No Matter How Bad it Gets, It Will ALWAYS Be ‘an Honor Just to be Asian’ | Asia Society Skip to main content

Unsupported Browser Detected.
It seems the web browser you're using doesn't support some of the features of this site. For the best experience, we recommend using a modern browser that supports the features of this website. We recommend Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge

  • Back to asiasociety.org
  • ABOUT
    • Code of Conduct
    • IMPACT
    • Nomination and Application Process
    • Contact
    • Asia 21 Team
    • Testimonials
  • Summits
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • Meet Our Young Leaders
    • Class of 2019
    • Class of 2018
    • Class of 2017
    • Class of 2016
    • Class of 2015
    • Class of 2013
    • Class of 2012
  • ASIA 21 COMMENTARY
    • Asia 21 Commentary
    • ASIA 21 IN THE WORLD
  • Global Chapters
    • Asia 21 Global Chapter Guidelines
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • U.S.A.
    • Vietnam
  • Action Lab
    • 2018 Action Lab
    • 2017 Action Lab
    • 2016 Action Lab
  • Video Gallery
  • Support
    • Asia 21 Alumni Giving Campaign
    • Asia 21 Supporters
    • Asia 21 Corporate Sponsors
Search
Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • ABOUT
    • Code of Conduct
    • IMPACT
    • Nomination and Application Process
    • Contact
    • Asia 21 Team
    • Testimonials
  • Summits
    • 2020
    • 2019
    • 2018
    • 2017
    • 2016
    • 2015
    • 2013
    • 2012
    • 2011
    • 2010
    • 2009
    • 2008
    • 2007
    • 2006
  • Meet Our Young Leaders
    • Class of 2019
    • Class of 2018
    • Class of 2017
    • Class of 2016
    • Class of 2015
    • Class of 2013
    • Class of 2012
  • ASIA 21 COMMENTARY
    • Asia 21 Commentary
    • ASIA 21 IN THE WORLD
  • Global Chapters
    • Asia 21 Global Chapter Guidelines
    • Afghanistan
    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • Bhutan
    • Cambodia
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • New Zealand
    • Pakistan
    • Philippines
    • Singapore
    • Thailand
    • U.S.A.
    • Vietnam
  • Action Lab
    • 2018 Action Lab
    • 2017 Action Lab
    • 2016 Action Lab
  • Video Gallery
  • Support
    • Asia 21 Alumni Giving Campaign
    • Asia 21 Supporters
    • Asia 21 Corporate Sponsors

No Matter How Bad it Gets, It Will ALWAYS Be ‘an Honor Just to be Asian’

Sylvia Kim for NextShark

Andrew Yang speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa

Andrew Yang speaking with attendees at the 2019 Iowa Democratic Wing Ding at Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa (Photo credit: Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons). 


Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons

May 1st, 2020

Below is an excerpt of the op-ed by Asia 21 Young Leader Sylvia Kim, originally published on NextShark on March 31st, 2020. 

 

As a proud Asian American, I am tired of reading article after article of Asians being portrayed as fearful victims or terrified bystanders to increasingly violent attacks of hate and xenophobia. Yes the attacks are chilling and appalling. But we are not just fearful or terrified. We are proud. We are strong. Despite our diverse ethnicities and histories, we each come from a powerful lineage of people who have survived brutal wars, famines, generations of pain and suffering. We know what it’s like to overcome, to work so damn hard on behalf of a dream – the dream of freedom, prosperity and a better life for our children. We have worked so hard and achieved so much.

Just this past February, our community celebrated new heights of representation as the South-Korean movie “Parasite” won multiple Academy Awards – including the venerable Best Picture award. America also had a viable Asian American presidential candidate in Andrew Yang. How far we have fallen from those heights. 

Within a month, Asians have been attacked around the globe, seen by xenophobes as the primary carriers and cause behind COVID-19 – the global pandemic that has been sweeping the world. I don’t need to go into the detestable details of eerily similar incidents of Asians being spat on, physically and verbally attacked. The growing number of reprehensible attacks have taken place all around the world – from New York to San Francisco, from London to Paris, from Toronto to Sydney. In the United States, the rise of hate crimes has become so concerning that the Attorney General of New York has launched a hotline specifically for hate crimes against Asian Americans.

Read the article on NextShark. 

About
  • Mission & History
  • Our People
  • Become a Member
  • Career Opportunities
  • Corporate Involvement
visit us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
global network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, D.C.
resources
  • Arts
  • Asia Society Magazine
  • ChinaFile
  • Current Affairs
  • Education
  • For Kids
  • Policy
  • Video
shop
  • AsiaStore
initiatives
  • Arts & Museum Summit
  • Asia 21 Young Leaders
  • Asia Arts Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Game Changer Awards
  • Asia Society Museum: The Asia Arts & Museum Network
  • Asia Society Policy Institute
  • Asian Women Empowered
  • Center for Global Education
  • Center on U.S.-China Relations
  • China Learning Initiatives
  • Coal + Ice
  • Creative Voices of Muslim Asia
  • Global Cities Education Network
  • Global Talent Initiatives
  • U.S.-Asia Entertainment Summit
  • U.S.-China Dialogue
  • U.S.-China Museum Summit
Connect
Email Signup For the media
Asia Society logo
©2022 Asia Society | Privacy Statement | Accessibility | Terms & Conditions | Sitemap | Contact

Asia Society takes no institutional position on policy issues and has no affiliation with any government.
The views expressed by Asia Society staff, fellows, experts, report authors, program speakers, board members, and other affiliates are solely their own. Learn more.

 

 

  • Visit Us
  • Hong Kong
  • New York
  • Texas
  • Global Network
  • Australia
  • France
  • India
  • Japan
  • Korea
  • Northern California
  • Philippines
  • Southern California
  • Switzerland
  • Washington, DC