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-atlanta-history/2021/03/26/9f10a9ac-8d98-11eb-9423-04079921c915_story.html

OR if you are blocked by a firewall, use this link for a PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/14Cirx-q5wXJWd4bw0SUvRnp_zQRGGWug/view?usp=sharing

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-american-identity.html.

OR if you are blocked by a firewall, use this link for a PDF: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qdAXaBKpA4qG6ycL66tR5K3Crnudt3zq/view?usp=sharing

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!).

It is truly impossible to answer some of these questions asked here, because there are no reasonable answers, but I will still try.

Why the hate? There is no good reason for any of it, but as I read in the Human Rights Watch article "Covid 19 fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide" it is not purely an American phenomenon. However I am not as aware of Asian and Pacific Islander history in some of the other countries mentioned, I have noticed a few consistencies. The bias and violence in most places has existed for centuries. There is fear of stealing jobs or of Asians somehow posing a threat. Most people will always want to generalize to simplify things and make their own lives easier. They want community with a group and superiority over others - that's how hate groups happen.

Why aren't most non-Asians aware of the history? In the Washington Post article "Why don’t we treat Asian American history the way we treat Black history," author Michael Eric Dyson delves into this question in an attempt to answer it. Unlike some African American history, AAPI history has been purposefully erased. Also, African Americans may have different backgrounds but can unite under one cause. However someone from China is completely different than someone from any one of the Pacific Islands and someone from the Pacific Islands is different than someone from Vietnam, who is different than someone from Afghanistan. There is not as strong as a community bond because of the vastly different cultures. Many African Americans have lost their heritage over the generations, usually as a result of slavery, which is not usually (but not always) the case for AAPI's. That isn't to compare the worth or struggle of either of these groups, but to explain why we learn Black history - at least to an extent - but almost never AAPI history. They are considered a foreign threat, even if they were born in America or their families have been here for longer than some white families.

I also read two other articles, "I am not a Virus’: How This Artist is Illustrating Coronavirus-Fueled Racism," and "Coronavirus has sparked another epidemic in my prison: Anti-Asian Racism," which both showcase people of Asian descent fighting against prejudice worldwide. The first article is about Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom who is biologically Korean but was adopted and raised in Sweden and now lives in New Zealand. She makes art about her experiences with racism, under representation, and raising a family at a global spike of anti-Asian hate. Her art is to both spread awareness of her experiences and to connect with an audience of people like her who may also have felt isolated or disliked because of their ethnicity, culture, and/or race. The second is about Felix Sitthivong, a convict in an American prison who is an author and educator about AAPI awareness within and outside of his prison. He wrote about how even in prisons COVID-19 has resulted in a concerning amount of bias against Asians, and how he feels like it is hurting his community. He tries to help other prisoners who may experience anti-Asian racism as well as educate those who don't on how to be better allies. So to answer the question on what AAPI communities are doing about this, art and education in the hopes of building connections with both Asian and non-Asian people are only two examples of what is being done.

To be an ally is to be the opposite of a bystander. If you see someone being attacked either verbally or physically, do something! It might even inspire others to take a stand. We must speak out against hate in our homes, schools, and communities. We must vote and encourage our government to make efforts to stop these incidents from occurring, to hold those who commit hate crimes accountable, and to boost AAPI voices. We must do this without fear of judgment, isolation, or harassment, because those are the direct causes of inaction. Think of the poem First They Came by Martin Niemöller. If you stand up for nobody, who will be left to stand up for you?

To the next person: What sort of education should we be giving children on AAPI history? Is BLS a good example?

The COVID-19 pandemic has been terrifying to people across the world, but this fear has manifested itself in anti-Asian hatred. In times of difficulty, people need someone to blame, and prominent politicians and figureheads have ensured that this scapegoat is Asian America. According to the article "Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide," "Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Asians and people of Asian descent have been targets of derogatory language in media reports and statements by politicians as well as on social media platforms," The article continues to describe Trump's use of racially-motivated terminology such as "China Virus," "kung-flu" and "Wuhan virus." This rhetoric gives scared citizens a scapegoat and promotes fear-based racism, something built on decades of existing hatred. The article "Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies" references America's extensive history of anti-Asian policies, highlighting the inhumane treatment of Asian immigrants at Angel Island and the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act. China is the US's primary threat to world dominance, leading the US to promote this prevalent anti-Chinese and, by extension, anti-Asian hatred. The use of Asians as scapegoats for the COVID-19 pandemic has simply validated the existing racism that was already prevalent within the country. Although this racism has existed since the first waves of Asian immigration into the US, many non-Asians are not fully aware of the extent of this hatred. In the article, "Why don’t we treat Asian American history the way we treat Black history?" Michael Eric Dyson writes that "the “model minority” myth, too, helps obscure wealth inequality within Asian America." This "myth" invalidates the experiences of Asian Americans and continues the false idea that the American racial battle is simply black and white. Asian Americans are used as a standard for their Latino and black counterparts and their "success" is used to invalidate the systemic racism that plagues black and brown communities to this day.

