Asian Americans are the third most racially targeted group following black Americans and Jewish Americans, and according to the Queens Chronicle, hate crimes against Asians have jumped 1900% in New York City over the course of the pandemic.

On January 28, 2021, an 84-year old Thai man, Vicha Ratanapakdee was killed in San Francisco, California after abruptly being shoved by a teen, speculated to have been driven by hate. Asians in western countries have been subjected to brutal attacks, even more this past year. It is crucial for people and peers to take action on Asian American-targeted hate crimes now.

Communities should continue advocating for the prevention of and end to further xenophobia, violence and racist hate crimes against Asians. Asian Americans are often told they have proximity to whiteness and are told that they are the model minority. However, in no way could that explain nor cover up the history of violence, trauma and racism against Asian demographics.

During the 1820s, the arrival of Chinese immigrants in the U.S came as a slow trickle, yet the strike of gold, or the gold rush fever, attracted more people, including Chinese immigrants. In California, vigilante groups attacked Chinese communities, attempted to destroy Chinatown in 1877 and the State Government in California also imposed high taxes on foreign miners, particularly Chinese people.

The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 became the first race based immigration restriction in U.S history, this law that prevented immigration and naturalization lasted for the next sixty years, in which not only Chinese people faced racist exclusion, but also other Asian immigrants such as Japanese, Korean and South Asian Indian.

The spike in anti-Asian hate crimes is disappointing and alarming, when so many innocent Asian citizens are beaten in streets while being yelled at for having the “Chinese virus”, how could it not be disheartening that after so many decades, racist attacks are still emerging?

Raising awareness is one place to start with anti-racism efforts. If one has the ability to read this article on their device, they may also be able to share information through social media, websites, email and more. Having conversations about the situation with teachers, peers and family may change people’s knowledge and attitudes about these attacks. The more people know, the more change commun can make.

To encourage the media to be more vocal of the hate crimes around the world and to hold accountability for them, continue reporting, donating to victims or credible organizations that fight anti-Asian hate crimes, and of course continue supporting and standing with Asian communities.

<SerenaRen / OrchardHillsSchool 8th Grade>