America’s Sub-Culture of Hate

By Maresa Friedman, Maya Hu-Chan and Gregg Ward

Many Americans are deeply concerned that the recent mass shootings in Atlanta are yet another horrifying sign of the escalating abuse, violence and discrimination toward Asians, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. We at the Center for Respectful Leadership share these concerns and believe it is our responsibility to speak out and take a stand against hate.

The trends are unmistakable: verbal and online harassment, shunning, physical assault, and civil rights violations directed at AAPI citizens, immigrants, and visitors have all significantly increased in the United States in the past twelve months. In fact, a San Francisco based, national coalition called Stop AAPI Hate has identified nearly 3,800 reported “hate” incidents in the period March 2020 through February 2021; a significant increase when compared to the pre-COVID era. The majority of those targeted were women. The organization adds that this data represents only a fraction of the total number of incidents that occurred during the period.

Frustratingly, many in law enforcement refuse to use the term “hate crime” when referring to such incidents. Or, even worse, they take the word of the criminals themselves, who claim they weren’t motivated by racial or ethnic hate. Seriously? This is a classic hide-our-heads-in-the-sand method of ignoring an obvious problem.

Coupled with America’s long-term societal practices of hyper-sexualization, objectification, and fetishization of Asian women, it should be no surprise that Asian leaders and communities are maddeningly frustrated by the unwillingness of so many politicians to admit that there is a problem, let alone do anything about it.

Now, pulling back to an even wider view, and considering the frequency and ferocity of harassing, antagonizing and violent incidents targeting Blacks, indigenous people, people of color, women, people who are members of minority religions, the LGBTQ community, and/or who have disabilities, and/or are immigrants, poor and/or homeless, it seems appropriate to say that America has a sub-culture of hate that is no longer operating in the margins, but rather in broad daylight, often with impunity.

We know that this is a controversial claim. But how else can it be said without dancing around the truth? At CRL we pride ourselves in being respectfully direct, one of many effective communication practices espoused by the great leadership gurus of our time, including the businessman and writer Max De Pree who famously said, “The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality.”

The reality is that America’s sub-culture of hate, division, and violence is currently in plain view for all to see.

Historically speaking, we know that this is nothing new. It was on display before, during and after the Civil War when freed slaves who joined the Union Army were treated horrifically by white soldiers; when a mob lynched 20 Chinese Americans during riots in Los Angeles in October of 1871; when Blacks in Tulsa were massacred in 1921. What’s different now is that hate is easily recorded on our mobile phones, and then posted, tracked, celebrated and condemned almost instantaneously on the internet and in social media. Compounding this head-snapping technological development, our political leaders no longer rely on dog whistles to foment hate and violence against the “other,” they openly encourage it; all culminating in a violent, armed mob of far right extremists, white supremacists, neo-Nazis, holocaust deniers, and conspiracy believers waving Confederate flags, attacking police officers, and storming the Capitol on January 6th.

So, the question is…what are we going to do about it?

At CRL, we believe that respect, decency, and civility toward all are not merely nice-to-have practices by people of good will, but key attributes of all thriving cultures, not only in companies but also in countries. Creating “cultures of respect” all over the world is our goal.

To start, we urge like-minded and like-hearted Americans to join together in declaring that harassment, discrimination and violence toward the “other” in our country are very real, and that they are fueled by racism, bigotry, misogyny, and hate. It is only when we define this reality that we can take a stand and action against it.

Once that declaration is made, there are many things that we can do to begin driving positive change. Such as formally contacting our elected representatives, writing Op-Ed articles, forming and supporting community groups that encourage learning and discussion on racism and misogyny, and joining, donating, and volunteering with established organizations that speak out against hate.

Margaret Meade once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.” When it comes to combating and containing America’s sub-culture of hate, it’s time we committed to making that change now, before it’s too late.

Maresa Friedman, Maya Hu-Chan, both Asian Americans, and Gregg Ward are, respectively, the Director of Strategy, a member of the Advisory Council, and The Executive Director of the Center for Respectful Leadership in San Diego CA.