Unveiling Injustice: The Systemic Racism faced by AAPI Individuals

By Mikayla A

Abstract: The rise of discrimination originates from misconceptions and stereotypes. This is notably seen in the rise in hate crimes among Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the United States. Surveys noting AAPI hate crime incidents reported before compared to after the COVID-19 pandemic, increased tremendously. However, the number of reported incidents only represents a fraction of actual occurrences. To understand the complexity of this topic, observing from a political and sociocultural perspective highlights the urgency for advocating for comprehensive hate crime legislation. 
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Summary  Discrimination arises from misconceptions and stereotypes, particularly seen in the rise in hate crime incidents targeting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities in the United States. Sampled from a survey conducted, it represented the number of hate crimes before the COVID-19 pandemic and after. Despite the concerning statistics of hate crimes, it was only the iceberg of crimes. This research paper prompts the question: What is the most effective way to address the factors that contribute to the increase in hate crimes against AAPI individuals in the United States? 
    Pandemic-related discrimination is the primary source of racism. Surge in COVID-19 related hate crimes were exacerbated by former President Trump’s comments on the virus, addressing the virus as the “Chinese flu”. In addition to Trump’s rhetoric, politicians and the media play a role in spreading misinformation about the virus being associated with AAPI communities. In spite of Trump’s comments, Biden’s administration worked on creating legislation to combat the increase in AAPI hate crime. The legislation only addressed what took place after the crime, not before or during. Due to the negative attention gained from misinformation and rhetoric, many fear to report their hate crimes despite online resources. 
    Advocating for hate crime legislation, enabling safer hate crime reporting, and promoting AAPI hate crime awareness can reduce the discrimination. Although we cannot eliminate racism fully, informing others of the truth and combatting misconceptions can educate. Advocating for comprehensive hate crime legislation at the federal, state, and local governments can improve reporting, increase funds for the initiative, and enable protection for marginalized communities.