Explicating Anti-Asian Violence Amid COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Social Studies

• In Event: Discussions of Equity: Critical Race Theory, Culturally Responsive Schooling, and Identity Issues in Social Studies Education

Abstract

A surge in anti-Asian violence and harassment in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic is tragic yet nothing new. Asian Americans have long been scapegoated for a public health crisis as well as for a social, economic, or military crisis. How can we explain this long history of anti-Asian racism? What role does social studies education play in the continued history of anti-Asian racism? In order to answer the questions, this paper examines messages that social studies curriculum sends to students about who Asian Americans are and where they fit in the story of United States. Deploying AsianCrit as a theoretical framework, the paper reviews, synthesizes and discusses previous research findings on Asian American inclusion and representation in social studies curriculum.

Author

• Sohyun An, Kennesaw State University