Many of those born with privilege find it hard to believe that privilege exists. Due to the recent events including the murder of George Floyd by a white male police officer, many are beginning to see the true effects of white privilege in their communities. Before we go any further into exploring white privilege in our communities, we must first define what white privilege is. According to Race, Racism and the Law, a website maintained by the University of Dayton School of Law, white privilege can be defined as “A right, advantage, or immunity granted to or enjoyed by white persons beyond the common advantage of all others; an exemption in many particular cases from certain burdens or liabilities.” What this means in the most direct terms is that white people will never experience hardships due to the color of their skin. The most significant evidence of this horrifying truth is our judicial system, however, there are many other examples where white privilege can truly be seen. Here are some that are the most relevant to our current society. Where white people are not discriminated against when applying for jobs, people whose names seem “ethnic” to employers may have a harder time finding a job. When pulled over by the cops, white people may feel more at ease because the police will not immediately stereotype them as a criminal. As a member of the “model minority,” I accept the fact that I am privileged in a sense where I have never truly feared for my life due to my race. I understand that I will never know the pain. However, I will stand with you.
Jackie Kwan Writer
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After our recent feminine product fundraiser*, it felt fitting to include an article about the importance of menstrual health in isolation. At this point, most of us are in our third or maybe even fourth month of social distancing, which means those of us with regular menstrual cycles have probably menstruated three to five times in quarantine. Why does this matter? Well, the way we deal with menstruation in isolation is fundamentally different from the way we do normally, especially when it comes to our physical and mental coping mechanisms.
For many, menstruation is accompanied by physical complications such as muscle cramps, headaches, acne, bloating, and food cravings. Although staying home may seem like a good way to deal with these symptoms, it has some serious implications. Exercising is an easy, medication-free way to manage menstrual pain; you’re less inclined to do so when all of your daily activity is done on the computer. You have easy, unlimited access to unhealthy food, which can actually make your pain more severe. Most importantly, staying home without much work to do puts all of your focus on your pain. Along with reducing your productivity, this focus makes menstrual pain harder to endure. Social distancing can also have negative effects on mental health**, especially while menstruating. Fluctuating hormone levels cause mood swings that are amplified by isolation: there are few distractions from depressing thoughts and fewer opportunities to talk to someone who can help you regulate your emotions. Lethargic activity (such as binge-watching The Office for five hours) can lead to demotivation and suicidal thoughts during menstruation. And so the question is: how do I prevent these symptoms? The answer lies more in your brain than it does in your body. Although keeping yourself hydrated and eating healthy foods is key in maintaining menstrual health, a lot of the pain subsides by simply directing your focus somewhere else. Exercise, meditation/yoga, or even arts and crafts are great ways to distract yourself from menstrual pain. Share your emotions with a friend or a trustworthy member of your family. Take up a hobby you’re passionate about. Done right, these methods may even make you forget you’re menstruating. *Want to help us donate feminine products to our underprivileged sisters? Contribute to our GoFundMe here! ** Read more about mental health in quarantine here (link Iris’s mental health post?) Himani Mehta Writer The passing of yet another African American man on account of the police set off agitation a week ago. George Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, passed away in Minneapolis on Monday subsequent to being cuffed and restrained to the ground by Derek Chauvin, a white cop. Observers caught a video of the officer utilizing his knee to pin Mr. Floyd by his neck. Mr. Floyd is heard over and over saying, "I can't breathe," in the video. Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin has been accused of third-degree murder, however, lawyer Benjamin Crump disclosed that it was an instance of first-degree murder. By Tuesday, the Minneapolis police had terminated each of the four men engaged in the capture of Mr. Floyd.
