Dear Allies and Antiracists, Where Are You?
Anti-Asian hate crimes and violence are increasing yet receive no attention. Inaction and silence should not be your options.
During the month of June, there were a lot of people claiming to be allies and antiracists. Were you one of them? There were a lot of corporations and businesses denouncing racism and promising to support their employees of color. Do you work for these companies? There were a lot of organizations receiving donations to support their advocacy work. Did you donate to them? There so many people being called ‘changemakers’ and ‘influencers’ because they were going against the status quo. Did you start following them on social media? If you replied ‘yes’ to any or all of these questions, I say that’s cool. So let me ask you this: Where are you now? Asians have been speaking up about anti-Asian racism and xenophobia but we’ve received little to no support from those who claim to be antiracists. Are you denouncing hate crimes against Asians at all — or do you secretly think it’s justifiable? Is your allyship conditional and does it extend only to certain, but not all, marginalized racial groups.
I am deeply traumatized by the heinous anti-Asian violence and hate crimes that are happening right now in the United States and globally. Anti-Asian racism and xenophobia is not new, but the sentiment and hate crimes have increased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (Note: These images and videos are extremely disturbing and triggering to me, so I will not share here. If you wish to see for yourself, go to NextShark or simply Google). I have been affected by this, personally and professionally, and I’ve learned this is a very common feeling shared by other Asians in the community. For a lot of us, it’s not “business as usual” right now. There is no “back to normal” because being discriminated against is our normal. Suffering in silence is our normal. Receiving no media coverage is our normal. Our children, our parents, our elders don’t have the privilege of feeling safe in public spaces. I experience anxiety and fear whenever I leave my house, even in a so-called “progressive” city like Seattle.
And yet. No major corporations or organizations have released any statement, officially or unofficially, denouncing anti-Asian racism and xenophobia since the pandemic. No national media covered Anti-Asian hate crimes. This is disappointing but not surprising. Asians are underrepresented in the media, so our experiences, struggle, and pain are too often ignored and invisible. The times when we do use our voice and share our stories, we’re invalidated. As an Asian American woman living and working in the United States, I’ve experienced racism, sexism, and sexual harassment my entire life. I experienced it at school and in my workplaces. I know other Asian women have as well. In my cases, I’ve reported them “through the appropriate channels” but too often my offenders were protected. Many of them continued to manage employees, manage teams, make partner, and be promoted up the corporate ladder.
There are some people who claim Asian Americans aren’t people of color (“You have light skin”, “You make the most money of all the racial groups”, “You don’t know struggle” are some examples I’ve heard). This thinking is not true and and extremely harmful to Asian Americans because it perpetuates the model minority myth. This myth was a tactic used by Whites to justify anti-Black oppression. It also created the false narrative that all Asian Americans are successful. Asian Americans only started to “make it” in America when it was politically and socially convenient for Whites and were thus the perfect pawn. White America not only created the harmful idea that Asians are a monolith, they also minimized the role of their institutional racism. This is just one example of the deep historical racism, erasure, and invisibility Asians have experienced — and continue to experience today.
Asian Americans and all marginalized racial groups have been, and continue to be, subjugated by a common enemy: White supremacy. Support systems of Whiteness run so deep and grossly impacts all marginalized racial groups in all areas of our lives. This why Asian Americans are fighting to dismantle the model minority myth and distancing ourselves from Whiteness. The oppression of any racial group by extension oppresses all racial groups.
We Asian Americans are not, and never have been, exempt from the fight for racial equity and justice. We continue to do the work for our community and other marginalized groups, so please show up and stand with us. Speak up against anti-Asian hate crimes. Include Asians in your antiracist and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Do not engage in Oppression Olympics and tell us the hate and racism we face “aren’t that bad.” The silencing of Asian American struggle maintains the current power structures and will continue to do so. Please do not contribute by remaining complicit to anti-Asian racism and violence.
Thanks for showing up.
Here are resources and easy, realistic actions you can take right now to stand for Asians:
- Join #HateIsAVirus and take action.
2. Report anti-Asian hate crimes and violence
3. Learn about the model minority myth and support our efforts in dismantling it.
4. Support your local Asian-owned business and communities.
5. Speak up about and against anti-Asian violence and hate crimes. Share on social media. Talk with your families and communities. We need more people, including non-Asians, speaking up about this.
6. Amplify Asian experiences, voices, and work. When we speak up, believe us. Don’t silence us.
7. Donate to Seattle’s Chinatown International District Restaurants and other Small Businesses Relief Fund.
