The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has shed light on many areas of inequity and injustice in our nation and around the world. One of the groups directly impacted by this is the Asian community. False beliefs and racist comments by leaders and lay people alike have led to an increase in violence and discrimination against them.

But many people are stepping forward to combat these harmful attitudes and actions. In the same way, you’re concerned about the prejudice you’ve seen against Asians. You want your Asian friends and colleagues to know that you support them and hurt to see racism directed toward them and other groups.

Here are some steps you can take to make this possible.

Educate Yourself

One of the first things you can do to be supportive is to educate yourself about the history of Asian prejudice in this country. There are many reputable websites and organizations you can draw upon to help in this process.

As you educate yourself, it may surprise you to learn how Asians came to the United States early on and what role they played in building our country. The difficulties they faced may sadden you.

It may anger you to learn that we even moved Japanese American citizens to internment camps during World War II. They had their land and homes taken from them by the U.S. government itself.

Understanding the harmful actions and beliefs that have persisted throughout generations is an important first step.

Examine Yourself

As you learn more about the history of anti-Asian attitudes, take time to look at the beliefs you absorbed from your childhood or other environments. For better or worse, often through no fault of our own, we often take on the attitudes of those around us. But that doesn’t mean we have to keep those attitudes.

Rather, we can learn to see that they are incorrect and harmful. We can sort through these beliefs and begin to replace them with respectful, supportive, truthful attitudes toward Asians and other minorities.

Attend Events

Attend events in your community to show support for the Asian community. Perhaps there’s a peaceful demonstration or a candlelit vigil for victims of hate crimes. Show your solidarity.

Donate to Organizations

Another way you can show your support is to donate as you’re able to those organizations that are working to eradicate racism against Asians. They may be giving presentations at schools and colleges, creating educational materials, or developing public service messages for social media, for example. Funds will help make these messages of support possible.

Set an Example

Just as you may have unwittingly picked up negative attitudes early in your life, you can reverse that by countering those attitudes when expressed by others around you. This doesn’t mean you should be combative or belittling. You can politely stand up for a colleague when a racist joke is told in their presence, for example. You can teach your own children about racism so that they don’t perpetuate it as they grow into adults.

Ask What You Can Do

When a group of people experiences racism, they can collectively and individually feel isolated and unseen. It can mean a great deal when you let people know you support them.

So, be sure to reach out personally and let your Asian friends and colleagues know that you’re with them. You don’t want to make them feel pressured to open up about their experiences with racism. But you can let them know that you’re willing to listen, especially if they feel there’s something particular you should know.

We can work together to put an end to racism in all its forms in our country. Taking small steps is a great way to begin. If you’re struggling to understand and undo prejudicial attitudes of your own, consider reaching out to bareWell for help.