Model Minority vs. COVID-19 and #BLM

In Case You Missed It: Model Minority vs. COVID-19

On June 17, the Queens College Library partnered with the Queens Public Library to host a Queens Memory COVID-19 Project event, “Model Minority vs. COVID-19: Education Through Crisis, for Asians In America.” This virtual roundtable was moderated by incoming Queens College president Frank Wu, author of Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White, and co-sponsored by the Asian/American Center at Queens College, and the Asian American/Asian Research Institute – CUNY. Panelists included Professor Joyce Moy, Executive Director of the Asian American and Asian Research Institute; Dr. Madhulika Khandelwal, Director of Asian/American Center; Dr. Vivian Louie, Director of the Asian American Studies Program and Center at Hunter College; and Dr. John Chin, Professor of Urban Policy and Planning and Director of the Graduate Urban Planning Program at Hunter College. Panelists had a fruitful discussion of the “model minority” myth, the current higher educational experience for Asians in America, racism during the pandemic, and how Asians in America can provide ally-ship and solidarity to other groups experiencing racial oppression.

The event can now be viewed on the Queens Memory streaming platform: click here!

Resource: Asian American Community Collaboration, Support and Advocacy on BLM and Killing of George Floyd

Compiled by Antony Wong, Program Coordinator, Asian American/Asian Research Institute (AAARI) City University of New York (This is not intended to be an exhaustive list)

Resources for Asian Americans Against Anti-Black Racism

  • Asian Americans Supporting the Black Community — An Explainer and Resources (link)
  • Resources for the Asian American Community on Anti-Blackness (Asian Americans Advancing Justice) (link)
  • Meet the Asian Americans helping to uproot racism in their communities (link)
  • 75 ways Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are speaking out for Black lives (link)

Organizations with Statements Regarding George Floyd/Black Lives Matter

Co-Endorsing Organizations of Movement for Black Lives (M4BL)

  • Asian Solidarity Collective
  • AAPIs for Civic Empowerment
  • Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance – APALA
  • Can’t Stop! Won’t Stop! Consulting
  • NAKASEC
  • Southeast Asian Freedom Network
  • 18 Million Rising
  • Equality Labs
  • Grassroots Asians Rising
  • Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC)
  • The National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
  • PICO California
  • Providence Youth Student Movement
  • HANA Center
  • Khmer Anti-deportation Advocacy Group
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Chicago
  • Japanese American Citizens League
  • OCA-Asian American Advocates (East Bay)
  • Asian American Advocacy Fund
  • Filipino Advocates for Justice
  • MinKwon Center for Community Action
  • Asian Law Alliance
  • Asian Americans United
  • South Asian Americans Leading Together
  • APIENC (API Equality – Northern California)
  • Khmer Girls in Action
  • VietRISE
  • Oakland Asian Cultural Center
  • National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
  • CAA Chinese for Affirmative Action
  • Ahri Center
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice | Asian Law Caucus
  • The People’s Collective for Justice and Liberation
  • VietAID
  • National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community Development (National CAPACD)
  • AZ AANHPI for Equity
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta

More about the Queens Memory COVID-19 Project

Learn more about this community archiving project and how you can contribute your stories, photographs, and videos here.