[bioundgrd] FW: In solidarity with our Asian colleagues, family, and friends.

[Joshua Stone]

From: Alexandra Pike <alexpike at mit.edu>
Subject: Fwd: In solidarity with our Asian colleagues, family, and friends.


To the MIT Biology community:

We stand in solidarity with our Asian, South Asian, Asian-American, and Pacific Islander community members as we continue to reflect on the rise of anti-Asian sentiment and hate crimes<https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2020/07/01/many-black-and-asian-americans-say-they-have-experienced-discrimination-amid-the-covid-19-outbreak/> during the COVID-19 pandemic. As members of the Biology Diversity Community, we extend our care and concern to Biology community members of Asian descent, their families, and friends, and reaffirm that anti-Asian hate has no place in our department.

We recognize that this uptick in anti-Asian sentiment in response to the COVID-19 pandemic has occurred as a result of decades of harmful policies and stereotypes that have gone unchecked in our society. Asian discrimination-policies and regulations have served to bar many Asian groups from entry<http://chinacomestomit.org/#/chinese-exclusion/> and civil rights<https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/japanese-relocation> in the United States.

We must also recognize the normalization of stereotypes that have shaped the othering of Asians in this country—indeed, these stereotypes are endemic in science and academia. The ‘Model Minority’ myth is insidious because it erases the heterogeneity of Asian identities and frames Asian-Americans as a privileged class. In reality, this myth minimizes the trauma of “micro”-aggressions, racism, and anti-Asian violence that many face. Furthermore, pressure to meet the model minority ideology impacts perceptions of mental health functioning among Asian-Americans, masking unmet mental health needs (Cheng et al., 2017<https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27246287/>; Lee et al., 2009<https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18931893/>).
In our own field, this myth means that scientists of Asian descent are expected to over-perform relative to their colleagues.

In the wake of the conviction of George Floyd’s murderer, we have learned that accountability must precede true justice. To foster a culture of diversity, equity and inclusion, we must also hold each other, and ourselves, accountable. The BDC will continue to incorporate diverse experiences in our programming, and we invite MIT Biology members of Asian descent to contact us with suggestions or questions about this ongoing work. Furthermore, we invite all members of the MIT Biology community to consider how Asian stereotypes are perpetuated in our department, in science and academia, and in our day-to-day interactions. The work of anti-racism depends on each one of us.

In solidarity,
The Biology Diversity Community<https://biology.mit.edu/about/diversity/biology-diversity-community/>

Current resources at MIT (from President Reif’s email<https://diversity.mit.edu/responding-anti-asian-sentiment-during-coronavirus-pandemic>):

Reporting Anti-Asian Harassment During the Coronavirus Pandemic:
If you have been attacked on the MIT campus, please contact the MIT Police at (617) 253-1212. You should also report this incident with the Institute Discrimination & Harassment Response Office<https://idhr.mit.edu/> at idhr at mit.edu<mailto:idhr at mit.edu>. Some people wonder whether they should report cases that are not physically violent – there is no case too minor to report.
Reporting hate crimes increases our awareness and helps us to focus and allocate community resources toward prevention and response. Here are some organizations that are tracking anti-Asian attacks:

  *   The Asian American Commission<http://www.aacommission.org/report-a-hate-incident/>

  *   Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Stand Against Hate<https://www.standagainsthatred.org/>

  *   COVID-19 Racial Aggression Live Map<https://iamnotavirus.net/>, a crowdsourced Google map created by two students at Harvard University on the frequency and severity of racially charged aggression against the Asian population during the pandemic

  *   Stop AAPI Hate<https://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate/>

For support and guidance

  *   MyLife Services<https://hr.mit.edu/worklife/mylifeservices> is a free, confidential MIT benefit for faculty, staff, postdocs, and their families. One call puts you in touch with a network of experts who can provide emotional and behavioral counseling, work-life consultations, and personalized referrals. Call 844-405-LIFE (844-405-5433).

  *   Academic and personal support resources for undergraduate and graduate students have been virtualized and are available to help students. Learn more about how you can get in touch with Student Support Services, GradSupport, Student Mental Health and Counseling Services<https://studentlife.mit.edu/support/covid19/support-services>, and others.

  *   The Office of Multicultural Programs<https://studentlife.mit.edu/omp> and SPXCE<https://studentlife.mit.edu/impact-opportunities/diversity-inclusion/spxce> have also virtualized their services, and are available to provide students with support, guidance, and opportunities to connect with others.
External resources (taken from the office of Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion at UCLA<https://equity.ucla.edu/know/resources-on-anti-asian-discrimination/>):



  *   National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA): Hate Crimes Task Force and Pro Bono Legal Resources<https://www.napaba.org/page/HateCrimeResources>

  *   Asian Pacific Policy & Planning Council (A3PCON): Stop AAPI Hate Reports<http://www.asianpacificpolicyandplanningcouncil.org/stop-aapi-hate-reports/>

  *   Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY): A Rising Tide of Hate and Violence against Asian Americans in New York During COVID-19: Impact, Causes, Solutions<https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.aabany.org/resource/resmgr/press_releases/2021/A_Rising_Tide_of_Hate_and_Vi.pdf>

  *   Webinar: Defeating Hate: What are Hate Crimes and How We Can Stop Them<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bvh53aA6XE&t=6s>

  *   Webinar: Pandemic and Acts of Hate Against Asian Americans: From Past to Present<https://youtu.be/5MzfTV3LZVc>

  *   Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC): Hate Crimes Tool Kit and Messaging Guidance on China<https://chu.house.gov/sites/chu.house.gov/files/documents/Anti-Asian_Bigotry_Dear_Colleague_Toolkit.pdf>

  *   Lawyers Committee For Civil Rights Under Law & International Association of Chiefs of Police: Enhancing the Response to Hate Crimes<https://live-lawyers-committee-2020.pantheonsite.io/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/IACP.pdf>

  *   OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates:

     *   Responding to Hate Incidents: Community Action Guide<https://static1.squarespace.com/static/58763d1fd482e9e06a751567/t/5d5ab297a827b9000189f81f/1566225068938/Hate+Incident+Community+Action+Guide+%281%29.pdf>
     *   COVID-19 Toolkit: Strategies to Defeating Asian American Racial Profiling and Xenophobia<https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5e84f1ce44c90b6e8e673212/t/5ed65bf3d19b544bdd15b998/1591106558969/OCA+COVID-19+Chapter+Toolkit+2020-05-21+complete.pdf>
[https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/25CEgS9O-tjABnc2LU1kiOYOKoURmK2fKk2xwT12l_vbQnEOnNvkP_i17bRhdxzyPaKK7KyVbiztT1QSqxDqmEK-RU8lqIi2b2gH6lXug7Vq4EErwPs1bVOwZ-REU0W-vsKP1KKY]


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