We at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute unequivocally condemn racism in all its forms and are appalled by the recent violent attacks against individuals of Asian descent in our communities. As we face these challenges together, we encourage you to review the following resources.
Recommended Readings
Ashley Yung interviews the Columbia community on the Atlanta mass shootings. Eugenia Leans comments on the false perception about China in modern-day America. Lean says, “These are the things that are being levied against China as this emerging superpower in 21st-century capitalism, where manufacturing is subpar, science is questionable, and corruption permeates.” Read the full article by here.
"UrbanDictionary.com, that shorthand source on all matters current and crude, cites the 'primary' definition of the Asian fetish as a 'strong attraction to Asians, most prevalent in Caucasian males. Although Asian girls have A’s in more than just grades: what they lack in boobs, they make up for in beauty. Usually exotic and petite, guys don’t necessarily feel superior but more masculine around them.'
The perception of sexualized Asian women was informed by a long tradition of the Western male writing and controlling that perception, leaving the women with no agency and no control over their own representation. Asian women in the media have been few and far between; what few there were often had no choice but to take on the archetypal roles of Asian females. But the landscape is changing."
Read the full article by Patrick Park here.
Kim Brandt discusses how a book titled Babysan: A Private Look at the Japanese Occupation offers insights into the critical question of how American soldiers actually behaved toward Japanese civilians including the over-sexualization of Asian women. Read the full article here.
Racial discrimination against people of Chinese and other Asian ethnicities has risen sharply in number and severity globally amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This rise has been especially rapid and severe in the United States, fueled by xenophobic political rhetoric and racist language on social media. It has endangered the lives of many Asian Americans and is likely to have long-term negative impacts on the economic, social, physical, and psychological well-being of Asian Americans. This essay reviews the prevalence and consequences of anti-Asian racial discrimination during COVID-19 and calls for actions in practice, policy, and research to stand against it.
Read the full article here.
A filmmaker, art historian, and collector, Wango Weng was influenced by his frequent travels across the Pacific Ocean. But while his works thematically bridged the United States and China, Weng’s prolific career has been largely overlooked by both Chinese and American histories.
The filmmaker, art historian, and collector was the subject of a recent online event organized by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute and the C.V. Starr East Asian Library. Learn more here.
Read the full article on the Honolulu Star-Advertiser here.
Request for Proposals
Remote Lecture Series “Asia in Action: Knowledge and Inclusion in a Time of Fear and Ignorance”
In response to troubling trends concerning anti-Asian sentiment, and a tragic rise in violence against Asians and individuals of Asian descent, the Weatherhead East Asian Institute (WEAI) will launch a remote lecture series titled “Asia in Action: Knowledge and Inclusion in a Time of Fear and Ignorance” to be implemented during the remaining spring semester 2021 and throughout 2022. As part of the series, WEAI faculty and members will have the opportunity to host online lectures and panel discussions focused on discrimination and violence towards Asians and individuals of Asian descent, systemic racism, and topics of race and ethnicity in relation to Global East Asia more broadly.