Our executive director Andy Kang penned an op-ed in the Chicago Reader that addresses the patterns of racist rhetoric that have had dangerous consequences in our country’s history, and how we can prevent history from repeating itself as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to unfold.
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many more opportunities for us to tackle racial injustice. What is happening now has highlighted the deadly consequences of centuries of anti-Blackness and unaddressed health and economic disparities for the African American community, while at the same time flushing out the dormant anti-Asian xenophobia in our society. This is a moment for Asian Americans to actively build solidarity with Black communities to confront two sides of the same problem: the legacies of white supremacy that are hurting our communities.
Instead of showing our «American-ness» in the face of racism, Asian Americans, and all Americans, need to step up and unite around an undying commitment to achieving real racial justice in our country. I pray Chicagoans will lead the way.
