An alarming increase in hate and harassment has been targeted towards Asian-Americans around the country simply because of their ethnic origin. Racist slurs have been thrown around, blaming Asians for the coronavirus in America. However, Asian-Americans have experienced violence such as this long before the virus. With eight people killed in Atlanta on March 16th, six of them being Asian-American women, we are bringing light to this unacceptable hate and providing ways you can help. 

Why are Asian-Americans being Targeted?

Throughout the last year, Asian-Americans have reported increasing numbers of sexual harassment; 17% have reported stalking, which is up 11% from the previous year. This increase in hostility can be partly attributed to the coronavirus pandemic, or the “Chinese virus,” as President Trump referred to it, but systemic racism towards Asians has long been a problem in the U.S. Since their first immigration in the mid-19th century, people of Asian descent have been targeted by Americans. The Chinese Exclusion Act, put in place in 1882, was the first law in the U.S. that denied immigration solely based on race. Throughout history, Asian-Americans have experienced exclusion and inequality, especially during periods of changing demographics. 

Hate Crimes aren’t being Recognized

Even though it’s clear that Asian-Americans are being targeted, the attacks aren’t always categorized as hate crimes. Victims must be able to prove that the violence committed against them was racially motivated, but since there are no widely-recognized anti-Asian groups, it makes the criminal’s motive significantly harder to pinpoint. Crimes are also less likely to be reported by Asian-Americans due to language barriers or worries about having their citizenship questioned. This is detrimental, as Asian-Americans aren’t receiving the support and justice they deserve after the countless assaults harming their community.

Ways to Help 

Since the attacks, Americans and people around the world are gathering to help stop the violence. Some effective ways to help include donating to charities (listed and linked below), educating yourself on how to be a helpful bystander, and supporting brands that actively help and advocate for the Asian community (see below). 

Resources 

New York Magazine article that links 68 places and people to donate to support the cause- https://nymag.com/strategist/article/where-to-donate-to-help-asian-communities-2021.html 

Places to shop at:

Clothing           https://orejas.co/ 

                         https://mienstudios.com/collections/all 

Accessories      https://heymaeve.com/pages/about-us 

                          https://bonbonwhims.com/

Bags & Masks  https://baggu.com/products/standard-baggu-deadstock-fruit-stand 

Skincare           https://www.glowrecipe.com/pages/about-us 

Books to read   https://www.amazon.com/Making-Asian-America-History/dp/1476739412