The last few weeks have been challenging for many Asian-Americans as we witness the rise in violent anti-Asian American hate crimes throughout the United States. It’s been nearly three weeks since the shootings in Atlanta that killed Yong Ae Yue, Suncha Kim, Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Daoyou Feng, Xiaojie Tan, Paul Andrew Michels, Elcias Hernandez-Ortiz, and Delaina Ashley Yaun. And then, not even two weeks later, Vilma Kari was attacked on her way to church. The video of the security guard casually closing the door outrages me. To me, it serves as a metaphor that frames American apathy towards Asian-Americans.
So There are so many different things to be frustrated about. I’ve been talking to other Asian-American friends who experience similar anxieties and frustrations, as well as Black American friends who have reached out to check in on me. I think a common frustration centers on the repetitive conversations of racism and misogyny. And again, we are seeing folks (1) doubling down on their racism, (2) denouncing the murders but not recognizing it as connected to a series of events related to a history of racism, and (3) (our white allies) not really understanding how these events affect us as individuals of marginalized communities.
Also, part of this conversation is the stereotype “model minority” and why it is (and always has been) problematic. It is the ultimate backhanded compliment and micro-aggression that sustains white supremacy. First, it erases any sort of nuance among Asian-Americans, a vastly diverse population of the US. In this diverse population, it also erases the socioeconomic nuance/disparities that exists among Asian-Americans. Second, it creates a divide among marginalized communities that results in these communities pitting against each other. Lastly, it creates this mythical status predicated on being White adjacent (which further pits Asian-Americans against other marginalized communities).
So what can I do? Or, what can we do right now? I think starting off with our friends and families is a good first step. I reached out to my parents during Easter to talk with them. I want to not only make sure they are safe, but that they feel safe as well. I have also reached out to other Asian-American friends (and have been reached out to). During these conversations we shared resources to help channel our frustrations and anxieties into productive conversations. The next step could be reaching out in our communities. If teaching a class, I think it helps to acknowledge that students may be experiencing similar anxieties and frustrations. And I think it’s appropriate to direct them to available resources. It’s important in academia to be cognizant of our mental health because it affects our relationship with others, the quality of our work, and our overall well-being.