Asians have confronted their "othering" by speaking out against the invalidation of their struggles. Many don't understand the hatred that Asian populations undergo every day, and Asian activists have used the recent increase in anti-Asian hatred to bring light to these existing struggles. The true fight for equality cannot even begin until there is widespread consciousness of the long and difficult history of Asian-Americans. In the article "The scapegoating of Asian Americans," Jason Beckfield, professor of sociology, states that “we have to recognize that anti-racism is not just the burden or the project of the people who are being targeted by those in power,” said Beckfield. “It ought to be the project of people who are in power too.” It is the responsibility of the empowered to fight for equality and use their privilege to make change. The first step to becoming an "ally" is to educate oneself. Much of this anti-Asian rhetoric is born out of ignorance and a more equitable world requires educated citizens. We must incorporate a more-complete history of Asian peoples into history curricula. When Americans do not know basic Asian geography, let alone the history of Japanese concentration camps or Chinese Exclusion Acts etc, we cannot address the hatred that plagues Asian communities; we will not be able to solve this problem if we don't understand it.

Hollyfawn's question is "What sort of education should we be giving children on AAPI history? Is BLS a good example?" I believe that school system's should move away from eurocentrism and spend more time on the rich history of the Asian continent. I believe BLS has taken steps in the correct direction as we learn a fairly diverse history in World History I and II. Asian history should be coupled with a more modern examination of anti-Asian hatred, something which I believe BLS struggles with. The American school system struggles to confront the darker parts of its history, especially its effects on modern day. Anti-black racism is often framed as "solved" after Lincoln and then MLK. The history of anti-Asian hatred is even more censored, and most don't learn about anti-Chinese immigration acts and the extensive scapegoating of Asian Americans throughout time.

For the next person: Why do you believe the history of anti-Asian hatred has been so insufficient and how can we increase positive Asian representation?

Racism is one of those things where it is nearly always going to be a part of us. It's simply a part of who we are and how we have developed as a species. What's alarming about what we have seen in the past few years is what could almost be called a statistical outlier. Despite AAPI people being the least likely to report hate crimes, the number of recorded AAPI hate crimes has increased by 73 percent.

It seems that Asians have always been the scapegoat for America. Whereas Black Americans were seen as "less than" and American Indians were viewed as mindless savages, Asian Americans have had to face being this cold, calculating villain. To identify where this hate comes from is a very difficult idea to tackle, but I believe it started with working conditions in the early 1900s. At the time, many Americans were suffering poverty and poor working conditions, so the only solution is to strike. The unfortunate problem was the waves of Chinese immigrants desperate for a job took the jobs that people were striking against. This was the spark in the keg, causing the explosion of hate strong for over one hundred years.

We see that same mentality carry over into today. All people feel with the pandemic is stress, fear, and grief, and there always has to be something to put those emotions onto. That burden has unfortunately been unwillingly taken by AAPI people, and it takes the form of anything from online harassment to hate crimes.

The best we can do today is educate, educate, educate. The only way to break the tribalism cycle is to cast out ignorance from our minds. While we can never fully do this, we can make our best effort to be mindful and never generalize.

To respond to mustardspider's question, "Why do you believe the history of anti-Asian hatred has been so insufficient and how can we increase positive Asian representation?": Most people prefer to not be told what they've done wrong, and since people associate themselves with their country, they attain the false idea that they are somehow connected to everything that happened hundreds of years ago, good or bad. To learn of the horrid conditions Asians have had to endure in this country would be to think themselves responsible. Of course they are not, which is an important thing to learn so that we may be more comfortable learning about the history of our country.

A question for the next person: Do you think the people making hateful remarks, similar to the ones in the "I am not a virus" article, are inherently racist and simply finding an excuse to express it or something else?

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?

- For so long Asian Americans have been used as a scape goat, we can see this in many instances of history; after pearl harbor when concentration camps were built in the U.S to contain Japanese Americans even though most of the people who ened up there were born in the U.S or weren't even of Japanese descent. Even today they are used as a scape goat for the pandemic, higher up officials want to point the blame and they use their community. In the article I read called 'Why don't we treat Asian-American history, the way we treat black history', I really got one perspective on the reason why many Asians are minimally aware of their history. In comparison to many parts of Asian history, black movements and history in America arcs from slavery, which is deemed big and important to learn about in many history classes. Asian history is not reflected enough in the curriculum of schools, we only hear of one or two stories on Chinese exclusion and immigration, but it isn't enough. There story is only represented as an immigrant story and never really goes into the true trauma and violence endured by their community, so students don't carry their story or their legacy and that is why we are minimally aware of their history because things like school curriculum fail to teach us the deep history of Asian Americans.

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?

In some cases there have been people who have stood up to this hate, many have shared their stories like in the article and photography of "I will not stand silent", they share their stories and allow others to reflect upon these horrid incidents and help bring light to this shadowed hate in our country. In another article I read " Covid 19 fueling Anti-Asian hate and xenophobia worldwide", I saw another reaction to this othering. I saw Asian governments turning on black and muslim communities and using them as scape goats, despite going through the same things themselves, I found it really interesting because despite being victims to this xenophobia and hate they still were able to do the same to the "others" within their own community, which also brings light to the colorism, and racism within their own community. From this, I want to hear a further perspective from Asians who also identify as black and/or muslim and see how different their experiences are as well.

