Racist hate crimes against Asian Americans are (finally) getting important attention.
But it’s been a longstanding issue across the country.
This post originally appeared on Red, White and Brown’s newsletter on Substack (Issue #18 sent on March 18, 2021).
Tuesday’s murders in Atlanta are yet another devastating example that the recent spike in anti-Asian hate crimes across the United States is a serious issue to address.
For some upcoming stories I have been working on, I’ve been talking to Asian American advocates, leaders and everyday citizens across the country and the sad theme I continue to hear: None of this is new.
That’s why none of this is a surprise to most Asian Americans. Earlier on Tuesday, the group Stop AAPI Hate released a new report that said it received 3,795 incidents reported to them between March 19, 2020 and Feb. 28, 2021. But that’s only what people reported to them.
And despite the longstanding issue, I still can’t get over this simple fact: On top of what is already a historic public health crisis and economic crisis for so many Asian American communities, many are living in fear in their own country with this additional surge of hate over the last year. In addition to the lives lost in Atlanta this week, we’ve heard of other recent attacks that have turned fatal — like the January murder of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco.
For PBS NewsHour, correspondent Amna Nawaz interviewed community advocates about what can be done to address the hate. Check out that story that I co-wrote.
There has also been some good reporting around this issue in the last few weeks — and last 24 hours. Some recommended reading:
- NBC News’ Kimmy Yam on why women have reported twice as many anti-Asian hate incidents as men
- Yam also on why racism and sexism must be considered in this case
- The Washington Post on Trevor Noah slamming claim that racism didn’t motivate Atlanta shootings: ‘Your murders speak louder than your words’
- The New York Times on why hate crime charges are so rare
More to come on this troubling issue.
Get whatever COVID-19 vaccine is available to you, Fauci says
When it comes to the three currently approved COVID-19 vaccines in the United States — from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious disease expert, has made it clear: “All three of them are really quite good, and people should take the one that’s most available to them,” Fauci told NBC News.
We’re gradually hearing about more folks getting a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. But unfortunately, not everyone is yet sold on getting it — even though medical experts strongly recommend Americans get it when they have the opportunity, in order to slow the spread and achieve eventual herd immunity.
That’s why researchers at Rutgers University and California State University, East Bay want to understand what barriers South Asian Americans might be facing about the vaccine, so information can be better tailored for our communities.
If you’re interested, check out their anonymous survey.
If you or a loved one are eligible and looking for a COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S. — check out citizen hero Nick Muerdter’s COVID-19 Vaccine Spotter website, which scrapes various pharmacy websites in your state to find appointments. A valuable resource for all Americans during this vital time.
Red, White and Brown sparks conversations about culture and politics in the United States through the lens of South Asian American race and identity. Follow here on Medium and subscribe to our newsletter. Email us at redwhiteandbrownmedia@gmail.com or send a WhatsApp message to 646–481–3221 with any feedback or ideas.
Vignesh Ramachandran is co-founder of Red, White and Brown Media and a journalist who covers race, culture and politics. Follow Vignesh on Twitter.
