Since the start of the pandemic, Asian Americans have been facing an increase of discrimination and hate crimes, due to the false belief that they are the cause of the pandemic. The fact that the virus originated in China is being used to blame Asian Americans and normalize racism. Terms like the “kung flu” are being used to drive the idea that they are diseased and harmful, which dates back to the 1800’s. White workers created and spread this idea to prevent Chinese immigrants from being hired and taking jobs. Even wearing a face mask, which was often associated with Asia in the past, has provoked racism and harassment. In the past year Stop AAPI Hate, an incident reporting center has received over 1,800 reports of violence or harassment towards an Asian American. An article from Time magazine features ten Asian Americans and their stories of racist and fearful confrontations. Photographer Haruka Sakaguchi has been gathering photos of the victims and displays them at the sites where they were harassed or assaulted.
Photograph of Justin Tsui, taken in Harlem, Manhatten
Justin Tsui, a Chinese American, recalls a man telling him to go back to his country, citing the Covid-19 and the SARS virus as the reason he should not be here. Tsui felt so threatened he questioned getting off the train for fear he would be followed. The recent murders in Atlanta were racially motivated, and are just another example of the increase of hate and discrimination Asian Americans are facing. Now more than ever, they are constantly living in fear of what may happen to them, their friends, and their family. These events promote Adichie’s concept of the single story. Over two hundred years ago a perception of an entire group of people was created. This assumption was made specifically towards Chinese immigrants, but has now been used against any person of Asian descent. Back then people claimed the immigrants were diseased, a belief which is currently still being used to fuel hatred and violence. We have allowed a harmful and incorrect story to represent a large group of people, creating more racism towards them and causing them to live every day with fear.
The rest of the photographs and stories can be viewed here.
https://time.com/5858649/racism-coronavirus/
Works Cited:
Kambhampaty, Anna. ” I Will Not Stand Silent”. 10 Asian Americans Reflect on Racism During the Pandemic and the Need for Equality”
Time Magazine, June 25,2020
Thank you for your post! Since the COVID-19 outbreak, there has been an increase in discrimination and violence against Asians. The pictures of the victims in your post impressed me. I think Haruka Sakaguchi is using a powerful way to express the issue of racial discrimination in the form of art. I hope that one day there will be no racial problems in the world and people can live together as equals.