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 people who aren't Asian should first educate themselves and not further insinuate themselves with this propoganda that the government puts out. I also think that when they see instances of this hate (because in many stories I read there were a lot of bystanders in Asian hate crimes that sat by and did nothing), should take action; something as simple as calling the police and reporting the crime.

- For people who are Asian, they should educate themselves on the racism within their own communities.

For the next person: what can we do to further include Asian history into the curriculum and what do you think about the racism and Islamophobia within the Asian community?

Why the hate? Aside from COVID-19 being generalized as the fault of the Chinese, Americans have felt threatened by Asians, and specifically China, for a long time. Just as we learned in class, it all started with the gold rush, where floods of Asians came into the United States in search of riches and wealth. When the gold rush didn't contain as much gold as these people hoped, they needed jobs, taking away from "true" Americans who were also in search of work. Americans felt threatened by not only Chinese stealing their jobs, by the entire country of China. "Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies" says, "It’s an assumption that the West, particularly Anglo-American Christians, should dominate the world." Back then, and still, now, Americans are nearly scared of China, and the idea of them becoming more powerful than the US. Another example of this is seen in "Coronavirus Has Sparked Another Epidemic in My Prison: Anti-Asian Racism". While in prison, Felix Sitthivong overheard two white prisoners who "Whined, 'Now we're gonna be the United States of China!'" Because of this insecurity, Americans take it out on Asian Americans, and the pandemic was the perfect reason to do just that. Whether it's addressing the virus as "Kung Flu" or the "China Virus", or violent attacks such as shootings and stabbings, "Stop AAPI Hate recorded 2,583 such incidents across the U.S between March 19 and August 5, 2020" (Anti-Asian Hate Has Surged During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Reports Find).

Why are most non-Asians—and some Asians--minimally aware of this history? I think that slavery and the racism towards African Americans kind of overshadows the fact that Asian Americans can also be a target. Another big part of it was that Asians didn't start immigrating into America until the mid 1900s, while Africans have been a part of America ever since the slave trade as early as the 1600s.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle? This could be false, but from what I've actually seen and noticed, is a lot less Asian targeted hate because of the virus since the protests. Protesting is really simple, yet effective. It brought a problem most people didn't know about to attention, and really made people ask themselves whether they were being a bystander or upstander. Anti-Asian hate crimes rose 73% last year, updated FBI data says said, "The way that the media is covering and the way that people are understanding anti-Asian hate at this moment, in some ways, draws attention to these long-standing anti-Asian biases in U.S. society." A lot of people, including me, were unaware of the long founded racism in our country towards Asians. The best way we can be allies is to not only not be racist, but be anti-racism, meaning we are standing up against it rather than not participating.

To answer StaphInfarction's question, do you think the people making hateful remarks, similar to the ones in the "I am not a virus" article, are inherently racist and simply finding an excuse to express it or something else? Yes, I think these people are for the most part inherently racist, and use the virus as an excuse to engage in their racist feelings. If they see other people partaking in it, they tell themselves that it's common knowledge or obvious that their thinking is right, rather than addressing their racist tendencies.

A question for someone else: Do you think that the lack of awareness for Asian Hate is due to the overshadowing of African American racism, a lack of education, or both?

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?

Anti-Asian discrimination has been relevant throughout history and in class, we talked about its history and how Asian discrimination and prejudice rose when mostly Chinese men migrated to America to work during the Gold Rush or build the continental railroad. There was a spread of misinformation about their race for example portraying Asians as sexual offenders or as people with an incentive of stealing jobs in America. In the Marshall Project article, Felix explains how he watched a CNN white house briefing and heard Trump call coronavirus, Chinese virus, or Kung flu. Upon hearing this he was taken back to his childhood when children would make fun of him for looking and smelling different. This is an example that Asian discrimination is not a new concept and that people constantly are racist because they carry wrong construed opinions of people that look different than them. I think many people are minimally aware of this history and its impact because of the lack of awareness there has been for so long. In the HRW article, they mention how federal agencies have not done anything to address the increasing number of racist attacks on the Asian population. In schools, there is not much taught about the existence of anti-Asian which also drives this lack or awareness.

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.

When confronted with hate and othering there are individuals who internalize what’s going on. In many of the stories that we read in class on that website, people were confused to why they were being attacked because they were not doing anything. They also would be confused because many interactions involved people saying go back to China but they were either born in America or not from China. In the NBS news article, they mention that although anti-Asian crime has increased by 73% there is also data showing that Asian Americans are most likely to not report hate crimes or be involved in crime in general. This issue has to do with the language barrier while reporting to law enforcement. There are those who advocate for change like Sjöblom a Korean Swedish artist. Her work also brings more awareness because she is able to portray real interactions and feelings that happen to Asian Americans with no filter, which may come across as controversial but nevertheless still important.

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

In order to be allies we cannot be bystanders because that only suggests that these incidents are okay. We should also be educated about the history of Asian immigrants and how mistreatment is a prevalent thing in today’s world.

Do you think that the lack of awareness for Asian Hate is due to the overshadowing of African American racism, a lack of education, or both?

I would say the lack of awareness of Asian hate is due to both the overshadowing of African American racism and a lack of education. I think there's more awareness and reporting when it comes to black prejudice, especially in America. Both races have a long history of discrimination and I think it’s wrong to diminish the hate that Asian Americans encounter. We should be educated more on the problems of anti-Asian hate because that would help with being aware of the issue.

