In “Conclusion: Academics Awaken: Power, Resistance, and Being Woke,” authors Kieu Linh Caroline Valverde and Wei Ming Dariotis discuss the true oppression hidden within the education system. Rather than viewing each other as the enemy, the authors instead encourage Asian Americans to stand together, supporting one another in the face of discrimination and prejudice.
This is an especially important message in today’s political climate. With the pandemic, Asian Americans have been the target of ire as some people blame anyone remotely Chinese for the virus. And even more recent is the case of George Floyd, a victim of police brutality. Individuals are protesting and demanding justice for him, even resorting to violence in extreme circumstances. But something needs to be done, and change needs to happen.
This is an especially important message in today’s political climate. With the pandemic, Asian Americans have been the target of ire as some people blame anyone remotely Chinese for the virus. And even more recent is the case of George Floyd, a victim of police brutality. Individuals are protesting and demanding justice for him, even resorting to violence in extreme circumstances. But something needs to be done, and change needs to happen.
We live in a capitalistic society that breeds competition rather than cooperation, fostering an outgroup vs ingroup mentality that concentrates on the similarities of our group members. This intense focus on highlighting the differences in intergroup relations only serves to widen the gap between everyone. We’re all humans at the end of the day. We should treat each other with respect.
Question: what methods are effective in ensuring that change does occur? Petitions circulate around and promote awareness, but how effective are they in actuality?
Image Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2020/05/29/george-floyd-death-donations-resources-justice-petitions/5282539002/
Source: Valverde, Kieu-Linh Caroline, and Wei Ming Dariotis. Fight the Tower: Asian American Women Scholars Resistance and Renewal in the Academy. Rutgers University Press, 2020.
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