Let's talk about the rise in attacks on ASIANS around the world in the midst of the pandemic.
My name isn't…
Oriental
Yellow skin
Dog eater
Bat eater
Ching chung
Kung flu
Coronavirus, and many more!
According to Daniel Dae Kim, "What will it take before we are heard. Before we speak up. Before we use our platforms. Before we understand that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. Before we say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. Before we #StopAsianHate. Before we make a move." As if the challenges we've faced this year haven't been enough. I'm deeply saddened with everything going on in the news lately. There has been a spike in Asian hate crime since the pandemic began. So many unspeakable cowardly acts, especially against the elderly and innocent, have left me speechless.
We are not commodities to be hunted and humiliated. Our family history is littered with loved ones that have been murdered simply because they are Asian. Currently, the United States is not the safest nation as it once was. There are verbal abuse, violence, and deadly hate crimes committed against Asians and Asian Americans, especially the ELDERLY and WOMEN, that are not documented or even identified as hate crimes by the police. This is not anything to be entertained by or put likes on. This is a nightmare. It's something that needs to be tackled.
To be in the community means we MUST protect Asian. Why? Because they're human. They're bleeding, they feel pain; and ask what justice should look beyond.
No one is born racist. Racism is something you learn, nor something you're born with.
We will never get to a place of racial equality unless each of us does the self-work necessary to acknowledge the existence of racism, and every one of us was indeed guilty for not doing enough to eradicate it fiercely.
Our brothers and sisters in this country of America and other countries have been resisting, uprising and protesting for centuries. If that were enough, it would have worked already. The best place to start is at HOME in our own HEARTS and MINDS. Before setting out to do the social justice work necessary to make change, WE MUST BE WILLING TO LISTEN AND GET EDUCATED. And lastly, we can not fall into the trap of allowing our own perceived goodness to paralyze our ability to be better.
People of color won't be surprised by this. But, it's always been on us.
In this pivotal moment in time… we all have to ask ourselves what we are doing to fix the problem. It's pretty clear to me, if you aren't marching, using your voice to denounce racism, or actively choosing leaders that are doing anything about it; you aren't serious about equality or justice for our brothers and sisters in the community. And for the people already doing God's work — don't let those energy vampires steal your light. Continue to walk in your truth. There's enough good and decent people in this world to help you carry the burden.
Nelson Mandela emphasized, "No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart that it's opposite". Love will always conquer hate. If you see or hear something, speak up and help to protect our communities. I know I will, and it won't just be for Asians; I'll speak up if I see or hear something racist or discriminatory. That's something I'm not able to put up with! Stand up to hate crime and fight for what's right!
We are ALL Human.
WE are all EQUAL.
Think before you speak hate.
Educate yourself.
No one is born racist.
Racism is a choice.
Spread awareness and just be a good human being!