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NOTES ON NAMING COVID-19 AND ANTI-ASIAN RACISM (warning this is a LONG thread):
I've been thinking and engaging around this subject A LOT recently (i.e., talking to a lot of racists on Facebook
). Heres some notes for anyone fighting anti-Asian racism in this global pandemic:
I've been thinking and engaging around this subject A LOT recently (i.e., talking to a lot of racists on Facebook
). Heres some notes for anyone fighting anti-Asian racism in this global pandemic:
1) "The virus *did* come from China! What's wrong with calling it Chinese?"
Sure. The problem is these phrases increase racial animus against Asians, leading to Asian Americans of ALL ethnic backgrounds, and other Asians in the West being attacked: https://people.com/health/coronavirus-racist-attacks-against-asians/
Sure. The problem is these phrases increase racial animus against Asians, leading to Asian Americans of ALL ethnic backgrounds, and other Asians in the West being attacked: https://people.com/health/coronavirus-racist-attacks-against-asians/
How does calling something "Chinese" lead to violence? This is *Orientalism*: a way of looking at the world that lumps all of Asian cultures, communities, and bodies together and paints them as exotic, strange, unnatural, mystical, mysterious, and curious.
BTS gets popular = Asian boys get more dates
WWII: Japanese AMERICAN CITIZENS are targeted as potential foreign spies.
Vietnam conflict: Non-Vietnamese Asian AMERICAN soldiers are singled out during training, their fellow soldiers are told "this is what the enemy looks like".
WWII: Japanese AMERICAN CITIZENS are targeted as potential foreign spies.
Vietnam conflict: Non-Vietnamese Asian AMERICAN soldiers are singled out during training, their fellow soldiers are told "this is what the enemy looks like".
Also now: a rash of Chinese, Korean, Cambodian, Hmong, and other Asian and Asian Americans being assaulted.
This is how branding/marketing works. Corona beer got hit from "Coronavirus" - same thing happens to Asians bc of "Chinese virus" https://theknow.denverpost.com/2020/02/28/corona-beer-coronavirus/234590/
This is how branding/marketing works. Corona beer got hit from "Coronavirus" - same thing happens to Asians bc of "Chinese virus" https://theknow.denverpost.com/2020/02/28/corona-beer-coronavirus/234590/
2) "You're blowing this out of proportion. It's not happening that much, just isolated incidents."
The South Korean Consulate in Canada issued a warning to all Korean Canadians and Koreans in Canada, saying that violence against Asians in on the rise: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-korean-consulate-issues-warning-after-violent-attack-in-montreal-1.4856453
The South Korean Consulate in Canada issued a warning to all Korean Canadians and Koreans in Canada, saying that violence against Asians in on the rise: https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/covid-19-korean-consulate-issues-warning-after-violent-attack-in-montreal-1.4856453
Professor Russell Jeung of SFSU has been tracking anti-Asian racism in the past months: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mzNEU2ebTF_5OZUon-ovrt36x22nXcuE/
This is not anecdotal or local - scholars and sociologists are outlining what's happening. They show a clear rise in anti-Asian sentiment, linked to violence.
This is not anecdotal or local - scholars and sociologists are outlining what's happening. They show a clear rise in anti-Asian sentiment, linked to violence.
3) "They don't know. Trump is just using this phrase to get back at China/Xi Jinping, he's not trying to attack Asian Americans."
This presumes that Chinese identity and American identity are mutually exclusive - that you cannot be both Chinese and American.
This presumes that Chinese identity and American identity are mutually exclusive - that you cannot be both Chinese and American.
But Chinese is both an ethnocultural identity AND a nationality; American is only a nationality. So Chinese Americans, and all East Asian Americans, and also Southeast Asian Americans, suffer from the association of "Chinese" with this pandemic. Just like Corona beer.
"Maybe they don't know!" - they've been told.
Our journalists, reporters ( @weijia), politicos ( @RepJudyChu @RepTedLieu) have been saying it is not OK. Chu told McCarthy & Gosar a week ago this hurts our community, portrays us as un-American: https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/03/10/pelosi-joins-asian-american-lawmakers-in-demanding-mccarthy-apology-for-bigoted-tweet-1266349
Our journalists, reporters ( @weijia), politicos ( @RepJudyChu @RepTedLieu) have been saying it is not OK. Chu told McCarthy & Gosar a week ago this hurts our community, portrays us as un-American: https://www.politico.com/states/california/story/2020/03/10/pelosi-joins-asian-american-lawmakers-in-demanding-mccarthy-apology-for-bigoted-tweet-1266349
Actually, way back in 2015, the @WHO came out with extremely clear guidelines on ways to avoid this exact problem: https://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/notes/2015/naming-new-diseases/en/.
These guidelines are being extremely casually ignored, if not flaunted, by Trump and other (Republican) elected officials.
These guidelines are being extremely casually ignored, if not flaunted, by Trump and other (Republican) elected officials.
4) "People are smarter than this! They won't think it applies to ALL Asians"
Was in Philly on New Year's w friends. We got in Uber, the driver asked us what we did, we said "Korean food." He asked: "Is that a kind of Chinese food? I've had Chinese, and Japanese, but idk Korean."
Was in Philly on New Year's w friends. We got in Uber, the driver asked us what we did, we said "Korean food." He asked: "Is that a kind of Chinese food? I've had Chinese, and Japanese, but idk Korean."
We spent the ENTIRE ride explaining these r separate countries/ethnicities. I'm not sure if he got it or not.
My point isnt this guy was racist. He was curious. My point IS the level of nuance we're facing. It's wrong to think "Chinese virus" won't blow back on ALL Asians.
My point isnt this guy was racist. He was curious. My point IS the level of nuance we're facing. It's wrong to think "Chinese virus" won't blow back on ALL Asians.
5) "They called it the SPANISH Flu. Just call it the CHINESE Virus"
...that was 1918. A lot of dumb 1918 stuff has changed by now, including:
-Women not voting.
-Blacks not voting.
-Asians not immigrating to America.
-Typhoid fever. Polio. Mumps. Measles.
-Flagrant racism.
...that was 1918. A lot of dumb 1918 stuff has changed by now, including:
-Women not voting.
-Blacks not voting.
-Asians not immigrating to America.
-Typhoid fever. Polio. Mumps. Measles.
-Flagrant racism.
BTW the 1918 epidemic originated IN AMERICA. "American troops carried the second wave to Europe.... it wasn’t until it hit Spain that it got publicity. That is why it was called Spanish Influenza instead of American Influenza." - https://www.facebook.com/mike.bruner.92/posts/10221216494862804
CALLS TO ACTION:
1) PLEASE speak up/interject when you see someone harassing an Asian. In person OR online. Knowing we are not alone is powerful.
2) Donate to @a3pcon who are launching a Stop AAPI Hate reporting center tomorrow.
1) PLEASE speak up/interject when you see someone harassing an Asian. In person OR online. Knowing we are not alone is powerful.
2) Donate to @a3pcon who are launching a Stop AAPI Hate reporting center tomorrow.
BTW - if you want to share on Facebook, here is my original post there: https://www.facebook.com/jasonglchu/posts/10102707770617774
The Stop AAPI Hate reporting center from @A3PCON is now live.
IF you experience an act of anti-Asian hatred, please go here to fill out their reporting form (available currently in English, Traditional & Simplified Chinese, and Korean): …http://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/
IF you experience an act of anti-Asian hatred, please go here to fill out their reporting form (available currently in English, Traditional & Simplified Chinese, and Korean): …http://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/
