Greetings CMGMH Friends & Colleagues,
Anti-Asian hate and violence has, since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, grown exponentially with every passing day. Over the last few weeks alone there was a shooting in Atlanta, Georgia which killed eight people, six of whom were women of Asian descent*; the brutal beating of a 65-year-old Asian woman in New York (full story here: Warning, article contains images and videos of racial violence); and over 3,800 other anti-Asian hate crimes over the last year (Stop AAPI Hate National Report). Anti-Asian hate, however, is not a fluke born out of the Coronavirus pandemic, but has long been silenced and forgotten by the American people.
With this newsletter, I hope to create a space of reflection, lament, and education. Below you will find quotes and testimonies from CMGMH students in the Asian Mental Health Program, common stereotypes that have been weaponized against the AAPI population, resources and articles, and a brief overview of several U.S. policies/laws that were created to harm Asian Immigrants.
Our next newsletter, in keeping with Asian American History Month, will continue our conversation on the AAPI experience with a greater focus on the successes and fundamental contributions of Asian Americans throughout our history. For now, however, please take a moment to read through these stories and resources so that you may be better equipped to help in the Stop AAPI Hate movement.
All the Best,
Rebekah Drew
CMGMH Program Coordinator
AmeriCorps VISTA Member
*Names of those killed in the Atlanta mass-murder: Daoyou Feng, 44; Hyun Jung Grant, 51;
Suncha Kim, 69; Paul Andre Michels, 54; Soon Chung Park, 74; Xiaojie Tan, 49; Delaina Yaun, 33;
|
|
"In a time of destruction,
create something."
~ 湯亭亭 (Maxine Hong Kingston)
|
|
Quotes on Myths and Stereotypes of Asians/Asian-Americans: |
|
"It's not your place, it's not your time. It's Black History Month, It's not your month."
**
"Asians don't get depressed,
they are good in math."
**
“I’m not good at math so I guess I can have mental health problems.”
**
“I'm good at math but it didn’t help with my PhD.”
**
“Asians don’t experience racism, they only experience discrimination.”
**
"You surprise me, you talk a lot for an Asian."
|
|
|
Words from our students:* |
|
"I have never taken a class dedicated to the Asian American experience... Asian Americans deserve to be studied as "voices" and not just statistics or numbers was also empowering to read, as I often feel that this population is excluded in many different realms."
______________________________
"To me, not learning or teaching about the immigration journey and the history of immigrants is neglectful, ignorant, and an act of alienation. It is like immigrants are allowed to be in this country and the idea for coming to this country is glorified; however, in actuality, life in the US as an immigrant is a constant fight to show the “natives” that you belong. Which is why the second article brought about a sadness that I did not know existed. Our grandparents, parents, and sometimes even we – have to go through a lot to earn the rights to deem ourselves a 'US citizen' or even a legal resident here. The joy and pride that comes when that title is earned is indescribable to an immigrant because it is almost a sigh of relief – security that you belong. But reality hurts. It hurts because even with the status of a 'US citizen,' you are still different and you will forever be treated as the 'alien.'"
______________________________
*These quotes come from students in Dr. Catherine Vuky's Intro to Asian Culture course - a part of the new Asian Mental Health Program in CMGMH.
|
|
"I was reminded of just how much immigrants or individuals from non-American cultural backgrounds must "prove" themselves worthy of being an American - the fact that individuals must "study" for a citizenship exam to prove he or she understands American history feels baffling, yet unsurprising, to me. Then, I thought to myself - imagine if mainstream culture were to put forth the same amount of energy to learning about the individuals, who choose to make America their home, as that which those individuals do to prove to mainstream culture that they are worthy of the American identity." |
|
Stop AAPI Hate - Resources
|
|
|
|
|
The Brown Asian American Movement: the Asian American Policy Review
|
"In recent years, Brown Asian Americans have been much more vocal about the continued invisibility of their communities within the larger Asian American community – particularly in combatting the presumption that “Asian” equates “East Asian”. In 2016, Filipino American and South Asian Americans wrote an open letter to the New York Times, citing ways that their communities had been erased from narratives involving Asian Americans and racial discrimination."
|
|
|
|
|
Guide for Parents of Asian/Asian American Adolescents: |
During the pandemic, there has been a steep rise in racial discrimination, harassment, and physical assaults against Asian American youth. Parents play a key role in supporting children who may face these attacks or see this behavior around them.
The William James College Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health (CMGMH) Asian Mental Health Program, in collaboration with the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Center for Cross Cultural Student Emotional Wellness, has developed a Guide to provide parents with the knowledge and skills to effectively support their children.
The guide is available for free download in multiple languages.
|
|
|
|
 |
Virtual Concentration Expo
Monday, April 5
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Zoom
Hear directly from students as they share their experiences and discuss the benefits of joining a concentration. Attendees will be entered to win an Amazon gift card! Register here.
A video recording will be made available for those unable to attend this event. For information, email Marice Nichols. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
- April 7th - Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day)
- April 12th - First day of Ramadan
- April 16th - Emancipation Day
- April 22nd - Earth Day
- April 30th - 46th Anniversary of the Fall of Saigon (1975)
-
"Saigon has Fallen" by Peter Arnett
|
|
|
Center for Multicultural and Global Mental Health
1 Wells Avenue
Newton, MA 02459
617-327-6777
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
