Read on Twitter
Asian American Twitter (which I just discovered is a thing) is very angry about @AndrewYang's latest op-ed saying the best way for AAs to tackle discrimination is to dig in to "American-ness" and fight for a cure.
Unsurprisingly, he got "Cathy Newmanned." https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/01/andrew-yang-coronavirus-discrimination/
Unsurprisingly, he got "Cathy Newmanned." https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/04/01/andrew-yang-coronavirus-discrimination/
Andrew here acknowledges the reality of racism, that it is a deeply-embedded (sometimes barely-disguised) neural program often made worse under specific circumstances.
He's clearly making an appeal for empathy and humanity in understanding the roots of this problem.
He's clearly making an appeal for empathy and humanity in understanding the roots of this problem.
He underscores that racism is immoral, but highlights that simply yelling "don't be racist" to someone who is actually being racist is not effective.
He's a solutions guy. He calls for a pragmatic approach to "improve the encounter" he described.
He's a solutions guy. He calls for a pragmatic approach to "improve the encounter" he described.
People are mad, I think, because he doesn't immediately take a victimhood posture, and rather, looks inward and asks, what can *I* or *we* do differently?
Perhaps he didn't show sufficient anger about the depravity of racism.
This is anathema to modern social justice activism.
Perhaps he didn't show sufficient anger about the depravity of racism.
This is anathema to modern social justice activism.
Here's where he gets Cathy Newmanned. The reading is that Andrew thinks Asian Americans have to prove their loyalty to Americanness.
That's not what he's saying.
He's saying that it *helps* change the circumstances in which racism flourishes.
That's not what he's saying.
He's saying that it *helps* change the circumstances in which racism flourishes.
His essay is a call from within the community (not imposed from outside) to be aware that our identities are pawns in a larger geopolitical game.
After all, national solidarity matters most at times like this.
He's asking: is there anything we can do to reinforce it?
After all, national solidarity matters most at times like this.
He's asking: is there anything we can do to reinforce it?
