Acknowledging Anti‐Blackness, Overlooking Anti‐Asian Racism: Missed Developmental Opportunities for Chinese American Youth

Abstract

This paper explores the pathways and barriers to critical consciousness development for Chinese American youth. Thirty-five interviews conducted in 2020 with high-school-aged students in Chicago were analyzed to better understand young people's experiences developing an understanding of anti-Asian racism and anti-Blackness. Results indicated that participants overwhelmingly engaged in sustained conversations about Black Lives Matter and/or made efforts to address anti-Blackness within their families, but engaged in limited conversations about anti-Asian racism. Furthermore, conversations at home and school often failed to contextualize anti-Asian racism, specifically in relation to the experiences of other oppressed groups. Findings highlight a need for research on and practice with Chinese American adolescents to recognize the unique racial positioning of Asian Americans under White supremacy.

Commentary: Racism and structural violence: Interconnected threats to health equity

“…Despite these challenges, contemporary examples of solidarity exist. Asian Americans have made efforts to address anti-Blackness and understand its connection to anti-Asian racism (e.g., Letters for BLM, Asians for Black Lives) ( 33 ). Additionally, there are examples of organizations which center decarceral approaches in solutions to violence against Asian Americans (e.g., AAPI Civic Engagement Fund, Compassion in Oakland, Stop AAPI Hate).…”

“…Despite these challenges, contemporary examples of solidarity exist. Asian Americans have made efforts to address anti-Blackness and understand its connection to anti-Asian racism (e.g., Letters for BLM, Asians for Black Lives) (33) Resultant laws have increased Black and Asian American's social mobility (e.g., access to higher education/employment, voting, and homeownership). We implore public health scholars to acknowledge that racial and economic hierarchies rely on division between communities, and that long-term, sustainable solutions to anti-Asian racism must be aligned, and not against, the liberation of Black communities.…”

Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble: Expanding Thinking and Research on Youth of Color’s Resistance to Oppression

“…As Lee et al. (2022, this volume) described, schools can play a role in perpetuating racial ignorance and counteracting anti‐racist efforts by presenting curricula too narrowly. To foster anti‐racist commitments, youth of color must be able to see the interconnections between their groups’ experiences of racism and privileges with histories of anti‐Blackness and anti‐Indigeneity (Bañales & Rivas‐Drake, 2022; Lee et al., 2022, both in this volume).…”

When WE See Us: Commentary on Black Adolescent Research by Black Male Youth Activists

“…For example, Lee et al. (2022) and Bañales and Rivas‐Drake (2022) highlight how youth of color develop political identities connected to their racial groups. Hipolito‐Delgado et al.…”

“…As Kevin has articulated, the research in this special section titled "Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble: Dismantling Oppression through Resistance and Activism" is largely focused on processesnamely, how do young people learn how to name and combat white supremacy, racism, and other forms of systemic oppression? For example, Lee et al (2022) and Bañales and Rivas-Drake (2022) highlight how youth of color develop political identities connected to their racial groups. Hipolito-Delgado et al ( 2022) and Karras et al (2022) highlighted the role of sociopolitical developmentspecifically the ways that youth's environments could either incubate or inspire political actions.…”