Reflections on a Challenging Era

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:13:18 -0400

It’s been a heartbreaking few months for many of us.

We have all faced the uncertainty and confusion of the pandemic and what it means for the future. Some of our Asian and Asian American friends, colleagues, and students have dealt with racist attacks and anger aimed at them, associating them unfairly with the virus’ origins. And in the last few weeks, the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd have served as a stark reminder of the longstanding inequities in American society that disproportionately threaten Black lives. Combined with the higher case fatality rates for people of color from COVID-19, the lockdowns, and economic pain unevenly distributed across the country, it can feel like American society is at a breaking point.

We are a community of people who are interested in the study of Asia: its languages, cultures, traditions, politics, economics, and international relations. As a community, we’re diverse. Right now, that means that we’re hurting in a lot of different ways. But it also means we have a wide variety of strengths, talents, and contributions to respond to these issues in distinctive ways.

As we all consider how best to respond, to push back against the destruction of racism, to care for those in our circle who are hurting, to seek change in any way we can, remember we have the strength and support of this community behind us.

Dr. Oyen