No Cure For this Pandemic

The fear of Black men in public spaces is a pandemic that may never be addressed with a vaccine. It is crucial to discuss the racism that we encounter in our daily lives, particularly within South Asian communities who often hold stereotypes about Black people in the U.S. If South Asian Americans truly want to support the black lives matter movement, it is imperative to eradicate anti-black behavior starting from our own homes. In my experience growing up in a South Asian family, the news consistently depicted African American men as the perpetrators of the majority of crimes, perpetuating the harmful narrative that portrays black young men and boys as inherently dangerous and violent.

The South Asian community has been influenced by the media to fear African Americans continuously. During my school days, I found no distinction between myself and my African American peers. We shared common interests in books, food, TV shows, and even similar parental expectations. I felt a strong bond with them and certainly did not harbor any fear. Engaging discussions about civil rights movements led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X were a regular occurrence among my classmates.

It’s important to understand that individuals with malicious intentions exist within every race and community. This is an unfortunate reality that we cannot change or evade. Nevertheless, we have the power to prevent a small group of wrongdoers from defining an entire race. We must resist succumbing to fear and making sweeping generalizations about people based on their race, religion, background, or gender.

The model minority myth often deceives us, leading many individuals in our community to assert that they arrived in this country with little money but managed to succeed, so why can’t others? This perspective is commonly held towards African Americans. However, it is important to reflect on the past. In 1965, the U.S. implemented an immigration act that only permitted Asians with advanced degrees or specialized skills to enter the country. Consequently, the perception was that Asians were destined for success. The media portrayed South Asians as law-abiding citizens who were the complete opposite of black individuals. Yet, we must not forget that African Americans were not introduced to society based on education or higher degrees; instead, they were brought as slaves and treated as property.

The black community has endured a long history of segregation, lynching, mass incarceration, and criminalization for minor offenses, among other injustices. These systemic issues have had a lasting impact on their communities, becoming deeply ingrained within the system itself. Unlike any other racial group in American history, black people have faced systematic dehumanization and oppression. This has created a unique set of challenges and barriers for them.

In contrast, white supremacists have intentionally granted socioeconomic privileges to Asians, using them as an example to deny the existence of structural racism against black people. This tactic perpetuates the problem by disregarding the systemic inequalities faced by the black community. It is important to recognize that South Asians have also been utilized as a tool to divide people of color and uphold white supremacy in this country. However, there is often a lack of awareness among South Asians regarding their own role in this system of oppression.

The present moment calls for us to educate both our community and elders who harbor negative perceptions of African Americans. It is crucial to engage in conversations with them regarding the constant racial profiling that black men and boys endure on a daily basis, even within the confines of their own homes. Our families must be enlightened about the detrimental impact of negative media stereotypes concerning the Black community. Furthermore, we must address the deeply rooted systemic racism in the United States that has tragically claimed numerous black lives. As South Asians, people of color, and immigrants, we encounter racism on a daily basis, making it a familiar and ongoing struggle.

It is crucial to recognize that we share commonalities rather than being distinct from one another. As individuals of color, we are often viewed as the “other” by society. Due to the lasting impact of September 11, we find ourselves constantly subjected to extensive surveillance. Hence, it is imperative that we do not hold contempt towards those who face similar challenges, but rather unite and support each other, particularly during difficult times. Engaging in conversations within our community will undoubtedly diminish the prevalence of anti-black sentiment.