That night, several dissenters overflowed into the Minneapolis avenues. A few demonstrators vandalized police vehicles with spray paint and focused on the area where the four officials had been allocated. In New York City, two police vehicles flooded forward into a horde of demonstrators, some of whom were obstructing the road and pelting the vehicles with trash. The nation is rioting over as conflicts emitted between the police and nonconformists. In certain urban communities, the officers seemed to discharge rubber bullets, tear gas, and different shots with next to zero incitement. Dissenters additionally conflicted with the police across Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan, leaving officials and protestors harmed. A few people tossed bottles and trash at officials, who reacted with pepper spray and arrests. In Indianapolis, an individual was murdered and three others harmed after shots were discharged at demonstrators. In Chicago, six individuals were shot and one was killed Saturday night. In Los Angeles, a gathering of demonstrators severed from the walk and obstructed the Route 101 interstate. In any event, five individuals were killed associated with the protest. The impact of Floyd’s death is not solely physical. The emotional impact of yet another innocent life lost in the African American community has reached more people than ever thanks to the help of social media. In the words of Mark Mason, CFO of Citibank, in his Citigroup blog post titled “I Can’t Breathe,” George Floyd’s death left the world “with a combination of horror, disgust, and anger.” Mason later describes the deep-rooted nature of racism in America. It has lasting impacts on education, job opportunities, wages, and livelihood as a whole to this day. But even more so, racism against minorities has impacted the “fundamental human and civil rights and dignity and respect that comes with them.” In the end, African Americans will keep on pausing, despite the pointlessness of expectation, for a remedy for bigotry. We will live with the information that a hashtag isn't an immunization for racial domination. The remainder of the world longs to return to typical. For African Americans, the ordinary is the very thing from which they long to be free. Ashley Lu Cofounder and Chief Editor Kaitlyn Thitibordin Cofounder and Creative Director On May 25, 2020, George Floyd, an African American man, was killed just outside of downtown Minneapolis by a police officer. The officer, later identified as Derek Chauvin, kneeled on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes. Floyd was seen losing consciousness after six minutes of Chauvin’s kneeling and clearly pleading that he couldn’t breathe. Floyd’s death sparked nationwide outrage and revitalized the Black Lives Matter Movement’s efforts to protest for equality for Black Americans.
George Floyd, better known by his friends as just Floyd, was often described as a “gentle giant” who had an even bigger heart. He worked security at a restaurant and earned a reputation for being fiercely loyal and reliable. He had a love for football and basketball, which he played at Jack Yates High School in Houston’s Third Ward neighborhood. Floyd later went on to continue his basketball career in college, where he played for South Florida State College in Avon Park, Florida. He then moved to Minnesota for work and to drive trucks to earn a living for a better life for his family. Floyd is survived by his two young daughters, the youngest being just six years old. He never got to meet his three year old granddaughter. George Floyd was loved by many and will be missed by many more. The wake of George Floyd’s death leaves a gaping hole in the black community. Show Floyd’s family and the black community support by donating to reputable fundraisers, texting “FLOYD” to 55156 and “JUSTICE” to 668366, and actively being anti-racist. Together, we can bring change to America and rebuild and heal through love, peace, and acceptance. George Floyd Memorial Fund: The official GoFundMe to support the Floyd family. gofundme.com/f/georgefloyd By Kaitlyn Thitibordin Co-Founder & Creative Director In an age where technology is more accessible than ever, it’s important to know the dangers and repercussions of digital harassment. Cyberbullying is categorized by verbal aggression (i.e. threats or harassment) and relational aggression (i.e. spreading rumors) spread electronically, often through social media platforms like Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and more recently, TikTok.
Cyberbullying has become a national issue in the recent past years. The 2017 School Crime Supplement (National Center of Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) reports that, among students aging anywhere from 12-18 who reported being bullied during the school year alone, 15% were being bullied online or by text. The 2017 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that about 14.9% of high school students were cyberbullied in the past 12 months prior to the survey. These statistics are only what we find by scratching the surface of cyberbullying. Research indicates increased and intensified feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair due to persistent bullying. Depression and anxiety are more likely to worsen, which can contribute to suicidal behavior. Specific groups are more likely to be targets for bullying, such as those of minority races or members of the LGBTQ+ community. While there is a growing rate of cyberbullying in the U.S., there are no federal anti-bullying laws. 49 states only have anti-bullying legislation, and bullying is not considered illegal. This, however, is no reason to bully others. When bullying can be proven to be harassment, it does break a federal law in court. So how can YOU help put a stop to bullying? SPEAK UP. Tell someone, like a trusted adult or friend, about situations of bullying you experience or witness. STAND UP. Remain calm and respectful, but remember to be firm in your stance. By sticking up for yourself or the person being bullied, you are influencing other bystanders to do the same. SET AN EXAMPLE. It’s easy to feel protected by anonymity behind a screen. Before sending a text, ask yourself: Is this hurtful? Would I want people I care about to have this said to them? Am I proud of what I am saying and how this portrays me as a person? By following these three steps, you can help put an end to cyberbullying. Remember, think twice and just be nice! By: Kaitlyn Thitibordin Co-Founder & Creative Director In June of 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage week. Later, In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend the week-long celebration to a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. The significance of May being the month of Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage month is to mark the arrival of the Japanese on May 7th, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10th 1869.
