Immunizing Against Hate: Overcoming Asian American and Pacific Islander Racism.

Abstract

* Abbreviations: AAP — : American Academy of Pediatrics COVID-19 — : coronavirus disease 2019 SARS-CoV-2 — : severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 It has been more than a year since Immediate Past President of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), Sally Goza, MD, FAAP, warned against the threat severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) posed to children and families, including the harm coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)–fueled racism and xenophobia could cause the Asian American community. Sadly, as the COVID-19 pandemic spread, racism and violent attacks on Asian Americans spread along with it. Since March 2020, increases in racist rhetoric have coincided with increases in racist abuse, bullying, and attacks. According to Human Rights Watch,1 an organization that investigates abuses happening throughout the world, reports of discrimination and violence against Asians and people of Asian descent have surged both in the United States and worldwide. A new study of police department statistics2 from 16 of America’s largest cities reveals that hate crimes against Asian Americans rose nearly 150% in 2020, despite overall hate crimes dropping by 7%. Stop AAPI Hate,3 a national coalition that tracks incidents of violence and harassment against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States, reported nearly 3800 instances of discrimination against Asians between March 19, 2020, and February 28, 2021. Although these reports may represent only a fraction of the hate incidents that occur, it is an indication of how vulnerable Asian Americans have become to racial attacks and discrimination. Widespread media coverage of violence committed against elderly Asian Americans in cities across the country is stirring up fear and a sense of … Address correspondence to Lee Savio Beers, MD, FAAP. E-mail: president{at}aap.org