The right-wing conspiracy movement QAnon reportedly has started peddling anti-Chinese rhetoric. It’s the latest in a troubling trend of anti-Asian sentiment, on the rise across America, as addressed by Rice President David Leebron in a recent message to the Rice community.
“One recent study found that in major American cities, anti-Asian hate crimes reported to the police increased by 150% in 2020,” Leebron wrote. “We must recognize that the increasing frequency of these attacks creates a difficult and fearful environment for Asians, and it is in these times we must recognize the harm and stand in support of the Asian community.”
Cathy Park Hong, poet and author of the bestselling book “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning,” was also among those who spoke out following the murders of eight Atlanta-area women, six of whom were Asian.
In widely read interviews by Morgan Ome for The Atlantic and Alexa Lee for Vox, Hong expressed concern that the U.S. at large would continue to downplay anti-Asian sentiment and violence. Building community from within, Hong said, is one way to prevent that from happening.
“It’s great that white people and other non-Asians are picking up on this, but we can’t trust them to continue to train their attention on what’s happening to Asian Americans,” Hong said in The Atlantic. “We need to continue vocalizing who we are and our role in this country.”
On April 22, the Chao Center for Asian Studies is bringing Hong’s voice to Rice in a webinar that’s free and open to the public. The talk, co-sponsored by Rice’s Office of the Provost, starts at 6:30 p.m. and will include readings from “Minor Feelings” followed by a Q&A with the author. Registration is required.
Lan Li, assistant professor of history and medical humanities, read “Minor Feelings” this year on the recommendation of a student, Lovett College senior Divya Choudhury. Choudhury had been assigned the book in a course last year by Alex Byrd, vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion and associate professor of history. “Minor Feelings” resonated strongly with Choudhury, who wanted to share Hong’s work with others; upon reading, Li felt the same.
“It was so cathartic and clarifying,” Li said. “A lot of things started making sense.”
Hong addresses topics such as violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in a refreshingly direct way, Li said. Hong also points out that much of the rhetoric in conversations about anti-Asian racism is too simple and doesn’t dig deep enough into underlying complexities.
“We need more conversations that are not just thoughtful, but revelatory,” Li said.
Now as eager as Choudhury to share Hong’s work with others, Li reached out to the author through her agent to see if she’d give a virtual talk at Rice. Lisa Balabanlilar, chair of the Department of Transnational Asian Studies and director of the Chao Center, offered funding for the talk. Byrd, whose original book assignment sparked Li and Choudhury’s conversation, also provided funding through the provost’s office.
“It was all very serendipitous,” Li said.
That funding also allowed them to purchase 40 copies of “Minor Feelings,” which Li and Choudhury are giving to interested Rice students. This student reading group will meet ahead of Hong’s talk and will be moderated by Alden Sajor Marte-Wood, assistant professor of English, who specializes in Asian American literature.
Hong’s call for more AAPI community-building can be witnessed at Rice in the April 15 student reading group as well as her April 22 talk, which Li attributes to a willingness among faculty and students alike to hold space for big, tough conversations — and by doing so, demonstrate a culture of care that intuitively seeks to listen to others.
“Stereotyping and hate crimes aren’t going to go away, because power imbalances are not going to go away; racism isn't going to go away,” Li said. “We’re not trying to solve everything — that's not the goal.”
The goal, Li said, is to have conversations like those Hong is bringing to campus: Real power lies in the knowledge and experiences of others.
“How do you stay not just informed but humbled?” Li said. “By being open to other people's stories.”
Cathy Park Hong: “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning,” April 22, 6:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Register online.