Anti-Asian Racism During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

This webinar discussion focused on Anti-Asian racism during the COVID-19 pandemic. The target audience is: Asian American students, families, and community members, though attendance was open to all who are interested. The session featured  social justice educators, youth workers, community organizers, and academics.

Speakers:

• Michael Liu, Ph.D., social justice author, historian, and activist

• Carolyn Chou, A.B., Executive Director, Asian American Resource Workshop

• Arshad Ali, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, George Washington University

• Taharee A. Jackson, Ph.D., Expert Consultant and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program Manager, the National Defense University

Additional materials and resources from Dr. Taharee Jackson

The following resources provide a historical context for the racialized experiences of Asian Americans in what is currently known as the United States:

• The Making of Asian America: A History

• Upcoming PBS documentary, Asian Americans

• Asian American Studies Now: A Critical Reader

• Michael Liu’s book referenced: The Snake Dance of Asian American Activism

Concepts introduced during the webinar include, hegemony, whiteness, and white supremacy. The following publications are available for free download to learn more about these topics:

• Critical White Studies: Looking Behind the Mirror

• Whiteness in Higher Education: The Invisible Missing Link in Diversity and Racial Analyses

• Whiteness as Property

Ways to support Asian and Asian Americans during this time:

• Document Anti-Asian racism and violence

• If you have the financial means, donate to the Asian Community Emergency Relief Fund, MassUndocuFund, or any of the non-profit organizations working with and within these communities.

• Complete the 2020 Census and encourage others to complete it as well, especially those from marginalized and minoritized backgrounds that have been historically undercounted. The 2020 Census will determine congressional representation and provide data that will impact communities for the next 10 years, including the allocation of hundreds of billions in federal funding (e.g., SNAP, Medicaid, Head Start, block grants for community mental health services).

• Join a mutual aid network

• Participate in a campaign, such as supporting affordable housing, supporting data disaggregation, fighting Southeast Asian deportation, fighting Anti-Muslim violence, etc.

How do we build coalitions with other marginalized and minoritized populations? How can we start the conversation? 

As Michael, Carolyn, Arshad, and Taharee discussed, Anti-Asian racism is nothing new. The struggle for racial justice has been ongoing. Start by reviewing some of the resources, explore additional learning opportunities, and connect with organizations that have been doing this work.

How do I better understand Asian Black solidarity?

Carolyn referenced an open letter from Freedom Inc.’s Southeast Asian Team on COVID-19 and Black Solidarity. Here is an NPR piece on the model minority myth and how it creates a wedge between Asian and Black communities. Who benefits from this wedge? There is very little data on who is committing Anti-Asian racism and violence but the videos that are going viral are feeding into this wedge narrative, this time perpetuating stereotypes of Black people as violent. Asian and Black communities have been systemically oppressed and we need to work together to dismantle racism. 

How can I be a better White ally and accomplice? 

It takes intentionality and is a lifelong, learning process. Start by reviewing some of the resource materials, explore additional learning opportunities (e.g. , join groups like Showing Up for Racial Justice, and attend conferences like the White Privilege Conference. 

I had questions about how to support my students or children.

We have upcoming webinars focused on this very topic! View the webinar list here.

What is the MGH Institute of Health Professions doing about Anti-Asian racism?

You can report bias affecting MGH Institute of Health Professions students, faculty, and staff through several different ways, including directly with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The mission of our office is to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at the MGH IHP. We work on improving policies and practices.  The office regularly plans programs and initiatives to raise awareness about marginalized and minoritized communities and provide support for members of our community who come from these communities. Please contact ktruong@mghihp.edu to learn more. 

I have questions that were not answered on the webinar and were not related to an upcoming webinar.

Please direct these questions to Kim Truong, Executive Director of the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at: ktruong@mghihp.edu.