Anti-Asian Racism

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

ksoobria — Tue, 13 Feb 2024 16:10:33 +0000

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website ksoobria Tue, 02/13/2024 - 11:10

The ��߲ݴ�ý community has a new website that enhances the way it tracks institutional progress on addressing recommendations from its equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) working groups and task force.

Launched in December 2023, the Institutional Equity Commitments website outlines the commitments U of T has made in response to recommendations from the Anti-Black Racism Task Force, Antisemitism Working Group and Anti-Asian Racism Working Group; provides status updates on each initiative; and shares articles, photos, and resources that bring this work to life. 

“The university is committed to building on the strong foundation for change laid in the reports of our EDI working groups and task force,” said U of T President Meric Gertler. “It is also imperative that our actions be transparent and accessible to all members of our community. We hope that the new Institutional Equity Commitments website will foster an increased awareness of what we have achieved together so far and inspire participation in the many initiatives yet to come.” 

Developed through collaboration among the Office of the President, the Office of the Vice-President & Provost and the Office of the Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture, the Institutional Equity Commitments website is an evolution of a pilot project that began in 2021. The pilot version, known as the Commitments Dashboard, was created to track the implementation of Anti-Black Racism Task Force recommendations and later expanded to include Antisemitism Working Group recommendations. Over the years, there has been a growing need to enhance the existing site. 

“Guided by our community’s feedback, we have designed a site that is easier to navigate and clearly demonstrates institutional accountability while celebrating our shared progress,” said U of T’s Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity & Culture Kelly Hannah-Moffat.

The updated website has a redesigned look and enhanced user experience, including featured stories, progress snapshots, and status updates on the recommendations. Visitors can filter the entire page by specific report. Additionally, divisions or offices responsible for reporting progress on each commitment are now identified. 

“The nature of equity work is that it is an ongoing journey, characterized by continual growth and change,” said Jodie Glean-Mitchell, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion.

“The newly revised Institutional Equity Commitments website provides the university with a tool to put EDI accountability into action as we engage our collective responsibility to foster an equitable and inclusive university.”    

Members of the U of T community are encouraged to explore the new site and consider how the working group recommendations might inform change in their own areas of the university. Feedback on the site and stories about local progress on EDI commitments are also welcome and can be submitted using the feedback form.  

“We are fortunate to have a very engaged community of students, faculty, librarians and staff who make important contributions to this work, and we’re glad to have their continued input,” said Trevor Young, U of T's vice-president and provost. “Our ongoing goal is to better deliver and report on the institutional commitments we've made to equity and to improve transparency and accountability.”

U of T launches new Institutional Equity Commitments website

(photo by Johnny Guatto)

Melinda Mattos 

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Joe's Basketball Diaries Episode 3: The model minority

lanthierj — Wed, 14 Dec 2022 16:42:40 +0000

Joe's Basketball Diaries Episode 3: The model minority lanthierj Wed, 12/14/2022 - 11:42

Topic

City & Culture

Anti-Asian Racism

Anti-Black Racism

Joe's Basketball Diaries

Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy

Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education

Sport

Anti-Asian and anti-Black racism. Tokenism, xenophobia and a lack of representation in sport. These are some of the topics host Joseph Wong, the ��߲ݴ�ý’s vice-president, international, explores in episode three of Joe’s Basketball Diaries.

“I was called Yao Ming my whole life growing up, and I just wanted to be Jeremy Lin,” says basketball star Jeremy Lin.

Wong, who has written about the personal impact of anti-Asian racism, is joined by athletes, scholars, actors, journalists and activists who share their experiences and insights and discuss their work to ensure sports are accessible to everyone – and why it’s important to have hope.

“For me for, you know, child of an immigrant family, I grew up feeling like I didn't quite belong as well… I'm very honoured to be playing a part in that conversation now,” says actor Simu Liu. “And hopefully, you know, also in a way that holds the door open for, for others.”

The episode features:

Wesley Cheng, content creator of On-Air, TSN (The Sports Network)
Clement Chu, president and founder of the Chinese Canadian Youth Athletics Association
Takashi Fujitani, director of the Dr. David Chu program in Asia-Pacific studies at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy
Janelle Joseph, assistant professor at U of T’s Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, who focuses on critical studies of race & indigeneity;
Jeremy Lin, player for the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association 
Simu Liu, Canadian actor

Watch Joe’s Basketball Diaries Ep. 3

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s student members aim to build community, drive change

Christopher.Sorensen — Wed, 02 Nov 2022 15:21:51 +0000

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group’s student members aim to build community, drive change

Christopher.Sorensen Wed, 11/02/2022 - 11:21

Cutline

(Photo by Polina Teif)

Mariam Matti

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Asian Racism

Anti-Asian Racism Working Group

Alumni

Faculty of Arts & Science

Undergraduate Students

Woodsworth College

During the height of the pandemic, Lingyin Shen felt concerned for her safety when she stepped outside her home.

With a master’s degree in East Asian studies from the ��߲ݴ�ý, Shen says the alarming spike in anti-Asian racism incidents during the pandemic had her worried.

