The weekend before NYC went into lockdown in March 2020, my friends Mashael Alsaie, Eda Yu, and I created a visual essay in response to the increase in anti-Asian racism since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Growing increasingly frustrated by the xenophobia and discrimination seen by the AAPI community, we decided to channel our energy into something meaningful. We each posted the shoot on our respective Instagram accounts and were overwhelmed by the response. We were reposted by hundreds of accounts, did interviews with media outlets, and I hosted an interactive Q&A with The Werk.
The caption for my post was as follows:
@filmbymashael, @edacyu, and I created this series as a small sample of racially motivated attacks during the COVID-19 crisis. Despite that travel between China and the US has been banned since January 31, people continue to incorrectly assume that those of Asian descent are the sole carriers of the virus or that they might be more likely to carry it.
However, as the last few days have shown us, the virus doesn’t discriminate, and neither should we. There’s a difference between fear and caution, and many have bought into this hysteria masked as caution.
Now is not the time for us shrink back in fear, but for each of us to do our parts in mitigating the effects of this pandemic. Practice social distancing and heed the safety measures put in place by our city leaders. Support small businesses and restaurants, especially ones that are Asian-owned. Tip more than you usually would if you order delivery. Check in with your elderly and sick neighbors.
This is the time for radical love.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” - 2 Timothy 1:7
