NEW YORK, June 10, 2021 — As hate crimes and acts of discrimination against members of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities have increased, so has the need to address the impacts of these events on individuals’ mental health and well-being. The McSilver-led Community Technical Assistance Center of NY (CTAC) hosted a presentation by Dr. Doris F. Chang, an Associate Professor at the NYU Silver School, to explore historical and contemporary examples of anti-AAPI racism and provide tools to address racial trauma and oppression.
Dr. Chang said many Asian Americans don’t know about the history of racism against their communities and instead internalize and blame themselves when attacks and discrimination occur. It’s important to understand the impact of the model minority stereotype, which both idealizes and disempowers Asian Americans by casting them as being more successful than other racial and ethnic minority groups. It’s also necessary to understand how the perpetual foreigner stereotype affects the way people in AAPI communities are treated. She stressed how important it is “to resist that oppressive narrative and develop a more affirming counternarrative. It’s important to be sharing our stories of struggle and success.” And when AAPI individuals are struggling emotionally and mentally with racial trauma, it’s important that they reach out to others and seek help.
Watch this training (Email registration required)