Module 14 Prompt: What are your thoughts on the Anti-Asian sentiment during Covid 19Pandemic and how this is related to what we have been learning in this course?Module 14 Concepts: Xenophobia Anti- Original Papers

The rise in anti-Asian bigotry during the COVID-19 pandemic offers a chilling reminder of the systemic inequality and racism that persist to define Asian American life in America.  We learn good lessons on the causes of this hatred outburst and watch the stoic reactions of Asian Americans through research on xenophobia, anti-Asian hate crimes, and community activism. These occurrences shed light on the path to justice and are connected to the problems of our past that we’ve discussed in this course.Among the most important reasons responsible for the spiking of anti-Asian bigotry during the pandemic is xenophobia.  Such disparaging terms like “China virus” and “Kung flu” were used from the outset to disseminate hateful stereotypes of Asian Americans as permanent aliens and carriers of diseases.”.This is a reference to the past, specifically to the use of Chinese immigrants as scapegoats for public health crises in the 19th century. Historian Erika Lee beautifully describes, “The pandemic unleashed a new wave of xenophobia that cast all Asian Americans as the ‘other,’ regardless of their citizenship, contributions, or ancestry.” This sort of discourse has been restraining the Asian American identity in keeping with being non-complete subjects, creating among them a false idea of belonging or not and an escalation in racial differences.The outcome of this xenophobia is evident in the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. Verbal harassment, physical assaults, and even murders have escalated, disproportionately affecting vulnerable members of the Asian American community, particularly the elderly. Stop AAPI Hate reports nearly 11,500 incidents of anti-Asian hate from March 2020 to March 2022, with many more likely unreported. These numbers show the undeserved preference to blame Asian Americans for the pandemic, thus leading to institutionalized and focused violence against them.  The “model minority” myth is punctured with this wave of hate crimes, forcing the community to face the bitter truth about racism and just how exposed it is.

In response to all these challenges, community-based advocacy has proven to be a strong anti-Asian hate solution.  In order to track the hate crimes, provide support to the victims, and campaign for legislative reforms that are necessary, community organizations like Stop AAPI Hate and other coalitions have been working day and night. Activist Helen Zia makes a call to the power of collective action, suggesting, “It is through collective action that Asian Americans have built solidarity and demanded justice, creating hope in times of crisis.” This mobilization flips Asian American identity on its head such that strength is not merely about resilience but about organizing and solidarity. The fight for safety and visibility continues to show the ongoing barriers created by systemic inequities and racial hierarchies.This is a problem that resonates strongly with me. During the pandemic, I’ve seen friends and family members worry more about their safety in public spaces. Anti-Asian prejudice was a cruel reminder that sense of belonging is such a transient thing, even for families who have been settled for generations. More than the remembrance of a bitter history of violence against Asian Americans, it is this renewed sense of response and solidarity that imparts to me some hope; the possibilities for an infinite number of things which build in solidarity. It is a powerful reminder that combating xenophobia and hate demands long-term commitment to challenge the roots of racism and to create caring networks within and between our communities.