There are parades every year to celebrate and immerse in Asian cultures, but this year due to the pandemic there are virtual events: Virtual Events for Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month: National Park Service: The Department of the Interior has posted a variety of online resources about the event in May at AsianPacificHeritage.gov, including a history of New York City’s Chinatown in Manhattan. The Asia Society: The educational organization’s New York location at 725 Park Ave. may be closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, but it is offering a series of online events in May. Wednesday, May 27, 2020: Virtual Book Club with author Cathy Park on “Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” focused on an exploration of Asian American consciousness and the struggle to be human. Click for more information » Live painting session with @fiyab0mb Join Asian American artist Olivia Nguyen, otherwise known as @fiyab0mb, and AAC for an afternoon of art & a discussion. Sources: https://www.wlns.com/news/virtual-things-to-do-asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month/ By: Iris Fan Co-Founder & Brand Manager It can be universally agreed that this pandemic has proved a tough time for kids, what with the staying home, online classes/exams, and separation from friends. But these problems are minor compared to what some students face every summer, and indeed, what they are facing now. Apart from providing education, school is also the source of two meals a day for underprivileged children. Nearly 22 million low-income kids from communities across the country rely on the free and reduced-price meals they receive at school*. During the summer, these children experience a sort of “summer hunger phenomenon,” where they are unable to adequately feed themselves because of the limited availability of affordable food. The closing of schools has not only prolonged this period of hunger but made it worse as people hoard food and resources, further limiting access to affordable sustenance. The best thing we can do to help is to be conscious of hoarding and avoid it as much as possible. It is therefore imperative that Congress is able to maximize federal nutrition programs like SNAP for struggling families.
For children who are regularly subjected to domestic abuse, not being able to go out means that there is a lesser chance of someone reporting their abusers. According to the Washington Post**, “The American system of catching child abuse relies on kids venturing outside their homes. Year after year, most referrals to child protective services come from professionals — police officers, lawyers, doctors, anyone who comes into contact with a child as part of their job. But no group reports more than educators, who were responsible for 21 percent of the 4.3 million referrals made in 2018, according to federal data.” Increased stress in the household, coupled with the fact that children are forced to stay home, only increases the likelihood of abuse while decreasing the likelihood of that abuse being reported. The result? Fewer incidents reported and frighteningly more severe injuries. School districts are taking steps to try and solve these problems. “In Danville Public Schools, educators are taking advantage of the few glimpses of children they still get. The school system is delivering meals by bus to its nearly 6,000 students in rural Southern Virginia, where 1 in 4 families live below the poverty line. On those trips… nutrition staffers make sure to ‘engage with families’ as much as they can and try to catch sight of children,” says director for student support services Robin Owens. *Read more about child hunger here. Want to help? Send a donation to No Kid Hungry here. **Read more about how the lockdown is increasing domestic abuse here. By: Himani Mehta Writer The Angel Island Immigration Station was the primary immigration facility on the West Coast of the United States from 1910 to 1940, similar to Ellis Island on the East Coast. Immigrants from a variety of areas met the wooden buildings of Angel Island, but Asians in particular traveled across the Pacific. However, many were subject to discriminatory policies and were often detained under oppressive conditions anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months before being allowed to enter the US.
