Strengthening Our Black and Asian Solidarity Through Adversity

• In Event: Building Racial Solidarity Across Black and Asian Communities in K–20 Education Beyond COVID-19

Abstract

This 2020/2021 year was a period of tensions between all races in the United States which has been heightened amidst the universal pandemic. However, through these tensions and hardships, stronger bonds were created among people especially out in New York with all the organized marches and protests. A particular and interesting focus on is Black and Asian solidarities is essential because history has shown how much hate there is towards both races. As written by Niall McCarthy, “according to statistics released by the FBI, hate crimes have risen to their highest level in over a decade in the United States. Last year, there were 7,314 hate crime incidents, nearly 200 more than the total number reported in 2018.” To get even more relevant with statistics to this according to the Pew Research, “Asian and Black Americans are more likely to report adverse experiences due to their race or ethnicity since the pandemic began. About four-in-ten Asian (39%) and Black (38%) adults – and 27% of Hispanic adults – say someone has acted uncomfortable around them because of their race or ethnicity since the coronavirus outbreak. Only 13% of white adults say this has happened to them.” This goes to show that there’s a commonality found between blacks and asians especially now. And through this adversity, our solidartiy is strenghning.

While some may say black and asian solidarity did not always exist, there has been a long historical track record of positive relationships. Van Jones, writes in his article a timeline of solidarity between those two entities:

Frederick Douglass advocated for Chinese and Japanese immigration (1869), During the Philippine-American War, Black leaders and soldiers opposed US colonization (1899-1902), African Americans protested against the Vietnam War (1965-1975), The Emergency Detention Act was repealed due to joint Black and Japanese American activism (1967-1971), The unlikely bond between Malcolm X and Yuri Kochiyama changed both their perspectives (1963-1965), Grace Lee Boggs dedicated seven decades of her 100 year-long life to revolutionary justice and civil rights (1915-2015), After Vincent Chin's murder, Jesse Jackson joined forces with Asian American activists to demand justice (1982), Asian Americans support Black Lives Matter (2020)


As an educator, I have these tough conversations about race with my young scholars and co workers. I remember once sharing a story about how as a black man, I have experienced discrimination from different people throughout my life. But it still did not stop me from loving and building relationships with others outside of my race. In fact, I even told them that I had the honor to attend a anti asian hate protest with Diana Liu my colleague and classmate at Teacher’s College this past spring 2021. Being in that space and growing solidarity with her and fellow asians was an important moment to us. Through class activities of storytelling, I was able to create powerful dialouge with my scholars and co workers that led us to creating a positive cultural learning environment where we all can learn more about each other.

Author

• David O'Neil Beauzil, Teachers College, Columbia University