The COVID-19 pandemic, which was first reported in the city of Wuhan, in the Hubei province of China, has led to a perceived increase in racism against Asians and Asian Americans. According to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino[2] and Stop AAPI Hate, there has been an increase in crimes against Asians since 2019. For instance, the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism reported that hate crimes against Asians increased by 150% in 2020, and Stop AAPI Hate received 3,795 discriminatory incident reports in the first year of the pandemic.[3][4][5] Research from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism further found that anti-Asian hate crimes rose by 339% in 2021, when compared to 2020,[6] while police in San Francisco reported a 567% increase in anti-Asian hate crimes that year.[7]
A Pew Research study found that 58% of Asian Americans believed that racist views had increased towards them during the pandemic.[8] Along with this, 45% of Asian American adults say they have experienced at least one of five specific offensive incidents since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] A study by the New York University College of Arts & Science found that there was no overall increase of Anti-Asian sentiment among the American population; instead, it suggested that "already prejudiced persons" had felt authorized by the pandemic to act openly on their prejudices.[10]
On March 16, 2021, a mass shooting occurred at three spas in the Atlanta metropolitan area. Although the shooter has not been charged with a hate crime, a significant number of commentators have characterized it as such, as of the eight people killed, six were women of Asian descent,[11] and the shootings also took place at businesses with a high percentage of staff members of Asian descent.[12] According to police, the shooter said he committed those murders because of a conflict between his sex addiction and religious beliefs.[13][14]
Cultural resilience and anti-Asian hate
The cultural values and traditions of Chinese communities have deeply influenced their responses to systemic discrimination and anti-Asian hate. Principles such as harmony (he) and humility emphasize peace and conflict avoidance, fostering community cohesion and resilience. However, as Li-Li Huang explains in her study, [15] “Chinese people hold a deep-rooted desire to pursue ‘harmony’ when cultivating one’s self, handling interpersonal matters, and confronting the universe and nature.” This emphasis on harmony is sometimes misinterpreted as passivity, leading to underreported hate crimes and reluctance to engage with legal systems, which can inadvertently perpetuate systemic discrimination.
The story of Yao Pan Ma, a 61-year-old Chinese immigrant, exemplifies the intersection of cultural resilience and systemic challenges. On April 23, 2021, Ma was brutally attacked in East Harlem, NYC, while collecting cans to support himself. After months in a coma, he tragically passed away on December 31, 2021. Ma’s perseverance in the face of economic hardship highlights the resilience of Chinese immigrants, as noted in Susan Haigh’s Associated Press article.[16] His story also reflects broader systemic inequities rooted in exclusionary policies like the Chinese Exclusion Act, which institutionalized discrimination and reinforced harmful stereotypes.
Edward W. Capen’s article [17]“The Western Influence in China” further contextualizes these challenges, tracing the roots of anti-Asian prejudice to colonial exploitation during the Qing Dynasty. These historical injustices fostered stereotypes of Chinese people as perpetual foreigners and untrustworthy laborers, shaping systemic discrimination in Western societies. By addressing these historical and cultural contexts, public discourse on anti-Asian hate can become more nuanced. Highlighting cultural resilience not only fosters empathy but also underscores the strength of Chinese communities in overcoming systemic barriers.
List of rallies
United States
Alabama
Athens: Dozens gathered at Lincoln Bridgeforth Park for a rally on March 28, 2021.[18]
Birmingham: Over a hundred people attended a candlelight vigil at Linn Park on March 21, 2021.[19]
Arizona
Chandler: More than 200 people gathered for a vigil on March 21, 2021, in Chandler.[20]
Mesa: A large group held a march against violence on March 27, 2021.[21]
Arkansas
Bentonville: Several dozen attended a vigil on March 27, 2021.[22]
Carlsbad: Hundreds attended a rally on March 21, 2021, in Carlsbad.[24]
Diamond Bar: A rally was held on March 21, 2021. During the rally, a man drove his car at a group of people crossing the street, nearly hitting them, while yelling racial slurs and "Go back to China". In May 2022, a man was indicted on federal charges in connection with the incident.[25]
Boston: A rally on March 13, 2021, organized by student Ryan Doan-Nguyen was held at Boston Common and included a march through the streets of Boston's Chinatown and a subsequent conclusion at the Massachusetts State House. The rally garnered hundreds of attendees.[54]
Ottawa: A small vigil was held at Minto Park.[121]
Richmond, British Columbia: A rally was held on May 23, 2021. During the rally a man by the name of Peter Hanssens was filmed yelling slurs and racist insults at rally-goers.[122]
↑ Jeung, Yellow Horse, Popvic, Lim, Russell, Aggie, Tara and Richard. "Stop AAPI Hate National Report"(PDF). Stop AAPI Hate. Archived from the original(PDF) on May 22, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Huang, Li-Li. “Interpersonal Harmony and Conflict for Chinese People: A Yin-Yang Perspective. ” Frontiers in Psychology, vol. 7 847, 2016, pp. 1-14, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00847. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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