Asian Americans being attacked or verbally abused is no longer seen as a rare sight in the United States. In an attempt to stave off having more and more Asian Americans being attacked by racists around the world, some Asian American medical workers in the U.S. are now trying their best to fight the virus and racism.
From random attacks on Asian Americans, to the massage parlour shooting in Atlanta, and to the shooting rampage in a supermarket in Colorado, Asian Americans have endured a difficult period during which they had to be so alert to racists, because they knew they would be their target.
Anti-Asian slurs like “go back to China”, “Chinese virus”, were heard.
Problems like xenophobia, sexism cause trouble for the United States from time to time, but among them, problems brought about by racism demand immediate action.
Racists believe making attack on Asian Americans is no big deal – it’s anything but.
Despite being one of the targets of racists in the U.S., medical student Natty Jumreornvoug and Hueyjong Shih didn’t stop short of drawing the public’s attention to racism. Natty has got vaccinated against COVID, and has protective gear to shield her from the coronavirus. But she was still one of the victims of anti-Asian rhetoric and acts. She admitted it’s hard to avoid exposure to the anti-Asian bigotry that pulsed to the surface after many Americans suspected the virus was originated in China.
Dr. Michelle Lee, a radiology resident in New York was also among the 100 medical workers who denounced anti-Asian hate crimes. She’s the daughter of two South Korean immigrants with no other physicians in the family. Asked why she is still willing to be a doctor in the United States, she replied, “We (Asian Americans)’re not bringing you the virus. We’re literally trying to help you get rid of the virus. The whole reason I became a doctor is to help my community. If I don’t speak up for my community, what have they sacrificed – done everything they’ve done – for?”
Natty recalled hearing psychiatry patients calling her by a racist slur for COVID. Also, a bystander spat at the Thai-born student to “go back to China” as she left a New York City hospital where she attended training courses.
But that was not the end of the story. On February 15 of this year, she was walking to the hospital in scrubs when a man snarled “Chinese virus”, came up to her, took her cellphone and dragged her on a sidewalk. Natty reported the attack to police, and investigation is underway.
Patty admitted she had thought of leaving the U.S. because she thought no one wanted her to be there. But it was her optimism that stopping her from leaving. “For a moment, I was a little pessimistic about whether or not the people want me here. But I focused on how colleagues rallied around me, how the hospital expressed support, how patients have shown appreciation for my work. I still do believe in the best of America.”
Asian American healthcare workers and medical workers of Pacific Islander descent are literally hit by a double whammy of the virus and racism. Faced with increasing risks of being attacked by racists, Asian Americans have to be so alert to sudden attacks.
Police reports of anti-Asian hate crimes in 26 big U.S. cities and counties increased by 146 percent last year, while hate crimes overall rose 2 percent.
Former President Donald Trump is believed to have caused a series of anti-Asian attacks and shootings that happened earlier this year, as he reportedly called the virus “China virus”, and by other terms that added insult to injury. But despite his failure to tackle the virus being called a COVID crisis debacle, many of his supporters continued to be so loyal to him they became one of those who made anti-Asian attacks, critics say.
People of Asian and Pacific Islander descent account for 6 to 8 percent of the nation’s population, but a greater share of some healthcare professions.
Comments