For the next person: In what ways does society suppress Asian discrimination?

Why the hate? People seem to like a simple reason, an organized blame, when faced with a vast issue. A scapegoat is a way for them to direct their fear towards another through prejudice and hatred. It’s a horrible fact that racism is built into the framework of not only our country, but many others. Hate crimes against Asian people have risen across the world, (according to the articles: “Anti-Asian hate crimes rose 73% last year, updated FBI data says” as well as “Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide”) and it feels as though very little has been done to remedy it. Figures in power have reinforced this phenomenon — Trump especially — essentially telling a racist that it is acceptable for them to spread that same violence and hatred through the world, to inflict harm on anyone they find ‘other.’ To this person, it becomes a case of ‘if someone in power can do it, that must mean it is acceptable to spread ignorance and bigotry.’ When racism is perpetrated from the very top, as it was with Trump, it becomes alarmingly common for that same racism to be reflected at giant rates in the country, not because people have suddenly decided to become bigoted but because the bigotry that has festered in the country feels it will be protected when it attacks.

And why is this hate not new but is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination? Racism has existed as long as the nation has, hatred allowed to flourish. It first started during the Gold Rush, when immigrants and eastern settlers flocked to California to mine and white miners viewed anyone ‘other’ — Chinese immigrants — as a threat. An easy scapegoat (seen in the article “The scapegoating of Asian Americans”). This hatred is based in a long history of anti-Asian discrimination because, through legislature such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and the fact that Japanese concentration camps were built, the federal government essentially established the racism and hate as history continued. It made anti-Asian sentiment something ‘normal’ in society, despite the work of advocates for social justice and change. And, despite work being done to counter that sentiment, it obviously still exists throughout the country, and the world. In the “‘I am not a virus.’ How this artist is illustrating coronavirus-fueled racism” article, the artist depicts how horribly this bigotry and hatred has been normalized in Sweden, where she used to live before moving, and Europe in general. If one doesn’t confront the fact that hate exists, one cannot even begin to dismantle the systems that uphold it.

What should Asians as well as non-Asians do today to be allies in response to what these articles and the video clips chronicle? First and foremost, it’s important not to allow this pattern of bystanderism to continue. For example, when we went over the reports of hate crimes in class, the vast majority of them reported the fact that no one did anything to intervene, whether they stood by and watched the crime be committed or seemed unbothered/unconcerned when the crime was reported. This normalization of hatred cannot stand, should not stand, and in order to be allies you can’t stand by, nor can you ignore the fact that so many are. And after that, one has to advocate, to speak up, to educate themself on the issue. Lobby, discuss, protest, create, make your voice heard or uplift another’s. The most important thing is to help and educate, to do something.

To answer siri/alexa’s question: “What can we do to further include Asian history into the curriculum and what do you think about the racism and Islamophobia within the Asian community?” I would say it is important to take time, within a textbook and within a curriculum, to acknowledge Asian history. Newer textbooks have taken some steps to remedy this, but history as a whole is still taught in a very white/eurocentric manner. I’d say more classes that specifically focused on Asian history as well as more of an emphasis on it in general. For example, textbooks can take ten to twenty pages on the Declaration of Independence but only one or two on the Chinese Exclusion Act. If our history curriculum doesn’t highlight these issues, it will lead students with a warped understanding of the world. A sure way to attempt to work at that problem is both to acknowledge the way it has been taught in the past in classrooms as well as put more of an emphasis on it in general. Racism and Islamophobia within the Asian community, I think, likely stems from the same idea of ‘othering’ a group as racism in general. I believe that it needs to be highlighted more so that it can be addressed and so that it can be fought against and people can be educated.

My question — How impactful do you think artwork, such as that of the “‘I am not a virus.’ How this artist is illustrating coronavirus-fueled racism” is in fighting this issue? How much do you think how we are teaching these issues affects hateful incidents, like those described in this particular article?

The hate for Asian Americans has obviously increased since the beginning of the COVID pandemic, but it has always been there. This isn't some new phenomenon, it is just racist people turning their focus onto a different group for once. As a few others have mentioned, the roots of this hate in America goes back hundreds of years to the gold rush and even before that. Back then , people were scared of immigrants stealing their jobs, and the racist attitude has persisted in the country since. The incidents have gotten more frequent, as shown by the Time article chronicling different incidents that have happened. I think that another reason for the racism is because of the racial limbo Asian people are often categorized into. People don't see them as a the same kind of minority as other, and that is definitely partially due to the fact that American schools don't teach about the history of anti-Asian racism. This isn't just a problem in America, of course. As mentioned in, "Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide", this kind of racism is happening on different levels across the world. In Malaysia, they are detaining refugees because "they might spread disease", as well as violent attacks in Spain and Australia.

The response to this increased racism has definitely been pretty prominent. Many different methods are being used to help get the stories out there, and to help make sure that there is less anti-Asian sentiment around the world. In Europe, the phrase "I am not a virus" has gained massive popularity as a response to the violence and racism. Comics in Swedish newspapers were published to help bring awareness, as described in, "‘I am not a virus.’ How this artist is illustrating coronavirus-fueled racism". There has also been lots of media coverage examining the history of Anti-Asian racism since these incidents have started to happen, which has helped raise awareness about this issue. While this racism is not new at all, as discussed by, "Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies", the publicity it is getting is new. People are starting, at least to a degree, realize how much of a problem racism against Asian people is in the world and how little we are made aware of.

