Impact of COVID-19 on East Asian Racism in the U.S.
By Shreeya
Introduction: On 31 December 2019, the World Health Organisation (WHO) was informed about a disease that had the symptoms of pneumonia, but there was no pre-existing etiology. Its discovery was first made in Wuhan Province, China. Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an illness that affects the respiratory system and predominantly uses air as its transmission medium. Medicine can limit its effects, but in extreme cases, it can also lead to death. Its rapid spread was declared a pandemic that led to a worldwide lockdown. While the lockdown benefitted a sect of society, not everyone was that fortunate.
Prejudice: It is believed that this pandemic was the first time a certain ethnic group was blamed for these circumstances. It altered social dynamics across the globe. East Asians (in particular) endured xenophobic sentiments, violence, and deep-rooted racism in the United States. Anti-Chinese sentiment witnessed a huge spike. According to a survey, 32% of Asian adults say they know a fellow Asian in the U.S. who was threatened or attacked due to their race since the pandemic began in 2020. The coronavirus was also called the “Chinese Virus," “Asian Virus,” or “Kung Flu,” which further pushed the anti-Asian view. They feared that someone may physically harass them, thus, required changes were also made in their daily routines. Speaking up against these hate crimes was also not a choice initially, as they worried it would affect their immigration status. The crimes against Asians did not receive much media attention; thus, it is quite unclear to what extent they faced racism.
Ill-effects: They were not only being shamed publicly but also in private spaces. It not only affected Asian Americans directly but also caused a depreciating effect on their businesses. The areas where support for the former president, Mr. Donald Trump, was more prevalent saw a further decrease in sales. Restaurants, doctor clinics, lawyers, and accountants, all affiliated with the Asian race, were avoided by some people. There have been several historical examples that depict discrimination against an ethnic group because of large-scale geopolitical events. The roots of this sentiment run deep, including notable events like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 and systemic hatred towards Japanese Americans during World War II. It is observed that East Asians are scapegoated during crises. However, at that time, we were not technologically advanced enough to acquire further details regarding the mistreatment. The recent lockdown has occurred at a time when we have the technical know-how to track our location data availability, analyze the sales of small businesses, and identify spillovers. This has helped the concerned authorities take action against those accused. As the pandemic continued, crimes against Americans of East Asian desccent surged. Stop AAPI Hate, an advocacy group, reported more than 10,000 incidents of discrimination from March 2020 to September 2021. The Atlanta Spa shooting brought national attention to this very pressing issue. This demonstrated the deadly consequences of racism.
Bitter Truth: Unfortunately, many consequences have gone unnoticed. Increased prejudice against Asian Americans resulted in poorer mental as well as physical health. The marginalization of these groups further degraded their mental well-being. Many felt compelled to downplay their cultural identity to avoid facing such hatred which led to a diminished sense of self-worth. Most of the challenges faced by this sect have been reported to the police. Their social and economic lives were affected negatively. Sometimes, collective blame led to non-Chinese Asians also facing discrimination. This ethnic misclassification further strained the relations between Asians and the rest of the Americans. All of these actions further brought to light the deep-rooted racism faced by Asians living in America daily regardless of the lockdown.
Social Media’s Impact: Social media platforms helped gain people’s attention towards this issue by increasing traction towards #StopAsianHate. They also helped create awareness about the ongoing issues by acting as vital tools for community ogranisation. This helped more and more people to speak up against the wrongful acts committed as well as stand in solidarity with Asian Communities. Unfortunately, every coin has two sides. People started spreading misinformation and hate speech which led to Asians being associated with disease or ill effects. Instead of being used for the sole purpose of helping those in trouble out, it further perpetuated harm.
Sense of Inclusion: While the surge in racism progressed, East Asian communities mobilized to advocate for their safety and rights. They organized rallies and events to promote unity among one another. Not just Asians, but other ethnicities also joined in to support them. This enriched the community and brought everyone closer together. Raising awareness was not the mere concern behind the implementation of these initiatives. It fostered a sense of belonging, trust, and resilience within the prejudiced communities. Everyone shared their stories creating a safe space so that others could also join in. It reminded them that they were not alone in this. Collective action against such hate crimes was demanded. Empowering as well as educating other individuals was of utmost importance. To do so, webinars, seminars, and meetings were held where the main topics of discussion were related to mental health and cultural identity.
Reform: Advocacy groups demanded reforms for the betterment of reporting mechanisms to ensure full accountability and transparency in the process. This would further make the individuals feel safe and make them want to file a report. An equitable society is of utmost importance and change has to be made from the grass-root level. This includes changing the curriculum in educational institutes to foster a sense of empathy among students. Staff should be hired from diverse backgrounds to promote an inclusive environment. All forms of community organizations and activists must work hand-in-hand to create safe spaces so that people can share their experiences without any fear. Shared humanity can break all barriers created by various racial boundaries. Policies must be implemented by the concerned authorities to promote justice for all individuals regardless of race. Uniform implementation of healthcare access, immigration conditions, and anti-discrimination laws are of utmost importance.
Conclusion: The fight against Anti-Asian racism continues to this day. Sustained efforts are required from all sects of society. Emphasis on education, policy alterations, and solidarity is equally important. Prejudice is to be deconstructed to build an impartial future for all. ‘Unity in Diversity’ is the key mantra to be followed in such times. We must all join hands to work toward a society where each culture is celebrated, each group feels valued, but most importantly, each individual feels safe.
References:
Greenwood, S., & Greenwood, S. (2024, April 14). 2. Asian Americans and the ‘forever foreigner’ stereotype. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/2023/11/30/asian-americans-and-the-forever-foreigner-stereotype/
Huang, J. T., Krupenkin, M., Rothschild, D., & Cunningham, J. L. (2023). The cost of anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. Nature Human Behaviour, 7(5), 682–695. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01493-6
Greenwood, S., & Greenwood, S. (2024b, April 14). Discrimination experiences shape most Asian Americans’ lives. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2023/11/30/discrimination-experiences-shape-most-asian-americans-lives/
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) - Symptoms and causes. (n.d.). Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/symptoms-causes/syc-20479963
