I don’t like to add to the noise of a problem if I can’t solve it. But, I also won’t stand by and watch. The news is barely reporting about it. Let’s have the conversation.

Before we get too deep into the weeds, here’s a cute picture of me as a baby in attempt to lift spirits ahead of potentially dampening them.

The background

It takes some real cowardice to assault the elderly. Yet, four Asians were attacked in the last week in NYC, including a 71-year-old woman who was punched in the face in Midtown and a 52-year-old woman attacked, suffering a gash to her head, requiring ten stitches. Noel Quintana, a 61-year-old Filipino American, was slashed in the face in the subway. Vicha Ratanapakdee, an 84-year-old immigrant from Thailand, died from an attack in San Francisco. This isn’t a “last-year-Trump-as-president” problem. Nor is it a “middle-of-America’s-racist” problem.

This is happening now. It’s happening in big diverse cities. However, I had to look up these incidents to find them. A lot is going on right now. COVID, millions of people out of power in Texas, Black History Month, and the craziness of the world today. But this is big too. Only local news stations covered the rallies held this past weekend in NYC and LA, along with the San Fran one last week.

Starting the conversation

There’s so much to say about this from Trump’s portrayal of COVID-19 as the “China virus” to the model minority myth to white supremacy pitting racial groups against each other. I’ll start with these.
1. Have a conversation with xenophobic people and politicians. That doesn’t mean pointing fingers and yelling. Have a conversation where each side can learn.
2. Stop perpetuating the model minority myth. The assumption that Asian-Americans have succeeded socioeconomically in this country and that any discrimination doesn’t occur/feel legitimate is held up by false facts and fictitious stereotypes. The idea that Asian Americans don’t experience struggle or racial discrimination is dangerous and not true.
3. Don’t fight racism with racism. Don’t fall for the Black villain narrative.
4. More policing isn’t the answer. Let’s instead look to community, solidarity, and fighting racist politics.
Despite sounding trite, I encourage having difficult conversations. Learn. Support each other.

Report incidents that you experience/see to Stop AAPI Hate.

About Marissa Musings: Marissa Musings are short blog posts that derive from an outpouring of random thoughts. My brain can be a very crazy place. Enjoy with caution.