I feel like being an ally for Asian people at this time is not much different to being an ally for other groups that are being discriminated against or marginalized at any other point in time. I think that in this case, it starts with making sure that future generations learn more about Anti-Asian racism and its history in the country. While you do learn about things like the Chinese Exclusion Act, you don't get nearly as much of the history of the racism as you do with other historically marginalized groups.

To respond to this question:

Do you think that the lack of awareness for Asian Hate is due to the overshadowing of African American racism, a lack of education, or both?

I would definitely say that both of those things combine are definitely part of the reason why there is such little awareness about this hate. The history of Anti-Black racism is definitively more taught than that of Anti-Asian racism. This does make sense, in my opinion, given American history with slavery. However, the lack of teaching of Asian history in the same way is definitely a huge problem. The role that Asian immigrants played in building the West half of the country is not all that dissimilar to that of black slaves in the East, albeit not with the same level of racism. Despite this, we barely learn about that in history class. I feel like teaching just how instrumental Asian people have been in constructing the United States will definitely help erase some of the idea of Asians being "other" that exists for many in this country.

My question is: Do you think that we should teach the history of Asian Americans similar to that of Aftrican Americans in the United States, or should we approach them differently?

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

These are difficult questions because there's simply no justification for such actions. However, regarding anti-Asian hate, fear is one of the biggest motivators behind discrimination. Fear led to blaming and scapegoating. The uncertainty of the Covid-19 outbreak led to the public searching for someone to blame. This gives them a source for a problem and, thus, "a solution." If they can identify something or someone as the source of an issue, it gives them something concrete to fight. And Felix Sitthivong, from the Marshall Project, agrees that "hate is not a mistake. It is an intentional act meant to lacerate, maim, mutilate, disable, debilitate, impair, and every other goddamn verb my thesaurus has for causing pain." There has been a long history of anti-Asian discrimination. One common thread throughout the decades has been Americans fearing the influence of Asian Americans, either taking away jobs or replacing white communities. During class this week, I learned about Vincent Chin and, without a doubt, "Vincent Chin ought to be as well known, and as righteously mourned, as George Floyd," (Dyson).

Furthermore, I agree with Michael Dyson from the Wahington Post that "by contrast, Asian American history is often footnoted or compartmentalized, recounted and analyzed as a subplot in the bigger narrative. For one, Asian Americans have been unjustly perceived as less assertive than African Americans in the fight for equality." The lack of emphasis on Asian American studies and its unmistakable impact on American society is too often overlooked. It was not until recently that I read my first Asian American author in school, "The Joy Luck Club," written by Amy Tan. In contrast, the emphasis on black history and portrayal of black figures and cultures enter the classroom as early as the first years of primary school. This gap in education on Asian American culture and history results in youth and media failing to take Asian American hate as seriously.

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.

One individual that stood out to me was Korean-Swedish cartoonist and graphic designer Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom. She shares her experiences as an individual of Asian descent living in a European country. She highlights the subtle racism she encounters daily and the repercussions of racism and discrimination on her family members – all through cartoons. Sjöblom found that "people tend to understand" her side on controversial topics "better or show more empathy when they see [her] drawings." I think it's incredible that individuals like Sjöblom recognize the power of comics and illustrations. They, too, are media, just like how photographs and written text are. They, too, can incite action and change.

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

It starts with holding public figures, politicians, and really everyone accountable. The Human Rights World article noted how "US President Donald Trump's use of the term "Chinese virus" and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's use of "Wuhan virus" may have encouraged the use of hate speech in the US." Additionally, the misconception that the Chinese have brought the virus is perpetuated by the false and ignorant remarks of influential leaders. Anti-Asian hate is a global occurrence, but I was shocked to find out that the "governor of the Veneto region of Italy, an early epicenter of the pandemic, told journalists in February that the country would be better than China in handling the virus due to Italians' 'culturally strong attention to hygiene, washing hands, taking showers, whereas we have all seen the Chinese eating mice alive.'" How can anyone say that… the stereotypes, along with the derogatory and racist remarks, infuriate me. So the first step is to call out these comments and the racist sentiments of leaders/politicians. The Harvard Case agrees that "we have to recognize that anti-racism is not just the burden or the project of the people who are being targeted by those in power,... it ought to be the project of people who are in power too."

Responding to Someepiphany:

How impactful do you think artwork, such as that of the “‘I am not a virus.’ How this artist is illustrating coronavirus-fueled racism” is in fighting this issue? How much do you think how we are teaching these issues affects hateful incidents like those described in this particular article?

I think her artwork is quite impactful. As I mentioned before, it's crucial to educate ourselves on Asian American cultures, histories, and hate. These cartoons are essential for introducing these topics and conversations to the younger generations. It is ultimately the younger generations that dictate the future of our society. Hence, we must educate them and teach them about the vibrancy of Asian American heritage but also the hate and the struggles they face. These cartoons also build an emotional connection with the audience. Sjöblom's anxiety and fear are easier to understand and empathisize with for those who may not have experienced anti-Asian hate. Empathy and compassion will ultimately nurture understanding.

