Rise in Asian-American Hate-Crimes
Some scholars argue that events of national and global importance, like the Pandemic, could impact the severity and the specific demographic population targeted (Han et. al., 2023). Anti-Asian hate-crimes do not have a single "look" or presentation. In other words, they range from verbal harassment to physical assault. According to BBC, an example of physical assault took place in Brooklyn, New York, when an 89-year-old Chinese woman was first slapped, and then set on fire (Cabral, 2021). This woman was targeted because of her ethnicity being associated with the spread of Covid-19. Yet, Chinese Americans are not the only Asian-Americans targeted.
Furthermore, the data (on the left) displays that while overall hate crime in the US decreased by 7% from 2019 to 2020, Anti-Asian hate crimes actually increased 149% in 15 of the largest American cities (CSUSB, 2021). Perspective and scale can provide crucial information into this horrible trend. Another study displays the same trend. In this study, 3/4 cities sampled displayed a significant increase in Asian-American hate crimes, while overall hate-crime incidents, within those cities, decreased from 2019 to 2020 (Han et. al., 2023). It is not merely a coincidence that this trend took place; while it is positive that overall hate crimes decreased, at what cost? Asian-Americans took on the weight of the Pandemic, when no group should have to take on this unneeded stress, fear, and danger.
References
Buchholz, K., & Richter, F. (2021, March 17). Infographic: Anti-Asian hate crime in U.S. rises during pandemic year. Statista Infographics. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.statista.com/chart/24442/anti-asian-hate-crime/
Cabral , S. (2021, May 21). Covid 'hate crimes' against Asian Americans on rise. BBC News. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56218684
Han, S., Riddell, J. R., & Piquero, A. R. (2022). Anti-Asian American hate crimes Spike during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 38(3-4), 3513–3533. https://doi.org/10.1177/08862605221107056