No Longer Silent: Speaking Solidarity With Black and Asian Students

• In Event: Invited Symposium. Centering Critical Ethnic Studies in K–20 Education Today: Building Racial Solidarity Across K–12 Schools and Higher Education

Abstract

When we look to Asian American history and movements, we must acknowledge the support that Black communities have given us and the various ways they have shown up for us to bring not only greater awareness to the issues in our communities, but also change across communities and beyond. When looking at our history of discrimination, we see that Frederick Douglas denounced the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. With the movement of Vincent Chin, “Roland Hwang and James Shimoura credit this multicultural coalition for helping to open doors for the ACJ” because Prosecutor William Cahalan “wasn’t interested in meeting a bunch of Asian American lawyers and community activists” (Yoo, 2021, p.126). It was through the strong support of Black organizations that allowed the Asian American community voices to be heard and paved the way for one of the largest Asian American movements. It is only through our coalition building and understanding of our similarities, complexities, and tensions between Black and Asian communities and histories that we can understand the deep-rooted effects of racism and White Supremacy that sows division between us.

Author

• Diana Liu, Teachers College, Columbia University
  Presenting Author