Anti-Asian Bias: UW-Milwaukee Confronts Asian Hate

Dr. Juchuan Wang discussed how the use of the term “China Virus” has diverted attention away from domestic failure during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and in honor of this, panelists celebrated having the hard conversation of Anti-Asian bias in America, according to Dr. Chia Vang, the Associate Vice Chancellor in the Division of Global Inclusion & Engagement. 

Several students, faculty members and guest speakers spoke at the roundtable about the recent increase in everyday biases that Asian-Americans face. Asian faculty represents over 20% of all faculty on the UW-Milwaukee campus, according to Chancellor Mark Mone. 

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, America has seen a rise in Anti-Asian hate crimes. When it comes to understanding this rise in hate, it’s important to understand the context of it all, according to Wang, UWM Associate Professor in the College of Global Studies. 

Wang identified three different contexts: the political polarization this country endures, the failure to control the COVID-19 virus here at home and the demonization of China. These three contexts plus the use of the term “China Virus” diverts tension away from domestic failure and it yields xenophobia in this country, according to Wang.  

“We desperately need more hate crime data,” said Wang, “I think the most important thing is the surge in Anti-Asian attacks, and this surge since the COVID-19 pandemic cannot be explained.” 

Dr. Prasenjit Guptasarma, a physics professor at UWM, provided a different look at approaching and handling this increase in hate. He mentioned two important words to viewers: empathy and integrity.  

“When it comes to violence and bias, it’s important to remember that the other human being in front of you is someone’s child, someone’s brother, someone’s parent,” said Guptasarma. “[They go] through the same feelings that you do, that’s a human being you’re dealing with.” 

Many panelists felt the need for self-reflection and reflection within the Asian community in itself, such as sophomore Anvitha Sriram and graduate student Xueyou Wang. 

“[Being Indian] I don’t feel directly as much the target on my back as I’m walking around,” said Sriram. 

However, Sriram also mentioned that the thought is always in the back of her mind: ‘Will I walk outside and be attacked?’ 

Xueyou Wang was quick to mention the fact that there is need for reflection within the Asian community, mentioning the degradation of one another, specifically towards women and the elderly.  

“I think the language barrier is something that makes it difficult especially for elderly Asian-Americans to hang on to their rights and rent controlled apartments, their stability, their place in their neighborhood and their home,” said Xueyou. 

Viewers of the virtual roundtable were able to comment and ask questions to the panel as well. Many viewers mentioned the recent attacks on Asian restaurants in the city of Milwaukee such as Nana Asian Fusion this past March and Lucky Lui’s brief closing at the beginning of the pandemic due to racist behavior from the surrounding community. Some even discussed the attack on 36-year-old Ee Lee that took place back in Sept.  

When faced with the question of what UWM can do on campus to show support to the Asian community, Dr. Aki Roberts, an Associate Professor of Sociology, suggested creating the space to talk and listen for students. 

“One thing we can do, is because we are still in the stage of grief, maybe we can create a space to talk and listen,” said Roberts. 

Stemming off the topic of creating that space to talk and listen to students facing bias, Success Coordinator Pachoua Lor mentioned her work in asking students a lot of personal reflection questions when it comes to facing bias. She recognized that May is also National Mental Health Awareness month, adding that this goes hand in hand with Asian Pacific American Heritage month this year. 

“Promoting Asian Mental Health Awareness resources is different than just promoting mental health resources,” said Lor. 

It is important for professors at UW-Milwaukee to understand their students, according to Guptasarma. UW-Milwaukee is one of the few campuses in this country with a diverse student population, according to Guptasarma, and it is crucial that we recognize it, embrace it and celebrate it.