The relief I feel now that I’ve been able to secure one of the very few vaccine spots for my mom and in-laws has now been tempered by the fact that even if they get fully vaccinated, I’m gonna have to worry about them getting hate-crime’d when they’re out and about.

Anti-Asian hate crimes are on the rise. I felt it in the beginning of the pandemic but got lulled into a false sense of security as my folks and I were – and still – safe in the bubble of our little neighborhood.

But now, a pandora’s box of hate has been unleashed. The elderly are being literally shoved to death and Asian Americans walking down the street just minding their own business are being assaulted from the west coast to the east coast.

This is what happens when hateful, racist phrases like “China virus” and “Kung Flu” become normalized. This is also what happens when the media irresponsibly pair their articles about the coronavirus with images of Asian people. (FYI I made a stink about a couple instances where a news organization did just that and was made to feel like I was making a big deal out of nothing. Well, I’m glad I made a big deal of it because shit like that isn’t going to fly with me.) And, above all, this is what happens when the myth of the model minority gets played out pitting everyone against each other thanks to the system of white supremacy.

More well-known Asians and Asian Americans are using their platforms now to give attention to the rise in hate. Thank you.

If you’re feeling helpless, consider donating to community organizations that are on the ground doing good work whether it’s organizing food drives, helping the elderly make and get to vaccine appointments, teaching people new job skills and much more.

But, also, keep talking about it and sharing the news because if we don’t do it, nobody else will.