In the past year since the pandemic began, there have been increased reports of Asians being attacked, regardless of their cultural identity, who have publicly experienced unwarranted harassment. While violence and hate crime remains a big concern since the Atlanta spa shootings, microaggressions and verbal harassment has also occurred more frequently.
On one occasion, a Chinese American, born and raised in the U.S. was told to “go back to your own country” while he was in the supermarket. Worried about potential violence and conflict, he quickly returned to his car and drove away. Unfortunately, such moments have become common.
Atsuko Toko Fish, Co-Founder of the Fish Family Foundation shared a similar experience in a statement:
Recently, out for a walk along a narrow road on Cape Cod, I passed a family wearing no masks. I asked them, “Where are your masks?” The father turned to me and said harshly, “Go home.” On another occasion I was out walking, followed by a young girl on her bike. She asked where I lived, so I pointed out my house. As she stopped and watched me go towards my front door she said, “No. You don’t belong here.”
Although originally from Japan, Fish has been living in Boston since 1983 and raised her children here. She stated that “As an Asian woman, I too have been a target of discrimination and racism. On the street and in the workplace. These experiences are deeply rooted in misogyny and hypersecualization.” Through her work with the Asian Task Force Against Domestic Violence and more, she encourages other Asian women to speak up as a way to show strength and pride in one’s own heritage in order to become a role model for the generations to come.
While blatant racism has been commonplace for some, Helen Chin Schichte shared what it was like growing up celebrating both Chinese and American cultures in Charlestown, a predominantly white, Irish, Italian Catholic town. “I’m very grateful that our parents brought us up to know and to experience both Chinese culture and Western culture; we get to celebrate Chinese New Years and we get to celebrate American New Year’s, and all of the holidays,” she said. “But I have to say right now it’s a very, very sad time for us, really, I’ve really been agonizing over all of the things that’s been happening, there’s so much anxiety and fear in the Asian American community and, people are reluctant to leave their homes, this is unacceptable.”
Early in her career in the state government, she admitted that there would be some comments relating to her race as she was one of the few Chinese women in such a position. In response to those comments, she would say, “You don’t mean that,” or, “No, please don’t say that again.”
Schlichte expressed that education is important in addressing racism, discrimination, and violence against Asian Americans. Schlichte said “It was only at home where I learned about the Chinese Exclusion Act.” Asian American history was and still is often excluded from school curriculums in some states. “The long history of anti racism in the United States must be taught in the school curriculum,” she said.
