Foreign Racialization
There has been evident discrimination and unfair treatment of minority groups over the past years. The Asian Pacific Americans have been one of the most affected groups due to racism and division. For example, the Asian Pacific Islander Americans have often got their American identity questioned and doubted through actions and verbal interactions. The case of former U.S. President Barrack Obama is just one of the many cases that show a person whose ‘American-ness’ was questioned. The sentiments that show doubt of a person speaking fluent English are evident that there is foreign racialization in America. Some of the Asians, such as Chinese people, were born in America, and their roots are based in America, but the questions relating them with the Republic of China still express racial division. Such people are treated as if they are strangers on American soil. Asian American people should not be made to feel sorry for being different. Asian Americans are not too sensitive about the issue of foreigners racialization because it is a problem they experience daily.
The Asian Pacific Americans have often been considered as passive and disengaged from the standard American society, such as the activities of politics. Asian Americans have the right to resent the treatment as a perpetual foreigner and their identification in model minority images. There are laws such as the Chinese Exclusion Act that was specifically targeted at setting the Asian people apart and giving them a different treatment. Such a law only served in creating a poor foundation for the integration of American people. The Asian American people have the right to receive equal treatment as other groups and feel entitled to identities as Americans. There are some stereotypes in the current American society that still treat Asian Americans differently by discouraging their full participation in the affairs of American society. The outbreak of several global pandemics such as the coronavirus and Hong Kong flu from China has also contributed to the current high levels of racial and divisive sentiments. Asian Americans are subjected to discrimination and are sometimes openly denied access to public facilities, as some people fear the coronavirus pandemic.
The Asian Americans have raised above the social stereotypes and claimed their rights as any other group in the American society by getting liberation and finding justice. Some of the historical efforts to challenge the legal system that discriminated against them included the People v. Hall case in 1854. The other case was Thind and Ozawa cases on citizenship in the 1920s. The Asian Americans are not too sensitive when they claim that society has been relegating them politically, socially, and economically. Some collective movements include the pan-Asian emergence from the Vincent Chin Case, and the Sugar Plantation Strikes in Hawaii in the 1908 and 1920. The Asian Americans have been receiving discriminative treatments from the general American society, and they have had to form movements to make a unified voice. The Asian Americans have become aware of the various ways that they are treated differently. The racial sentiments have served to diminish their status when the rest of the people are contemptuous about Asian American cultural practices. It is unfair that some people consider the Asian Americans as to be practicing dirty cultural practices including diets and rituals.
Orientalism has continued to influence the wellbeing of Asian Americans in different ways such as the normalization of the West and consideration of the East as exotic. The Asian Americans are forced to behave in ways that suppress their traditional and cultural practices that are normally considered to be exotic. As a result, the Asian Americans have had to put up with a label of being exotic and perpetual foreigners who do not have the right to participate in the normal activities of the American people. Other minority groups in America are also victimized and treated in different ways by the government and natives. However, the Asian Americans have been highlighted due to the outbreak of coronavirus that has traced its origin in Wuhan, China. There is an open demonstration of discrimination against the Chinese people and other citizens of Asian descent. It would not be a show of over-sensitivity if the Asian Americans expressed concerns over the mistreatment, they now face from the general public due to the rising fears of covid-19.
The coronavirus pandemic is contributing to the increase of tension and division along the racial lines, and the origin of the virus being from China escalates the division. I agree with Joshua Barlas that Asian Americans have been tagged with the spread of the coronavirus. The issue of escalated levels of racism and division has been developing over recent times since the outbreak. The current issue of coronavirus has raised concerns over the lives of Asian Americans and their interactions with the rest of Americans. Jennyfer Sipaque also has provided an interesting view on the way the general American society is taking a racist approach in protecting themselves from the coronavirus pandemic. The case of a Chinese person who was wearing a surgical mask and got pushed from a Washington subway car shows extreme harassment against Asian Americans.
Moreover, cases of discrimination against Asian-Americans have gradually increased during this Covid19 period. Several Chinese have reported being harassed in ways such as refusal to use Uber and Taxis. Sadly, even President Donald Trump had participated in uttering negative remarks on Asian-Americans when he referred Covid19 as “Chinese Virus” on March 16 (Kandil, 2020). Liang Xu provides an essential thought that people are not discriminating against Chinese or Asian-Americans in general due to racism but because they fear infection. Additionally, he is correct in arguing that leaders who have denied Asians entry into their nations are not perpetrating discrimination but are simply trying to protect their subjects. However, it is essential to understand that Covid19 can infect anyone; thus, people and the government should not behave as if the disease is for Asian-Americans only.
Furthermore, the aspect of taking Asian Americans as foreigners have continued to dominate America both in the public and political class domain. For instance, a first-time congress person mistook fellow government officials for foreigners because their outlook was that of Indian-Americans. Curt Clawson addressed the two individuals, whom he assumed were representative of the Indian government during a house hearing and promised them that that as an American representative, he would work with them towards ensuring that both nations have fostered a good relationship (Bobic, 2014). Arun Kumar, one of the Indian Americans, is the director-general of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service consecutively. On the other hand, Nisha Biswal is the assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asian.
The plight of Asian-Americans as a subject of racial profilin is often ignored because what most people consider as discrimination is one that involves the Blacks. For instance, the question that dominates racial discrimination cases is whether one is black or white, which leaves Asians out. Since the discussions on race relations are mostly based on the conflicts and inequalities between the blacks and whites, the space of addressing Asian-American issues is minimal (Ancheta, 2006). Ignoring the presence of Asian Americans and the challenges that encounter has led to their disengagement, particularly from politics. Moreover, it has created an image of Asian Pacific Americans as a model minority and perpetual foreigners, and the law has often empowered that notion. Such incidences have continued to prevent the integration of Asian Pacific Americans from American society, making it difficult for them to air their views and concerns.
I agree with Albert Watts Covid19 has no part in the existing stereotypes against Asian Americans. His argument that people forget that the worst virus that is dangerous than any plague or catastrophe that can befall the earth is the long-lasting conflict between humanity. Conflicts among humanity, which is based on inequalities and discriminations are the invisible viral enemy that has sickened America and the globe for centuries. For example, if an individual belongs to races such as Black or Asian Americans, his/her American-ness will often be a subject of discussion. Such incidences are evident during Obama’s political career, where his citizenship was subjected to scrutiny when he wanted to vie for the presidency.
Conclusion
Overall, Asian Pacific Americans have been subjected to racism and unfair treatment for long. Foreign racialization takes different forms in America, including doubting the ability of people of color to communicate using fluent English. Notably, Covid19 has risen tension among the public, which has led to discrimination and negative remarks against Asian-Americans. Lastly, Covid19 is not the source of discrimination in America because racism has been exercised in the U.S. for centuries.
References
Ancheta, A. N. (2006). Race, rights, and the Asian American experience (2nd ed.). Rutgers University Press.
Bobic, I. (2014, July 25). Awkward: GOP congressman mistakes U.S. officials for Indian nationals. HuffPost. Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/curt-clawson-indian-officials_n_5622078?guccounter=1
Kandil, C. Y. (2020, March 26). Asian Americans report over 650 racist acts over last week, new data says. NBC News. Retrieved May 12, 2020, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/asian-americans-report-nearly-500-racist-acts-over-last-week-n1169821?fbclid=IwAR3qE2-_yPV1Z19jrhKVAvMiKRBaWuouURBttLfY5x6ctnCEujo4peN2dio