In this Article, Jardar Alai explains the recent attacks on the Asian Community.
Photo Credit: BBC
In recent years, attacks on Asian Americans have increased because of the spread of corona pandemic but racism towards Asians has had a large presence in American history.
During the 1800s, Asians especially Chinese people started immigrating to the United States of America. Those that arrived in the US moved to the state of California. The US government wanted to prevent Asian immigration to the US. In 1882 President Chester A. Arthur passed a Law prohibiting all Chinese Labours to migrate to the US and this law stayed until 1942. During World War II Japanese Americans were taken away from their homes and put in so called interring camps. The Japanese American were seen as spies and traitors although most of them hadn't stepped one foot in Japan before.
After World War 2, Asian stereotypes became more mainstream than before. Asians' characters in movies and tv series would be introduced with the stereotypical Asian intro and most Asian characters would be played by white actors and they would paint their faces white, therefore, appropriating Asians' culture. During the 60-70s, Asian Americans started political groups where they would protest for ending the racism facing them.
In today's society Asian Americans receive racist comments because of their appearance and culture, and are mocked for their language.
On Sunday, 21st of March 2021, Robert Aaron Long walked in a spa and he shot 4 people. After that he drove in 2 other spas and shot 2 more people. 8 people were the victims of Longs shooting. 6 of the victims are asians. Locals were shocked when this news reached them, and they demanded the law enforcers to label this incident as a hate crime.
Asian Americans have fallen into the model minority myth. The myth is a minority demographic whose members are perceived to achieve a higher degree of socioeconomic success than the population average, thus serving as a reference group to outgroups. Asian American fall into the category of high in the model minority list where they have high numbers of income and academic achievement but still they face racism. After the spread of the corona virus attacks on Asians have increased and the comments of former president Donald Trump has not helped the situation. He termed the Covid-19 virus as china virus or kung flu.
Young Asian Americans are tired of facing racist comments and hate crimes. Like the generation before them they went out to the streets to protest against racism and seeking justice for the victims of hate crimes. It is not only Asian Americans that go to protest it also other POC and white people. Protesters are also helping older Asian Americans because then they will be less likely to be attacked if people are around them. They are walking around with elders and also helping with around too.
Sources: Wikipedia (2021) Model minority https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Model_minority#South_Asian_Americans 25.03.2021 ISAASE.org Blog (2021) Myth of model minority https://isaase.org/myth-model-minority/ 25.03.2021 Wikipedia(2021) Chinese Exlucsion Act https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_Exclusion_Act#cite_note-ErikaLee-1 25.03.2021 CNN(22.03.2021) Hate is haunting Asian Americans. Their fear underscores a racial reckoning that is far from over https://edition.cnn.com/2021/03/22/us/afraid-cnn-special-report-asian-americans/index.html 25.03.2021