My question is... How can we hold public figures/politicians accountable?

This recent spike in anti-Asian discrimination due to the pandemic is a reflection of a wider issue of anti-Asian discrimination throughout history. Throughout history, white people and the U.S. government have found excuses which are usually not based in much fact to discriminate against Asian people and this is definitely the case with the pandemic as well. Many of the articles that I read brought up the Chinese Exclusion Act and the Japanese internment camps which are examples of this. I think that people aren't really aware of this history because the U.S. education system tries to sweep it under the rug. Similarly to what we studied in the 1619 project, the government tries to hide prior atrocities that they don't want us to acknowledge.

Asian people have been increasingly speaking out about anti-Asian racism since the beginning of the pandemic. The Teen Vogue article titled "Anti-Asian Hate Has Surged During the Coronavirus Pandemic, Reports Find", discussed the Stop AAPI Hate initiative which has been documenting anti-Asian hate crimes throughout the pandemic. This initiative has been gathering statistics of hate crimes and surveying people involved to raise awareness. One thing in particular that stood out to me was that there were reports from people as young as 13 in the article discussing their fears and anger toward the growing discrimination. Groups such as these have been raising awareness about these hate crimes and giving a platform to Asian people to share their experiences and perspectives on this growth in AAPI hate.

I think that allies should listen to and share the stories of Asian people who face this discrimination. It is also important that we educate people on the history of anti-Asian racism throughout history in order to greater understand how it impacts people today. Allies should also call out harmful rhetoric and ideas that contribute to anti-Asian hate. The Harvard Gazette article titled "The Scapegoating of Asian Americans" and the Teen Vogue article mentioned earlier both describe how Trump's use of the racist terms the "Chinese virus" and the "Kung Flu" in reference to the coronavirus have had a direct impact on the increase in anti-Asian racism. Allies should make an effort to educate others as to why these terms and others like it are harmful and contribute to the violence and discrimination.

In response to moioma:

I think the most affective way that we can hold politicians accountable is by voting. If a politician is using their position of power to spread racism and discrimination the best way that we can hold them accountable is by voting them out of office.

My question is: How can we dismantle the racist stereotypes and ideas about Asian people so that the cycle of AAPI hate that we see throughout history stops for good?

The anti-Asian discrimination due to COVID is another addition to a long list of historical events in which Asians have been used as a scapegoat. In the United States, anti-Asian racism has dated back since Asians first immigrated to the US to work during the Gold Rush. White Americans have historically been xenophobic towards all kinds of racial and ethnic groups that they see as inferior or just different, and when the world was struck by the pandemic, it was easy for people to put the blame on Asians. Though Asian Americans have faced severe inequality and discrimination, the article “Why don’t we treat Asian American history the way we treat Black history” says that “the snarling legacy of disenfranchisement does not as easily attach to Asian America, writ large.” Asians have been accused of stealing jobs, misrepresented as disease carriers, and labeled as aggressive and more animal-like than human. However, it is rare for these kinds of things to be taught in school environments, and for many Americans, it has faded into the past. Only when six women of Asian descent are killed is when the hate crimes against AAPI are able to be highlighted. Many people are minimally aware of this history as a result of poor education, politicians and government officials perpetuating stereotypes and hate speech, and the idea of the “model minority”, which helps obscure the wealth inequality within Asia America. In “Covid-19 Fueling Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia Worldwide,” it brings up instances such as “US President Donald Trump’s use of the term ‘Chinese virus’ and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s use of ‘Wuhan virus’” as examples of not only public hate speech, but also derogatory statements coming from people with high, influential positions that are supposed to serve as leaders. Because of statements like these that are supposed to be “jokes”, Asian Americans’ fight for respect and equality continue to be disregarded.

Asians have confronted the classification as “other”, “POC”, or “white” whenever convenient countless times. Beginning with the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, white Americans did the best they could to make Asians feel unwelcome and foreign, simply because they perceived Asian immigrants as threats to white Americans’ jobs. In “Coronavirus: Fear of Asians rooted in long American history of prejudicial policies”, it brings up the association between disease and immigrants that was created to justify anti-immigration policy. Now, with COVID, the prejudices against people from China are becoming even more popular and widespread. Something that this article brings up that I was not aware of was that in 2018, a federal law was passed restricting Chinese student and scholar immigration to America, which was a result of debates about trade. Professor John Powell says that many of these debates are actually about preserving white dominance, and that “It’s an assumption that the West, particularly Anglo-American Christians, should dominate the world…So, somehow, Asians are seen as not real Americans and not to be trusted.”

I think that a way for people to be allies to Asians and the inequalities and prejudices that they are facing is to promote the voices and stories of Asian people, and not those of people that have contributed to the ignorant idea that Chinese people brought the virus. In addition to listening to stories, generally educating yourself gives so much more context to the situation and the depth of the pain that it causes. I think that at least at BLS we do learn a decent amount of Asian history, but there is so much more, especially Asian history in America, that falls through the cracks. Another step to be allies is to debunk the stereotypes that are associated with Asians. Stereotypes are a main contributor of both the violence and xenophobia towards Asians.

