I remember the anger and frustration I felt as I read the news about the eight Asians being killed by a white man, as the police explained he was simply “having a bad day.” When I am having a bad day, I would treat myself, talk to friends, or even watch a movie. What I don’t do is shoot up three Asian-owned spas, kill eight people and wound many others. The victims are the people who had “a bad day,” not the killer. The police are not innocent, as his social media posts include photos of the shooter wearing shirts that openly spread hate, saying: “Covid 19: Imported Virus from Chy-Na.” Unfortunately, this horrific incident is not the only one. There are many other instances of Asians being assaulted verbally and physically in public. Many of them are elders.
The history of xenophobia is deeply rooted and often ignored. Legislation such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Executive Order 9066, or California Alien Land Law all discriminate against Asian immigrants. Others formed organizations like the Committee of One Thousand and the California Farm Bureau to perpetuate hate directed towards Asians. Even the myth of the Model Minority pressures Asian students in academic environments. The myth categorizes Asian and Asian American children as “whiz kids,” where they are often nerdy, geniuses, and good at math. The myth also creates this idea of “Tiger Moms” that force their children to work hard, be highly achieving academically, and well-rounded. The myth hurts the Asian students by pressuring them to be high achieving, and overlooks the hardships and efforts of Asian students. It also perpetuates stereotypical views about Asians.
In wake of the coronavirus pandemic, there has been increased violence towards and attacks against Asians. It is upsetting that the number of “hate crimes against Asian Americans in 16 cities rose by 150 percent in 2020.” These attacks range from verbal insults such as “go back to your country” or hearing about the “the China virus.” Other cases include physical assaults, such as elders being pushed to the ground or attacked. Many Asian stores were also smashed and looted. It is frustrating that in the time between March to December of 2020, there have been 2208 reports of anti-Asian discrimination.
As an Asian, even as I write these words, nothing can describe the anger and sorrow I feel. Growing up, I fantasized about the United States as the land of peace and equal rights, but I realize that it’s far from providing equal rights and fairness for many different groups of people. Therefore, it’s time to reflect and stop these hateful actions against Asians. Both policymakers and communities should come together to take a firm stance against these discriminatory actions against Asians.