Asians Stand with the Black Community in the BLM Movement and We are Here for It

Our hearts have been aching over the past few months as we have been listening, learning and advocating for Black Lives while calling for justice to be brought to the families of each victim of police brutality over the past few months. There are so many facets in which systemic racism persists as antiquated systems and corruption permeate different areas of American government and industry. As an Asian American, it is important to note that the Black community has fought for many of the privileges Asians enjoy today. It is overdue for us to take the torch and continue to do the work internally and in our communities for our Black and Brown brethren and sisters. Historically, nonwhite countries were barred from immigrating to the United States in 1924. This all changed when the Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 opened up immigration to all countries. South Asians were able to move to the United States after 1965, thanks to the work done during the Civil Rights Movement. We would not be here had it not been for the Black community’s activism and hard work against these policies and legislations.

In the wake of the Black Lives Matter movement, we must take it upon ourselves to unlearn racism and embrace anti-racism discussions in our homes and communities. Living in a country that is built upon racism creates inherent biases that we may not be aware of. This is the perfect time to reflect, learn our history and unlearn our prejudices. As allies, it is important to also understand how oppression has perpetuated divides between minority races through the Model Minority Myth. This myth perpetuates the stereotypes that Asians are mild-mannered and law-abiding citizens who are able to achieve the American Dream; all while overcoming discrimination and adversity. The model minority myth perpetuates the concept that there is a lesser minority that does not meet these expectations which is harmful to our modern-day society. It perpetuates a hierarchy and the racial divide between minorities and turns a blind eye from the very inherent injustices of our systems that ultimately leave Black communities disadvantaged. As Asian Americans, we are pitted against fellow minorities in a society that praises Asian immigrants albeit not placing them at the same level as White counterparts but also ensuring that other minorities and Black Americans continue to remain at the bottom of the ladder.

With all of this unpacked, one may ask how we can stand with the Black community at this time. Participating in peaceful protests, making calls to government officials (particularly, those involved in the Breonna Taylor and Elijah McClain cases), and supporting Black-owned businesses are fantastic ways to get involved and show support for our brethren. Donations to a variety of organizations advocating for Black lives, criminal justice reform and abolition can bring us a few steps closer to making changes in our police system and judicial system. Police brutality is only one area in which we must incite radical change. We need to also educate ourselves and our peers about the racism experienced in the workforce, healthcare industry, real estate and beyond. This is a very important year to get involved while ensuring that feed fatigue is not experienced. Now more than ever, the Asian American community needs to come together and educate ourselves so that we can actively elicit change at the local and national level. This includes participating in elections at a local and national level and understanding the intersectionality of racism that affects Black women and the Black LGBTQ+ community at large. We cannot let victims like Breonna Taylor and Black Trans lives fall to the wayside as they are currently. 

As a community, we need to speak up when we see something unjust occur, take the time to learn how to be anti-racist and show solidarity through amplifying Black voices while ensuring the focus is on Black Lives and not necessarily our community in support of the movement. While this may seem counter-intuitive, it is important to keep the focus on Black lives and also prevent further unintentional division between minority POC and the Black community. After all, we are all one and all lives cannot matter until Black Lives Matter. 

To continue the momentum of this movement, consider reading the resources at https://blacklivesmatters.carrd.co/

Reference for the 1965 Act