48: Stop Violence Against Asians: A Mind Money Balance Plea
Today’s podcast is taking a moment to acknowledge the increased violence against Asians in the United States. I’ll be sharing what’s been happening, what you can do to help, and the audio from a vulnerable video I shared on social media about my experience navigating the world as a white-passing Asian woman. If you need a reminder, money is political and is inherently intersected with race, gender, mental health, and more. You can refresh yourself on terms about intersectionality in Episode 15 “Intersectionality, Money, and Mental Health.”
What’s Happening In The Asian Community?
Here's what you have to know: there has been an increase in anti-Asian hate crimes over the past year that has risen with COVID that has largely been omitted by media outlets, most sharing of these crimes has happened on social media and within/between the Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Behind Black folks and Jewish people, Asian Americans are the largest target of hate crimes in the U.S. Recently, there has been a string of attacks on Asian elders in the Bay Area of California, with over 20 reported attacks in January 2021. 81.5% of AAPI youth report being bullied or harassed in 2020.
How Can I Help The Asian Community?
You can say: "I condemn violence toward Asians,” and “Asian people matter.”
Call out xenophobic and racist language when you hear it. With COVID, this might be hearing things like "Kung Flu" or "China Virus." All you have to say is "that type of language isn't ok. Please don't use it."
Diversify your media to include the voices of AAPI folks. Look for books written by Asians, seek out films and TV shows that have Asian and Asian American characters and actors, shop from Asian-owned stores. For media, I LOVE “Never Have I Ever” on Netflix, any of Ali Wong's standup, books by Celeste Ng and Amy Tan. For kids, I love the book “Amy Wu and the Perfect Bao.” As a Filipina woman, the podcast “Long Distance Radio” about Filipinx across the diaspora has been a great listen.
If you are worried about “not knowing enough,” allow me to ease your mind: You don't have to know too much about what's happening to say that it's wrong. Here’s a template you can use, "I may not be an expert, but I know enough to know that hate and violence against the Asian community is wrong."
Solidarity Among Marginalized Groups
As this goes live during Black History Month, allow me to say that first, we can and should be amplifying Black lives and voices year-round and not just during Black History Month in February. We can hold space for two (or more) marginalized groups at once. We need to focus on unity and solidarity between the Black and Asian communities. You can educate yourself on Black history, research Black joy, and amplify Black voices while condemning violence against Asians. The response to increased violence against AAPI should not be additional policing: it should be increased community care and solidarity.
The enemy is racism and white supremacy.
If I Don’t Know Enough, Will I Get Called Out?
There is a fear I hear from people who haven’t spoken out condemning violence against Asians that they will be told they are “fake woke” or participating in “meme activism.” These things are other terms for “performative allyship.” Performative allyship is speaking up for social justice with the sole purpose of getting a literal or figurative pat on the back. Here’s the deal: you don’t have to know much about what’s happening to say it’s wrong. This goes for speaking against violence toward any marginalized group. Use this template, “While I may not be an expert, I know enough to know that hate and violence toward [marginalized group] is wrong.”
What About People Who Are Mixed?
People of mixed heritage deserve our support. They don’t need to “prove” having experienced racism or racial trauma to be believed. My hope is that as a person of mixed identity, I can help others work toward being fully rooted in multiple identities rather than feeling like they are struggling to find balance as they straddle multiple worlds.
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