Overturning Anti-Asian and Anti-Black
There is a lot to be proud of, but we know there is more work to be done. You may or may not have seen that in the news, a significant increase in violence against Asian-Americans is taking place. In similar ways that the voices of Black and Indigenous peoples have been silenced, the systemic exclusion of Asians in the United States has deep roots. From immigration laws, internment camps, national and local regulations, targeted violence, the destruction of Asian owned businesses, and more, Asian-Americans continue to have their successes overturned. And once the COVID-19 pandemic dispersed across the country, many blamed the spread on those of Chinese ethnicity as well as other Asian identities who were misidentified. Since COVID, more than 3,000 cases of anti-Asian incidents have occurred. These physical and verbal attacks continue in different communities, despite the documented evidence to overturn such misinformation. A number of the recent attacks, which are receiving little to no coverage from mainstream news outlets, are instances of elderly individuals who were attacked and killed.
As different underrepresented ethnic groups continue to be beleaguered, the question of solidarity arises. “How come other ethnic/racial groups are not coming to our aid? As minority groups, shouldn’t we be helping each other?” One response to this is the promulgation of the Model Minority Myth (MMM), crafted many decades ago. The MMM has direct ties to the Cycle of Oppression, which was shared to us by Dr. Glasgow. The perpetuated stereotype about Asian peoples is that we/they are hard-working, law-abiding, silent, monolithic and seek to appease others. Asians are often lumped into one category, even though a quick look at a map shows over 40 countries, with cultures that are very different from one another.
The MMM was spread to counter Black communities in the 60’s, whose social justice and political activism were threats to the powers in charge. By placing Asian populations opposite to Black communities, a significant wedge has splintered the common desires of both groups. The economic prosperity enjoyed by some members of Asian communities is placed on a pedestal as to what is achievable for all minority groups, but especially to those in the Black community thereby creating an anti-Blackness to the message. The wedge grows stronger as many recent attacks on elderly of Asian backgrounds were enacted by individuals who are black, exacerbating the tensions and fueling anti-Black messages by people of Asian backgrounds.
In 1992 Los Angeles, Black communities demonstrated their grief and anger around the city after four, White police officers were acquitted despite video evidence showing their brutal attack on Rodney King. Thousands were killed and injured as millions of dollars of property damage occurred. The majority of this property damage occurred in Los Angeles’ Koreatown, which was full of small, family businesses in hopes of achieving the “American Dream”. These areas were left unprotected while the LAPD was placed to protect the wealthier and White areas of the city. Feeling abandoned, many store owners took violent measures to protect their businesses, often against Black individuals. All of these actions and more, have increased the distrust and maintained a sense of trauma that persists today.
As change makers, it is up to us to understand where this pain comes from, but do our best to overturn it. The White supremacy presence wants to focus on the open wounds that different communities have inflicted upon each other. Rather than highlight the stories of solidarity, there is an ongoing anti-Blackness sentiment in various Asian communities and anti-Asian attacks by individuals who are Black permeate through communities. While there was a lot of destruction caused in Los Angeles, the stories about volunteers from Black, Latino/a/x, Korean, and other community groups showing up to help rebuild Koreatown are rarely highlighted. During last Summer’s protests to bring about systemic change to policing as a result of the repeated violence against Black individuals and communities, many people of different Asian backgrounds showed up to march and lend their voice to the movement. The wedge between different communities remains and it is up to us to remove it. The table is large enough for all of us to be seated at it and we must reach out to pull up the chairs for those who feel like they don’t belong or there is no room for them.
As student leaders, I would encourage you to challenge your schools if it has not already spoken out about the upsurge of violence. Make them accountable to those populations that are present and absent from the school. And beyond speaking out, it is about creating community solidarity to reclaim our narratives and identities to march together against the systems that do not protect everyone. Ask your school leaders if they will;
Recognize and speak out against the increase in anti-Asian hate crimes occurring in the United States. Use your words to personalize this, whether you are of an Asian background or not. We all know someone who is and that someone could be targeted next. Your school will condemn these acts and those who participate and perpetuate actions that divide and make the community unsafe will be not be allowed to remain as members of the community.
Neither anti-Asian nor anti-Black racism will be allowed to exist. The divide that continues to exist as detailed in the Model Minority Myth will be dismantled. As a community, any mindsets that creates a binary blames one group or the other is not allowed. And this extends to any form of discrimination against one’s identity, whether it be race/ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, ability, religion, socioeconomic background, and more. Hold them to be specific instead of oversimplifying the violence.
Interrupt the generalizations that exist about communities. Address the false narratives about communities and why generalizing an entire community based upon a few cases is damaging to long-term growth and reconciliation.
Amplify the examples of solidarity. There is an erasure of Black and Asian partnerships in the history of the United States. How many examples can you think of where different identities came together for the shared pursuits or the betterment of one group? We may learn about Black communities working to improve their own communities, but do you hear about the work of individuals like Yuri Kochiyama. Grace Lee Boggs, Larry Itliong, and others who worked alongside the Black Panthers in the 60’s? Or the coalition of Black and Latino/a/x community groups who are patrolling the streets of the Bay area to prevent more attacks against people of Asian identities?
• Support your actions of unity. It is one thing to say that we want everyone to get along. It is another thing to do the work to ensure it occurs and is successful. What needs to happen for different groups at your school to better support each other and will your school leaders listen and help you carry out these plans?
There is more to do than time we have available, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t try to overturn the decades of embedded sentiments. Violence against groups and identities has no place in our communities and we must actively work to ensure it does not continue. While there will always be challengers to this ideal who believe they are doing what is best, we know that we will all fail if our identities (consider all of the CCIs) are put into competition rather than collaboration. We must practice and do what is right, while holding our organizations responsible. The collective decibels and everyday persistence of your voices are needed.
For some other resources (and of course there are many others out there beyond these):