Hope. Promise. Possibility. For ALL.

Hate crimes are different from other crimes. They strike at the heart of one’s identity – they strike at our sense of self, our sense of belonging. The end result is loss – loss of trust, loss of dignity, and in the worst case, loss of life. ~James Comey

Hope. Promise. Possibility. These are the reasons my parents chose to emigrate to the United States of America in the 1960s. I am a proud second-generation Asian American. While many people know this about me, not many know what it feels like. Especially during times like these. Growing up, I struggled to “fit in”. I felt not fully Asian, not fully American. Generational, cultural, and language gaps persisted throughout my childhood. There were times that I was afraid. Felt I might not belong. Countless instances of being bullied, being called inappropriate names, and being constantly reminded that I was different fed this fear and most certainly shook my confidence, causing me at times, to question my identity.

You might think that my experiences were limited to childhood. Unfortunately, they are not. To this day, it is not surprising to me (though it is disappointing) to be asked “where are you really from?” or to be told to “go back to your own country”. And in certain settings, the derogatory name calling and unseemly jokes from my youth are repeated, even now. Flippant comments of how “all Asians look the same” or how “you can speak really well” still arise. And as an Asian female, living at the intersection of racism and sexism, being passed over for louder voices and too often being stereotyped as subservient has become simply and sadly part of life. I don’t share these things to complain – rather I share as a small sampling of hurtful realities which exist. And in these realities, the assertion to those of us who have experienced them is that we do not belong, that we can be objectified, that we won’t make waves or fight back. That we are the perpetual foreigner, the silent outsider, and somehow lesser than.

By now, we’ve all seen the horrific stats which clearly demonstrate that over the past year, things have gotten worse for the AAPI community and in particular women. The nature of hate incidents includes verbal harassment, physical assault, workplace discrimination, refusal of service, and online harassment. And as we’ve seen in the recent tragic shooting spree in Atlanta and ongoing street assaults on elderly Asian Americans, lives have been lost. Many of my friends are afraid – not only for the elders in their family, but for themselves and for their children. Concerns have spread well beyond the AAPI community, as they should. And on Friday, March 26, there was a National Day of Action and Healing. This date is significant because it marks the anniversary of the Nationalization Act of 1790, which restricted US citizenship by naturalization to white immigrants. Did you know that this barrier was not removed for all Asians until 1952? Fast forward to present time. In support of #StopAsianHate, I am proud to see that numerous companies, organizations, and groups spanning the private, public, and non-profit sectors – including their leaders – are choosing to lean in with their support. This is not a moment. It is a movement.?And yes, there is Hope. Promise. Possibility.

Several people have asked me if I am fearful now. I. Am. Not. I am angry (admittedly infuriated at times). I am frustrated. I am saddened by the continued senseless and tragic loss of life. I am disappointed because I know that we can be better – and that we should be better. But the issues run deep, with roots in our history. Anti-Asian sentiment and hate are not new. Did you know that the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was the first (and to this date remains the only) law implemented which prevented all members of a specific ethnic group from immigrating to the United States? Did you know that during World War II, the internment of Japanese Americans forced the relocation and incarceration of over 110,000 people in concentration camps? Did you know that in the days following 9/11, there was a spike in violence against those who looked South/West Asian, and that anti-Muslim hate crimes have since never dropped below pre-9/11 levels? Perhaps there are some who believe this is ancient history and that the incidents of today are corner cases. Would it surprise you that in 2019 – well before COVID changed the world – over 75% of Asian Americans experienced discrimination in some way, and that over 55% of Asian American children reported being bullied in school (higher than any race)?

Hate crimes. Ugly words, aren’t they? Crimes committed either partially or solely based on one’s prejudices and biases against another simply because of their race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, culture, disability, religion, age, or otherwise. No one should have to live in fear, simply because of who they are.

Regrettably, systemic racism and social injustices exist. This fuels continued inequalities, discrimination, prejudice, stereotyping, and much worse. Unfortunately resulting in the opposite of what this country embodies and is entirely contrary to the foundational diversity which has formed the United States of America. Think about it. Becoming American is not about a particular nationality, ethnicity, religion, language, or political party – it is about being part of one beautifully diverse nation. Being American embodies life, liberty, equality, opportunity, rights, and justice for all.?

Who are we to question another person’s identity or to judge someone based on how they look or how they speak? Who are we to challenge whether someone belongs through acts of malice, blame, anger, and hate? We are better than this, we must be more evolved. The beauty of humanity lies in our diversity. We all belong – EVERY – SINGLE - ONE of us. Each and every voice matters, and we should not be afraid to be heard.

We must stand united against racism. We must work to educate ourselves and help to educate others. We must consider the expansion of civil rights protections. Whether a hate incident or a hate crime, it must stop. There’s no room for hate in our vocabulary. The power of our words must be married to the power of our actions. And we must expand our perspectives to understand the intersectionality of the issues faced by all marginalized communities. What we do today will shape generations to come. It’s time to listen. It’s time to seek to understand. It’s time to engage and take action. It’s time to be better and do better – together. So together, let’s be the change.?Let’s ensure Hope. Promise. Possibility. For ALL.?