Responding to mashedpotatoes25: How can we dismantle the racist stereotypes and ideas about Asian people so that the cycle of AAPI hate that we see throughout history stops for good?

I think that to begin with, we have to do as much as we can to both educate ourselves and others about Asian history and the harm that these racial stereotypes cause. Being vocal about how certain things are unacceptable, and especially standing up to people with high power and influence if we can. Unfortunately, I do not think that it is realistic that racial stereotypes and ideas about Asian people will go away easily or quickly, however I think that if there is more education, especially for young kids and newer generations, there will hopefully be a shift away from the “us” versus “them” mindset.

My question is: Do you think that Asian Americans have more allies in society now when it comes to violence? Does social media helps or hurts more?

Articles read: Human Rights Watch, Teen Vogue, NBC news, CBS news video

There has been an enormous outpour of hate crimes in both the US and around the world aimed at Asians due to Covid. The world has decided to use this virus as another excuse for xenophobia and discrimination. Although Covid-19 originated in China, there is absolutely no evidence that it was "intentional". Why is an entire culture being blamed and discriminated for a virus that was out of their control? People have decided to stereotype and categorize Asian people and saying that they are virus carriers, even though everyone has the same chance of getting the disease. Just from February to April 2020, there were 1,500 reports of racist incidents (Source: Human Rights Watch). Hate crimes against Asian rose a whopping 73% in 2020 (Source: NBC News, FBI Data).

There is a long history of anti-Asian discrimination, from immigration laws to public health and housing/labor laws. They were thought to have a "lower intelligence" than Americans (ex. the intelligence tests for immigrants). The Chinese Exclusion Act was passed in 1882, refusing immigrants to enter the US based off of their race/origin.

In an AAPI Hate report, 43% were verbally harassed, 26% were shunned, 21% were bullied online, and 10% were physically assaulted.

Many victims of these hate crimes have reported mental health struggles because of this discrimination and xenophobia, and report horror stories from them and their families. They feel as though they have to live up to the "model minority" myth, made exclusively to pit minorities against each other.

The Teen Vogue article talks about the importance of bystanders. They should intervene and investigate when they see discrimination happening. Antibias training should be given to teachers and administrators. Anti-bullying policies in schools should be stronger, and schools should implement ethnic studies to learn about the racial disparities and inequalities in our history. Lastly, wellness services, such as counselors, should be provided so that students have trusted adults they can talk to.

In the CBS video, the restaurant owner talks about his loss in revenue due to Covid. He says that since Covid originated from China, people now associate Chinese people and culture with the Coronavirus, claiming that they are spreading the disease, leading to large discrimination.

I think that people should start taking bigger stands against this discrimination. I feel as though there isn't enough media coverage for anti-Asian hate crimes, and not as many people that protest against this. There has been laws that have passed recently against hate crimes, but for some reason, they still occur quite often. For some reason, it is not "breaking news" when an Asian-owned business is vandalized or broken in to, etc.

Question from last person: What sort of education should we be giving children on AAPI history? Is BLS a good example?

I think that learning about AAPI history (including the discrimination and injustice) should be implemented in the World History/US History curriculum. At BLS, we learn a lot about the discrimination of immigrants coming to the US in the 19th and 20th centuries, including the Chinese Exclusion Act. But we don't really learn about how a lot of the racism still occurs today. We also need to take measures to prevent discrimination in the school community.

My Question: What do you think would be the strongest move to stop AAPI hate crimes from happening, as many of the approaches taken haven't had a major impact?

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?

Anti-Asian hate has been prominent in America ever since Asians had first immigrated to the country, mainly because of fear. This fear manifested itself in a couple ways: there was fear that Asian immigrants would take away jobs from the “American” people with their determination, and fear that they would be threats to American security because of their supposed loyalty to their home country. Fear encourages people to act, to seek revenge in defense of America and for themselves. Nowadays, anti-Asian hate is brought out in the forms of microagressions, verbal and physical crimes, and is often a result of COVID-19 and its connection to China, its origin country. There have been conspiracies that COVID-19 is a weapon that the Chinese government used to decimate the Western population, leading people to fear that Chinese people are using COVID-19 to help the Chinese government achieve this goal. But because Asians “look the same,” it’s not only Chinese people who are being attacked today, but Asians who are mistaken for Chinese.

Asian hate has had a long history. Historically, Japan was a global superpower in WWII, and its possible threats against the US had a lasting impact on the millions of Japanese who would later immigrate to America. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor would force these Japanese Americans into concentration camps, where they would have to abandon their homes, isolate themselves in unsanitary, confined rooms, and plead their loyalty to America and allowance back into society. According to Berkeley News, Winston Tseng, a research scientist, says that with the COVID-19 rise in Asian hate crimes, “History is resurfacing again, with China becoming a stronger country and more competitive and a threat to U.S. dominance today, just like Japan was a threat in the second world war.” History is essentially repeating itself. But now, instead of the Japanese, the Chinese are being targeted because of the virus. Most non-Asians and I believe a significant amount of Asians don’t know much about this history because compared with other American histories such as the white man’s history or black history, Asian American history is cast to the side. According to the article “Why We Don’t Treat Asian American History the Way We Treat Black History, black Americans are the ”default“ minority, and is likely the first race one thinks about when ”POC“ is mentioned. Because of this, the stories of other people of color, such as Asian Americans, are not taught in schools. This leads to a deficit in knowledge about the Asian American experience, even among those who are Asian American. Additionally, there is often a language barrier between Asian parents and their Asian American children who grew up in America, learning English but unable to speak or understand their mother tongue fluently. This leads to a loss of stories about the Asian American experience that would have been passed down to their children, but would have been difficult due to the language, and even cultural barriers that divide the generations.