Asians were initially welcomed into the US, but were blamed for the collapse of the local economy by newspapers, politicians, and the local population. This led to targeted laws against the Chinese being passed at the local and state level. Moreover, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 was passed at the federal level, which prompted even more discriminatory acts. America had begun to limit immigration on the basis of nationality. The conditions of these detention centers were substandard. Space and privacy were limited, and the facilities were filthy due to the lack of janitorial services. Some detainees even fell ill and died. Detainees also endured mental stress. Families were separated and not allowed to see each other until their cases were resolved. Detainees faced grueling interrogations, and had to stick to exact details and stories to avoid deportation. Due to the difficulty of entering America as a Chinese immigrant, many masqueraded as the relatives of Chinese American citizens to avoid deportation. These were called “paper sons” or “paper daughters.” Immigrating to America was a difficult process filled with discrimination, and it is important to remember the hardships immigrants faced. Many organizations fought for reform and petitioned these acts, such as the Chinese Benevolent Association, the Angel Island Liberty Association, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, and more. Still others provided entertainment, English classes, and other small services to help detainees. The work of those who fought and endured discrimination before inspired us to create an organization fighting prejudice and providing care, named after Angel Island. Claire Lee Director of Graphic Design There have been many pandemics throughout history. As society progresses and medical innovations are created, things change. But one thing that doesn’t change is the hatred of one group of people. From the Black Plague to the COVID-19 pandemic, a more prominent pandemic is the underlying racism and hate crimes.
But what is to blame for racism? The answer is a need for a scapegoat and media. Overrepresentation of a minority with a disease can cause stereotypes and racism. The Black Plague Europe’s most deadly and devastating disease, the Black Death of 1347–51, resulted in mass violence: the murder of Catalans in Sicily, and especially the pogroms against Jews, with over a thousand communities down the Rhineland, into Spain and France, and eastward across large swathes of Europe eradicated, their members locked in synagogues or rounded up on river islands and burnt to death – men, women, and children. Aids HIV is a racial justice issue, as well as a public health issue. At some point in their lifetimes, an estimated one in 16 black men and one in 32 black women will be diagnosed with HIV. For people of color living with HIV, racial discrimination diminishes the quality of medical care received. Discrimination and socio-economic factors linked to race create additional obstacles to accessing the quality health care, housing, and education necessary for HIV treatment and prevention. The nation is showing insensitivity to ethnic diversity, prevention services, and AIDS services. Ebola As soon as the first case was confirmed in the United States, mass hysteria broke out. Sixty miles southeast of Dallas, Navarro College, earlier this month denied admission to two Nigerian students, not because they were diagnosed with Ebola but simply because they were from a country stricken by the disease. Also, hate crimes were committed against those who looked like they had Ebola. Sound Familiar? It seems that the cycle of hate will repeat forever. Most hatred stems from fear and the need to blame a virus on someone or a group of people. Read more about xenophobia during the coronavirus in the previous blog post! By Iris Fan Co-Founder and Brand Manager A woman had acid thrown in her face outside her New York City apartment.
A man was told to “go back to [his] own country” on a train in Melbourne. A pair of sisters were threatened to be stabbed by two women joggers. What do these events have in common? The answer: xenophobia. President Trump has recently referred to Covid-19 as the “China Virus,” an eerie reminiscence of the similarly misnamed Spanish Flu that has prompted dozens of parody names such as the “Kung Flu” and the “Asian Virus.” This blatant ignoral to the given scientific name of the virus is not only offensive and problematic for numerous reasons but has also paved the way for a rise for increasingly aggressive racism towards Asians. According to NBC News, Asian Americans have reported up to 650 acts of racism in a week. This number, however, is disproportionately small to the true number of racist acts Asian Americans alone are facing, much less around the world. In a news article from PBS NewsHour, many Asian Americans admit to not turning to law enforcement to report such incidents. The stigma around Asians in light of the Covid-19 pandemic has taken a grave turn for the worse. Refusal to call the virus by its given name and choice to call it the “China Virus” implies that the pathogen somehow is selective in the race it infects–which is, of course, incorrect. The fact of the matter is that regardless of where the virus originated, calling it the “China Virus” is not only insensitive to the lives lost in China and all over Asia but also makes Asia out to be a diseased, infected continent. And the racism doesn’t stop there. Asian businesses are being purposely boycotted despite assural that staff are Covid-19-free. Asians are being harassed on public transit systems. The livelihood of millions are being threatened by racism. The worst part is that xenophobia against immigrant groups is nothing new. History truly does repeat itself and sometimes the worst aspects of humanity shine through. For now, we can only hope that the world learns from the past. By Kaitlyn Thitibordin Co-Founder & Creative Director |