Recent headlines have highlighted the increased incidence of anti-Asian racism. COVID-19 racism is the anti-Chinese and anti-Asian scapegoating and xenophobic reactions, such as fear, exclusion, harassment, discrimination, microaggressions, and other racist behaviors related to the current pandemic. Inappropriate jokes, innuendos and suggestions that any or all Chinese and/or members of other Asian communities are responsible for, or suspected of having this illness can also be seen as microaggressions. The intent may not be to be hurtful, however the impact of these jokes, innuendos and suggestions causes harm and continues to contribute to misinformation.
This research guide is meant to offer resources to help give background to what COVID-19 racism is, a history of anti-Asian sentiments in the US, lesson ideas and also resources to help support and inform teachers, students and families.
The following resources provide a historical context of the racialized experience of Asian Americans in the US:
ARTICLES
Why We Must Talk About the Asian American Story, Too
Coronavirus Fears Show How 'Model Minority' Asian American Become the 'Yellow Peril'
A Conversation With Asian American About Race
The Long History of Racism Against Asian Americans in the U.S
BOOKS
The Making of Asian America: A History by Erika Lee
Asian Americans Studies Now: A Critical Reader
A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural America by Ronald Takaki
The Myth of the Model Minority: Asian Americans Facing Racism Authors: Rosalind S. Chou, Joe R. Feagin
Unraveling the “Model Minority” Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth Author: Stacey J. Lee
DOCUMENTARIES
Asian Americans - a 5 hour series from PBS
1. Anti-Asian Racism during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Slides from webinar)
2. Living Through a Pandemic: Understanding, Coping, and Finding Meaning (Slides from webinar)
4. The Challenges International Students Face During COVID-19 and How Parents Can Be Supportive (in Mandarin)
5. Understanding and Supporting Asian International Students during COVID-19
Compiled list of resources for K-12 educators including books, podcasts, articles, and more Created for the APALA & ALA ODLOS webinar “Confronting Xenophobia and Supporting Asian and Asian/Pacific American Communities during COVID-19” by Sarah Dahlen Park
Bystander Intervention Training to Stop Anti-Asian/American and Xenophobic Harassment - hollaback! and Asian Americans Advancing Justice are working together to offer free bystander intervention training. The sites also include other helpful info and resources.
Teaching Tolerance article: How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism
The following is a list of organizations and solidarity groups that combat hate and anti-Asian racism:
Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ)
Showing Up for Racial Justice Combating Anti-Asian Racism and COVID-19 Toolkit
Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council (A3PCON)
The Urban Institute Confronting racism and supporting Asian American Communities in the wake of COVID-19 by Danielle Kwon 24 March 2020 Southern Poverty Law Center
SPCL responds to Trump’s racist and xenophobic attacks on Asians
WHAT CAN BE DONE IN RESPONSE TO ANTI-ASIAN RACISM:
Stop AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Hate Incident Reporting Website
Don't Be a Bystander: 6 Tips For Responding to Racism Attacks
Self-care Tips for Asian Americans Dealing With Racism Amid Coronavirus
Lawyers' Hotline and Helps Sites for Asian Americans Targeted With Hate Acts Due to the Virus
Ideas for lessons as well as tips and strategies for teachers and educators
Countering Coronavirus Stigma and Racism: Tips for Teachers and Educators
First Encounters With Race and Racism: Teaching Ideas for Classroom Conversations
Anti-Bias Tools and Strategies
Assignment examples:
Create a Quarantine Quarterly Zine, Created by Jason Oliver Chang, Associate Professor of History & Asian and Asian American Studies, University of Connecticut.
A Day in the Life of a Pandemic: COVID-19 assignment, Created by Natalia Molina, Professor of American Studies & Ethnicity, University of Southern California
