Stop AAPI Hate

STORY CONTRIBUTED BY MAKAYLA FRANCIS, BAY PATH STUDENT NEWSROOM LAYOUT & DESIGN COORDINATOR + SOCIAL ACTION SERIES WRITER

Stop Asian-American Pacific Islander Hate.

Asian hate has been a prominent social issue in America (and globally) for years, going back centuries. However, in 2020 specifically, there has been a horrifying shift socially in turn of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people began to associate the virus with Asians because of reports of the pandemic in China and a groundswell xenophobic rhetoric on many fronts followed.

Just recently it was discovered that since 2020, hate crimes targeting Asians have increased 150 percent; those statistics are only from 16 of the largest cities in America, New York City being at number one (Yam).

As stated, Asian hate has always been a social issue. However, because of the ‘Model Minority' myth/stereotype, many did not take prior racially targeted incidents towards Asians very seriously, including some in the Asian community as well.

What is the “Model Minority” myth/stereotype?

The model minority stereotype is an expectation that has been placed upon Asian Americans cultural and social life. They are expected to be smart, wealthy, hardworking, submissive, and always enlightened (UTexas). Because of this stereotype, many associated being good at math, constantly studious, and always being academically successful to Asians. The stereotype also further creates a divide in the general minority community, allowing society to pick and choose the racial group that is most acceptable to fit the standards of a majority White country.

Right now since the start of the pandemic, there has been an estimate of 3,800 Asian hate incidents. Through some of those hate crimes many Asians have passed. For instance,75 year old Pak Ho who resided in Oakland was walking on a Tuesday morning, March 9 2021, where he was approached and attacked by 26 year old Teaunte Bailey, who not only assaulted Ho but robbed him. Unfortunately Pak Ho passed from his injuries two days later after suffering brain damage from the attack. Thankfully, Bailey was arrested and charged with murder (Wong). It's sad to say that Pak Ho was not the only one to pass this year. Alas, the list goes on, and just recently, 21 year old Aaron Long went to two Asian run businesses, “Young Asian Massage” and “Golds Spa,” killing 8 people, 6 of them being Asian. At both locations combined, those victims were, Delaina Ashley Yaun, 33; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Daoyou Feng, 44; Julie Park, 74; Hyun Jung Grant, 51; Yong A. Yue, 63; and Suncha Kim, 69, (Arnold).

When the crime first happened, many tried to debunk the fact that this was a racially targeted crime because two of the victims lost were not Asian. However, it is no coincidence that both locations were Asian ran. It is unsettling to think of what else can happen this year towards AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islanders) following such a horrific tragedy. That is why we must all collectively stand up for this injustice and bring awareness towards this problem.

On the Stop AAPI Website, there are ways in which you can actively be a part of this movement.