I was born in Thailand and was raised in Malaysia, Penang as about 70% of my family are from Malaysia. I have a very good idea of what two countries thought of the western countries when I was living there without any experience in the western countries myself. I know I speak for myself and only the people around me when I say this but from what I’ve understood and heard as a child, anyone who made it to the western world pretty much “made it”.
With that said, many of our Asian parents and grandparents came to the weatern countries with the hope of giving their family a better life. But instead, they are being abused by western people. Every time something happens (minor or major but it does all add up), they’ll most likely say they’re okay, swallow the pain because there is light at the end of the tunnel where their family are not far off from the better life that they’ve pictured.
As a POC myself, I’ve heard comments about my skin colour too many times that I got used to it; but I shouldn’t be. I’ve heard jokes about my name, it has become a norm; but it shouldn’t be. None of this is okay but I pretended it was because they mean no harm but behind all of these jokes and laughs are racism thoughts. Without realising that those thoughts have led to actions.
Fast forward to today and seeing many things happening to our Asian community, it really disgusted me and I am not going to be quiet about this. I am going to speak, I am going to share, I am going to take actions in the real world where I can until I see real changes in the real world.
As much as social media is a great thing to help us see what’s actually happening in the real world where we cannot see from where we stand, sometimes I thought to myself, what if the time used to take that viral picture/video could be used to save someone’s life? Sadly for our generation, one thing happens and the device that’s glued to our hands is whipped up to document with the hope that the content will go viral. I am not sure what the deal is with our generation and followers count on social media.
For those who are active on social media and actively sharing and reposting content on #StopAsianHate, please take your actions outside of social media too because the real change happens in the real world, not in the virtual world.
I am done with people who are selective with what they choose to fight against on social media, let alone the real world. Back in January when a Thai elderly named Vicha was a victim of murder, nobody apart from me and a couple of Thai people I follow were sharing and spreading the awareness on socials – can I ask why? Is it because it wasn’t trending with major influencers and therefore not trendy enough for you? Or was it because it’s not your race so you don’t give a shit?
I am done with people who only share on social media and refuse to take any actions in the real world. How are you educating the people around you? How are you going to make sure that if you hear something like this in the real world, you’ll stand up for what’s right?
Earth is a beautiful place but the people in it are cruel. What a shame.
If you ever wondered why I am still butt hurt by people not sharing Vicha’s story even though they saw it on my Instagram story, long story short, my grandfather was a victim of murder and justice was never found for him so this hit home. For me, a murder is a murder and I am not going to be selective about which country the victim is from. Every family deserves justice for the unfair loss of their loved ones.
Below I am going to share some helpful resources:
- Anti-Asian Violence Resources
- Stop Asian Hate Is More Than a Hashtag for Me, It’s a Movement – Let’s Move
- Stop Asian Hate. We’re Humans Too.
My favourite Asian creators in the UK
