Thursday, Apr. 23, 2020 – Thursday, Apr. 23, 2020

07:30 PM – 08:30 PM
US/Central

Despite the spread of COVID-19 to every continent except Antarctica, the virus's origin in China has led to growing xenophobia and racism around the world against people of Asian, particularly East Asian, descent. Stereotypes and conspiracy theories about "the Chinese virus" have been amplified by U.S. politicians, even with increasing reports of verbal harassment, physical attacks, and bullying against Asian individuals in numerous countries. Businesses in Asian communities, specifically in Chinatowns, have also suffered in the face of coronavirus and the anti-Chinese rhetoric that has followed. In the U.S., the country's fraught history of anti-Chinese discrimination — which includes the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882, the U.S.'s first federal law suspending immigration of an entire ethnic group — plays a role in the backlash many Asian Americans have reported experiencing.

Join Asia Society for a conversation on the ways in which government, civil society, media, and individuals can combat the rhetoric to prevent harm against members of the Asian and Asian American community.

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Schedule

Thursday, April 23, 2020
7:30 p.m. Moderated Discussion
8 p.m. Audience Q&A — Questions welcome via YouTube

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About the Speaker

Dr. Russell Jeung is Chair and Professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University. A sociologist of race and religion, his latest book, Family Sacrifices: The Worldviews and Ethics of Chinese Americans (Oxford University Press, 2019) details the most deeply held values and practices of this ethnic group.

At the onset of the COVID-19 outbreak, he began to track news media for stories on xenophobia and this disease. With this data and working with two Asian American civil rights organizations, he helped to establish a Stop AAPI Hate center which has received about 100 firsthand, personal accounts of racism daily. This research will be employed to strategically develop policy interventions and community-based programs.

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About the Moderator

Chris Tomlinson is a Business Columnist with The Houston Chronicle, where he has written commentary on business, energy, and economics since 2014. Before joining the Chronicle, he spent 20 years with The Associated Press reporting on politics, conflicts, and economics from more than 30 countries in Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. He is also the author of the New York Times bestseller Tomlinson Hill, and he produced the award-winning documentary film by the same name. Both examine the history and consequences of race, politics, and economics in Texas.

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Business and Policy programs are endowed by Huffington Foundation. We give special thanks to Bank of America, Muffet Blake, Anne and Albert Chao, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Nancy Pollok Guinee, United Airlines, and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Business and Policy programs; Nancy C. Allen, Chinhui Juhn and Eddie Allen, and Leslie and Brad Bucher, Presenting Sponsors of Exhibitions; Dr. Ellen R. Gritz and Milton D. Rosenau and Wells Fargo, Presenting Sponsors of Performing Arts and Culture; and Mitsubishi Corporation (Americas), Presenting Sponsor of the Japan Series. General support of programs and exhibitions is provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc., The Hearts Foundation, Inc., Houston Endowment, Inc., the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance, McKinsey & Company, Inc., National Endowment for the Arts, Texas Commission on the Arts, Vinson & Elkins LLP, and Mary Lawrence Porter, as well as Friends of Asia Society.

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About Asia Society at Home

Though Asia Society is temporarily closed, we are dedicated to continuing our mission of building cross-cultural understanding and uplifting human connectivity. Using digital tools, we bring you content for all ages and conversations that matter, in order to spark curiosity about Asia and to foster empathy.

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About Asia Society Texas Center

With 13 locations throughout the world, Asia Society is the leading educational organization promoting mutual understanding and strengthening partnerships among the peoples, leaders, and institutions of Asia and West. Asia Society Texas Center executes the global mission with a local focus, enriching and engaging the vast diversity of Houston through innovative, relevant programs in arts and culture, business and policy, education, and community outreach.