Regarding the Racism Against Asians
In the span of one week, the Asian community has suffered greatly. From an elderly Thai man being killed in San Francisco to a Filipino man being slashed across the face in New York City, Asians in America have mourned for members in our community from coast to coast. We are now regularly facing hate crimes at an alarming rate, but if you’re not Asian, you probably haven’t heard about these numerous incidents due to the coverage that the American media consistently fails to provide. In the minimal coverage we do receive, the media inaccurately portrays these flagrantly racist acts as isolated incidents, maintaining the idea that these hate crimes are a recent predicament sparked by COVID-19.
The fact of the matter is that the pandemic was not the origin of racism against Asians in America—it was merely a catalyst. The virus purely served as a means to unveil and amplify the pre-existing hatred this country held for Asians, deriving from deep-rooted sinophobia. To prolong activism and allyship that it is not circumstantial, this must be understood: the racism that Asians face did not suddenly materialize because of COVID, and it will not end with COVID.
Within the Asian community, discussions surrounding potential solutions have naturally arisen, as we all want protection for our family, friends, and loved ones. However, some of the discourse has resulted in the answer of increased law enforcement. The Black community spent an entire summer dismantling the notion that the police are here to protect us—we should know now more than ever, that that is not the case. Not only are heightened police measures a very temporary fix for a larger systemic problem at hand, they are solely a brief remedy for our community at the expense of another. As much as we are distraught and frustrated with the violence we are facing, law enforcement is not the answer, and to go down this path would be undeniably detrimental to the Black community. We have to prove that an entire movement’s efforts didn’t just amount to some black screens and hashtags; this is the time to show up and demonstrate solidarity and alliance. When one marginalized community turns on another marginalized community, only white supremacy wins.
We need community. We need unity. Asians across the country have already begun collective organizing, coordinating community-led groups that ensure the safety of our people in various neighborhoods. We can find tangible solutions in the vicinity of our own homes without incorporating oppressive forces, as long as we work to sustain this conversation and raise awareness.
This week is the Lunar New Year, a festival that rejoices in traditions of family. But instead of jubilant gatherings of celebration, our most cherished holiday has become one in which many of us must simultaneously bear the burden of worry, sorrow, and anger for those in our own families. In the midst of our New Year, as we reflect on the past, we must mourn and honor those we have lost, and ultimately find strength, power, and community in future, where we must continue to fight for our safety, our protection, and our freedom.
Happy Lunar New Year, from our family to yours.
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