. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
This Chinese Takeout container graphic was created to raise awareness about the increased overt racism faced by Asians during these Covid times. Anti-Asian rhetoric from ignorant leadership has created pandemic scapegoating, igniting additional violence, and xenophobia. In Chinatowns within the US, small business owners’ loss of income has sometimes amounted to 90% due to the racism with joblessness at 80% (according to NBC), displacing community members with no where to go, especially with economic and language barriers. For Asian-Americans, the fear and anxiety is three-fold — from obtaining the virus, being targeted and losing their livelihood.
The Model Minority myth created by politicians and media (since the 60s) have hurt the Asian community as social and economic services have passed over community members in poverty, voices are silenced/dismissed, while pitting races against each other. As in the 60s with the civil rights movement, history has taught us that speaking out for our rights is a fundamental need. Promoting multiracial solidarity while building strong dialog/relationships between all communities is important to combat the hate. It is an ongoing work-in-progress, but one which we need to constantly nurture.
While times are tough, please support local businesses and consider the people behind the counter, especially when craving that delicious noodle dish or boba 🙂
Additional resources:
@hateisavirus_ : https://hateisavirus.org/
@advancingjustice_aajc : https://www.advancingjustice-aajc.org/
@stopaapihate : https://stopaapihate.org/
. Posted by Sherrie Thai by Shaireproductions.com .
I was saddened to read of the racial backlash on the Asian community during these perilous Coronavirus/ Covid-19 times, the discrimination and violence due to the xenophobia among global communities, heightened by so-called leaders who spoke out of ignorance, poisoning minds and propagating hatred. With the shelter-in-place, I read about the rise in domestic violence, the ousting of different peoples, and the widening the disparity between the have and have-nots.
When creating this piece, I thought about the Texas family who was stabbed while shopping by an ignoramus who thought they were Chinese, and infecting people. The drawing is also about the “intimate terrorism” of women who are enduring the cowardly actions of their abuser, of all those who are scared for their safety due to the actions of others.
This emotional drawing was inspired by the works of Kathe Kollwitz, “Death Seizing a Woman” and her powerful depictions of people dealing with poverty and war. I wanted to capture the fear and drama of the moment–the main figure running from the darkness surrounding her, while protecting her child. I was also inspired by Dion Lim’s reports and support on the Asian Community, and the fascinating activist works of Lisa Wool-Rim Sjöblom (chung.woolrim).