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.

Asian Americans are perpetual foreigners; they’re never going to fit with the whites, but will never quite fit with other POC because of the model minority myth, which places Asian Americans on a pedestal for being the most successful compared with other minority groups. As a result, they’re sandwiched awkwardly in the middle, amd will side with white or POC as society sees fit. This leads Asian Americans to desire to be as white as they can, as appearing white is better than appearing POC in America. Some will try to assimilate into American culture so that they won’t be subjected to discrimination in America, with many parents opting their children out of learning their mother language in belief that being really good at English is enough to be upwardly mobile in such a country that favors the language. Additionally, parents fear that it would be better in this way because their children might not be cast aside if they did not know their mother tongue.

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

Asians and non-Asians today should call out anti-Asian hate when they see it, and encourage the media to cover instances of anti-Asian hate when they appear. It’s also important for people to recognize that not all Asians are the same; different and distinct ethnicities make up “Asian,” and they really shouldn’t be grouped all together given their contrasting histories. This will also help alleviate the burdens of the model minority myth, which disregards that different types of Asian folks struggle with significant levels of poverty. The New York Times article “The Myth of Asian American Identity” pinpoints this: “What else could you possibly do with a group that includes everyone from well-educated Brahmin doctors from India to impoverished Hmong refugees?“ Finally, it’s important for everybody to recognize that phrases such as the ”Chinese“ or Wuhan virus” are harmful toward the community, and even phrases like “you’re so smart because you’re Asian” can have its drawbacks. Associating an event to an entire race only feeds to the illusion that all Asian don’t only look the same, but are all model minorities and are struggling with the same problems.

Question from last person: What do you think would be the strongest move to stop AAPI hate crimes from happening, as many of the approaches taken haven't had a major impact?

Getting people to understand and to stop hating is a gradual process; people will continue to commit hate crimes when given a reason to. According to Human Rights Watch, John Sifton says that “Governments should act to expand public outreach, promote tolerance, and counter hate speech while agggressively investogating and prosecuting hate crimes.” I agree with this statement. One of the best ways we can combat hate crimes is to educate, debunk stereotypes and to stand up against hate speech as it’s going around. But as for more immediate approaches to stopping hate crimes before they happen, there should be more encouragement from the government toward citizens to be upstanders when they witness anti-Asian hate, as many of the testimonies from those who are the victims of such crimes involve the fact that nobody bothered to stand up for them. Additionally, there should be an expansion in Asian or multilingual officers who can understand Asians who don’t speak English, as many people who are subjected to violence are unable to speak up, afraid that their call for help would be in vain because of a language barrier.

My Question to the next person: How much did you know about Asian American history before this unit? Before the pandemic?

It is easy to hate. It is easy to blame all of your problems on another group of people that isn't you. Not only have Asians been blamed for the Corona Virus, even before that they've been blamed for stealing jobs and more. Worldwide, communities see the large number of Asians as a threat to their culture and lifestyle, so everyday citizens will go out of their way to harass Asians (the KKK in 1970s) or governments will take racist action (for ex. US exclusions acts and during Covid Russia found foreigners and forced them to quarantine regardless of their travel history). Many people are minimally aware of this history as a result of poor education, politicians and government officials perpetuating stereotypes and hate speech, and the idea of the “model minority”, which helps obscure the wealth inequality within Asia America. People are also unaware because they'll compare the racism that Asians face(d) to racism Black people face(d), and the erasure of Asian history.

The concept of whiteness is fluid. At some point in time, German and Irish laborers weren't considered white. But when poc grew in numbers and threatened white people, they incorporated more groups to be considered white so they'd always have power. Because it is convenient to them. Same goes for Asians. In order to make sure POC alliance wouldn't become to strong, the model minority myth created the idea that Asians were the best of POC because they weren't as poor or poorly educated, thus putting asians on a pedestal compared to other POCs. Putting Asians in an awkward position underneath white people, but above black and brown people.

We need to realize that all asians aren't the same. There is a diaspora of asians and asian american experiences. I think orgs and media are trying, and must continue trying, to amplify stories about asian hate experiences. Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom is a Swedish artist who's created a cartoon to depict instances of racism. I think the government needs to step in and actually confront perpertrators. I always see the police in train stations not doing anything, while many of these stories are on the train. A nursing student was being harrassed, but luckily, a bystander DID step in. In some stories, the offender was also a POC, which shows how disconnected POC are, but when confronted by the Asian man, he awkwardly apologized. In countries worldwide, governments seem to not be taking control or protecting their own citizens, often amplifying hate and scapegoating.

For the next person: How can vastly different minority groups address the hatred they have against one another, and why is it important that they learn about each other's history and experiences?