any other minority group either from white people or from another group entirely. Yet something I couldn’t understand is why the country continues. Why does someone need to be put down? In “Coronavirus Has Sparked Another Epidemic in My Prison: Anti-Asian Racism”, the author talks about how when talking to his son, he felt that it was related to how black parents would have “the talk” to their sons. “The talk” to prevent them from being at the wrong place at the wrong time and attacked. Time and time again, I also have noticed this hatred that is let go and no one is called out on it. The treatment of another minority up until 2020 hasn’t been talked about because it’s rooted in the country. There's a reason not everything is shown on TV because half the time they don’t see it as a big deal until it’s their own racial group being hurt. I think to myself how this wouldn’t slide if this person was making fun of *insert another racial identity here*. That shouldn’t happen.

I think in general, they’re classified as POC in recent days because they’ve been hurt as a community. I’ve seen that being called POC means that you’re not getting the exact benefits of being white in America. The othering as opposed to calling them POC creates more tension between them and other racial groups. Given that they’ve been excluded for so long, by now they should at least be acknowledged enough to check a box. Many Asian Americans, in this specific example Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom, have protested peacefully against this hatred toward Asian Americans.If not peaceful, they are marching, they are spreading information and they are fighting back. I particularly liked Sjöblom’s story and her interview. As a fellow artist, I feel that whenever I can’t explain something, I could draw it out, and that’s what she did. She explained how a lot of the verbal hatred is coming from “jokes” that people then act baffled when no one’s laughing such as “Kung Flu” and “Pandamonium.” Which is another reason that I think these types of hatred go unnoticed. She had a similar talk with her children as the author of “Coronavirus Has Sparked Another Epidemic in My Prison: Anti-Asian Racism” did, and her son had a very different reaction. Later, Sjöblom shows how her son, like most people of color, at one point wanted to be white. They feel isolated and pushed away. Another article titled, “Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies”, says it best that “But there is no them. There’s only us, and we have to figure out how to go forward where everybody belongs and nobody dominates.”

In all honesty, people should just care. It’s a problem when someone is murdered by a police officer, it is a problem when someone shoots a nail salon up out of hatred. Groups shouldn't be treated any differently from one another. If one minority is hurt we’re all hurt. It shows that people of color are yet again being discriminated against and it shows that nonpeople of color yet again have things to work on. Education and acceptance would change this. Not only would people know what's going on to the point that they can form opinions on it but they would also pay attention if it were to pop up on the screen, not just ignore it and continue with their day. I also think the media, like movies, books, and plays, need more representation of minorities. The representation should be positive. Not a stereotype to set them back. Asian representation is something that many have not seen positive examples of. Even I can really only think of Shang Chi from MARVEL, Crazy Rich Asians, and Turning Red. That’s sad.

Responding to: why is COVID different from other worldwide disease outbreaks in causing such a plethora of racism and discrimination?

I think this disease had government support at the time, to use it as a weapon. The president himself (president as of 2020, Trump) called it racial names, so what’s stopping the people from doing the same? I always saw his actions go together, like Charlottesville. Many of the people there were supporters who felt that one of his comments was perfect for their riot. The government's support of racism only acts as a catalyst for others to do the same. Not only that, because this virus came from a human-animal interaction, it wasn’t surprising when people blamed the human. People always feel the need to blame things when in reality it’s not like that person knew this was going to happen.

Question: Is any representation in the media better than no representation?

Why the hate? And why is this hate not new but is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination? And why are most non-Asians—and some Asians--minimally aware of this history? How have Asians—who we already know are classified as “white” when it’s convenient (think of the example of the Boston School Committee) and are also classified as “other” or “POC”—confronted this othering? The latest version may be triggered by COVID but we know this has a long and sordid history.

The Harvard Gazette makes a comparison to the Chinese massacre of 1871, where 19 chinese residents were murdered. They also draw comparison to WWII and the Japanese. This type of violence against Asian Americans, and minorities in general, are not new. Asian Americans are a scapegoat to put it plainly. Around the time of the Chinese exclusion act, it is clear that white people were looking for an easily identifiable group to other, do their labor for them, and push blame for societies problems onto. They were looking to fill the hole left by the ending of slavery/super severe black discrimination, and Chinese immigrants fit that hole. Back then they used labor and jobs as an excuse to mistreat, and with the virus that happened to originate in China, they are using it as an excuse to mistreat once again. As explored in the Washington Post, Asian Americans are viewed much differently than other POC. Part of the reason is the model minority myth, that asian immigrants are doing so well and on the top of the country. Some movies like Turning Red, though perhaps unintentional, can push this harmful stereotype. Why is it harmful, you may ask? It pushes the idea that we never get hate-crimed, and when we do, none of the attention we need is ever given. That is why so many don’t know about all the things going on. We are often portrayed as a ‘respectable’ minority, an example to prove that America isn’t actually racist. But on the flip side, we experience a lot of hate and violence. Human Rights Watch goes through countries and all the hatecrimes that have happened. In the U.S. alone, the supposed melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities, there have been over 1.5 thousand hate crimes reported on just one platform. Imagine all that wasn’t reported or reported somewhere else. Trump’s language, calling it the ‘Chinese Virus’, added fuel to the flames. As explored in the article, governments are doing nothing, if not worsening the situation. In fact, an Italian governor said explicitly that “We’ve all seen the Chinese eating mice alive”. Again, they are using it as a scapegoat. In demoting the position of Chinese people in comparison to them, they allow themselves to stay dry from blame for the pandemic and maintain their national and ethnic pride/superiority. Additionally it is important to note that a lot of the hatecrimes are micro aggressions. In addition to the explicit spitting and name calling, Asian Americans (even before the pandemic) experienced dirty looks in public, unfair treatment in the workplace, and other smaller acts of hate. Suddenly, people have such a concern for their personal space only when Asian Americans get on the train. Personally, I have experienced many, and so has my mother, and brother, and father, and grandmother, and all my friends. We wear masks in fear of getting accused of spreading a virus. My mother was forced to clean a toilet while that was not part of her job description as a sales rep. My dad was given significantly more hours in Chinatown for his work - he is not Chinese. Everyone assumes my brother is good at math, just because of how he looks. All these microaggressions fly under the raidar to most non-Asian folks, but have just as bad consequences as slurs and violence.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle?