Announcements

Statement on the Surge in Anti-Asian Violence from the Aquino Scholarship Committee and the Asian American Studies Program

Since the start of the pandemic, which the former president of the United States referred to as the “Chinese flu” and “kung flu,” there have been 3,800 self-reported incidents of anti-Asian violence. Particularly sensational and deadly attacks have also made headlines, and the numbers of the attacks seem to be rising. Women have been disproportionately targeted. Most recently, a single person killed eight people, including six Asian American women, at three different Asian massage spas in the Atlanta area. While we are still learning details, it seems highly likely that race was a motivating factor.

We categorically condemn these acts of racism. We take solace in the fact that many institutions have made statements denouncing this violence and the racist rhetoric that encourages it, as well as in the actions of many community organizations who have stepped forward to offer direct aid to the most vulnerable. We are supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement and believe discussions of anti-Asian violence should be mindful of the complex role that law enforcement plays in discussions about race. We want to support existing community organizations and the people who are already doing the difficult work of addressing the many challenges they face.

As educators, we encourage BC students to learn more about the long history of anti-Asian sentiment, practices, and institutions in the United States, as well as the cultural, social, and political forces behind them. The recent racial incidents that have occurred on campus, while they seem not to have targeted Asian Americans, might also be understood as being shaped by these larger dynamics, and so can give us an opportunity to think with others across racial divides about what we have in common. We are adding a list of books to this statement that contributes to this understanding, already explored in articles by Hua Hsu, Anne Cheng, and Jennifer Lee.

We urge anyone who feels vulnerable or in need of someone to talk with to seek counseling. BC University Counseling Services is an excellent resource, and offers many services for students. Please also do not hesitate to reach out to your BAIC advisor at the Thea Bowman AHANA and Intercultural Center if you need any additional support. If you are aware of any incidents on campus or have been impacted directly, be sure to use this form to report them.