Edward Park
An undeniable tone of hostility and condescendence pervaded the nation when the president spoke. A desperate attempt to find a scapegoat for his incompetence in dealing with COVID-19. “China Virus”. Not COVID-19, but “China Virus”. No, wait, not Coronavirus, but “China Virus.” That sinister manner with which he uttered those two words. It would have been a different story if he was just referring to the virus as something that originated in China. Anyhow, it’s too late to think about those two hate-filled words. The damage has been done, irreversibly changing the way that America views the Asian-American community.
Your hate towards the president may have further escalated upon hearing those two words if you’re black. Or perhaps, you turned a blind eye to those two words if you’re white. Regardless of background, you are now provided with a yellow scapegoat for a loss of a loved one to the global pandemic. Turning off the TV, you may recoil when you instinctively mutter “he makes a good point.” You shake your head as you come across a picture of your late grandfather. Grandpa, the innocent, substitute parental figure who recited nursery rhymes by your bedside, who packed your peanut butter and jelly sandwich as you made your way to the school bus, who taught you the importance of hard work and diligence— is now gone forever.
There was no pure intent; Instead, a bodily reaction, an instinctive response to his words. Even after a barrage of cursing, you aren’t satisfied. No action would placate the hatred churning within your soul. Then, you realize the reason for your grandpa’s passing; “China Virus” would suffice. Hood veiling your face, you bolt through Brooklyn’s streets, looking for an explanation, looking for retribution for Grandpa’s passing. That brisk walk in your neighborhood turns into a dash, then a sprint. Carrying a pail of acid, you hurl the stinging liquid at your Chinese neighbor. An excruciating scream reverberates around the sidewalk. But all you can think of is Grandpa.
“Woman randomly attacked with unknown chemical substance in Brooklyn” headlines ABC7 New York on April 6, 2020. You stare at your hands— inadvertent enforcers of fear and xenophobia — as a wave of regret overcomes you. As an Asian American, I am saddened to acknowledge the reality that these senseless anti-Asian hate crimes occur more frequently than not during the COVID-19 crisis.
How about the time when, on March 19th, a man robbed an Asian woman of her phone, calling her “dirty.” Or how about when, on March 28th, an Asian woman was the target of racial epithets and found herself hospitalized. Or more recently, on March 22, 2022, when an innocent elderly Asian woman was senselessly beaten over the head 125 times in just another of many anti-Asian hate crimes. I am utterly in shock by the amount of weight that two words can carry, negatively impacting an entire racial group. It shocks me, an Asian American, how most xenophobic hate crimes go without legal retribution and are so often overlooked by the American public.
And most importantly, I am utterly in disbelief that America’s long-standing history of racism hasn’t come to an end. The first and single law that barred members of a specific national group from immigrating to the USA was the Chinese Exclusion Act, approved on May 6, 1882. It is unthinkable that, 140 years later, the anti-Asian sentiment still remains a key issue in this country. It is telling that the country has yet to learn from its mistakes. Collectively, we haven’t acknowledged everyone as equals, and haven’t learned to respect the various cultures present among our fellow American citizens.
The United States of America is often referred to as a “melting pot.” A product of the mixture of diverse traditions, backgrounds, and talents is why we proudly claim America as a great country. And to see divisiveness, to see the most powerful man in the country endorse acts of xenophobic hate— is truly heartwrenching.