Being a “model” American has never protected Asian Americans from racism, as #AndrewYang and many others would like us to believe. It has only reminded us that we were never truly accepted. #HateIsAVirus

It also feeds the rugged individualism and fear of each other at the center of white supremacy. Instead of proving ourselves, Asian Americans must divest from the myth of the model minority and other lies of white supremacy.

That means we must speak out against racism. And not just when Asian Americans are the victims of hate crimes, but also when Black Americans are targets of police violence and harassment or when our Latino neighbors are scapegoated and targets of ICE.

Because right now, this pandemic has shown that our well-being is tied to one another. Whether Black or White, Latino or Native American or Asian, we must demand a democracy where we are all safe, healthy and thriving — no matter where we come from or what we look like.

The only way we change who really gets to belong in America is by standing up for one another and reminding the country that America is US — all of us. #REPTogether