“The pandemic was not kind to the Asian community,” she says. “I felt vulnerable.”

So, when Shen learned that U of T had formed an Anti-Asian Racism Working Group to tackle anti-Asian racism across the three campuses and achieve a more welcoming and inclusive environment for Asian communities, she saw it as an opportunity to speak up and for her voice to be heard.

“I wanted to do something for my community and to make sure the equity, diversity and inclusion framework acknowledges the Asian experience,” says Shen, who works at U of T’s Centre for International Experience as an international student immigration adviser. “I also want to form solidarity among the Asian community.”

Co-chaired by Carol Chin, principal of Woodsworth College, and Vikram Chadalawada, assistant director, student information, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration at Information Technology Services, the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group is now in the process of consulting U of T community members about their experiences with anti-Asian racism. It will develop a tri-campus inventory of existing resources, initiatives and projects, and review the university’s policies, procedures and practices to recommend specific ways to address anti-Asian racism and create an inclusive and welcoming environment for Asian members of the university community.

A final report with the group’s recommendations will be delivered to U of T President Meric Gertler, Vice-President and Provost Cheryl Regehr and Vice-President, People Strategy, Equity and Culture Kelly Hannah-Moffat by the end of this academic year.

The working group’s first meeting, held in September, generated a lot of interest, Chin says.

“We felt a real sense of engagement,” she says. “We want to bring attention to this issue, and we hope to hear from as many people as possible about their experiences of anti-Asian racism.

“Only after we have heard from a broad spectrum of the university community can we begin to formulate specific, actionable recommendations.”

Lingyin Shen works at U of T’s Centre for International Experience as an international student immigration adviser (photo courtesy of Lingyin Shen)

The working group is made up of a steering committee and three subcommittees comprising staff, faculty, instructors, librarians and students. Meetings will take place bi-weekly throughout the school year to tackle the group’s goals. An online survey was also sent out to the U of T community at the end of October.

“As co-chairs, Carol and I will be playing a very active role in the steering committee meetings,” says Chadalawada, who is chair of the University Affairs Board in U of T’s Governing Council. “We have assigned co-leads for each subcommittee to ensure information is flowing between the subcommittees and the steering committee.”

Shen – who is a co-lead of a subcommittee and on the steering committee – says members spoke at the first meeting about how the working groups might be able to achieve a positive outcome for U of T’s Asian communities.

“I want to encourage people to share their personal experience so we can hear and validate each other,” she says. “It’s a good starting point to have a foundation of mutual recognition.”

Similarly, Wan Li, a fourth-year Faculty of Arts & Science student and a co-lead alongside Shen, says they also hope to establish solidarity among Asian communities at the university.

“Coming together and addressing something that impacted us in some ways and having that space to talk about it feels powerful,” Wan says. “These people care about the issues I care about.”

Wan organized the Anti-Asian Racism Alliance Forum following two incidents of anti-Asian racism on campus last year, and then helped write the group’s recommendation report, “A Path Forward: Creating Safe & Inclusive Spaces at U of T.”

“At the forum, I connected with a lot of students,” Wan says. “[The forum] was in April and close to finals. I was thankful to the students who attended.

“It was really important for them to share their insights, which were quite painful. But I promised them I would do something.”

After Wan sent the report to the university’s administration, they were invited to join the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group and serve on its steering committee.

“I want to make sure the things we are pushing for are reflected in the final report,” Wan says.

Through meetings and consultations, Wan and Shen want to encourage people to speak up about injustices or racism they’ve experienced.

“It’s an opportunity for everyone to be heard because we have been underrepresented as a group,” says Shen. “The Asian community is very diverse. We have different backgrounds and very different lived experiences.

“I’m an immigrant and my experience is different than an Asian person who was born and raised in Canada.”

Wan agrees.

“I come from Malaysia, a place where there isn’t a lot of political freedom. It’s immensely valuable to hear different perspectives.”

Chin and Chadalawada say there are self-care resources available to students during each meeting.

“Sometimes it’s difficult to sit with the information that’s coming at them or that’s being shared,” says Chadalawada. “I want to urge every member to use the resources available. We don’t want anyone to feel alone in this important work.”

Shen and Wan say they are looking forward to forming a community they can count on.

“It gives us a sense of belonging,” says Shen. “We have a large number of Asian students, faculty and staff, and it would be great to have a community to share experiences and seek support from each other.”

The working group encourages U of T community members to provide feedback through the online survey.

Members of the Asian community at U of T in need of support can reach out to:

Students:

U of T My Student Support Program (My SSP) can be accessed 24/7 by phone or via the My SSP app.

Other mental health resources, programs and supports are available at mentalhealth.utoronto.ca.

Staff and faculty:

Employee and Family Assistance Program (1-800-663-1142)

U of T launches working group to tackle anti-Asian racism on campus

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 27 May 2022 14:34:43 +0000

U of T launches working group to tackle anti-Asian racism on campus

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 05/27/2022 - 10:34

Cutline

(photo by Daria Perevezentsev)

Topic

Information and Technology

Cheryl Regehr

Faculty of Arts & Science

The ��߲ݴ�ý has launched an Anti-Asian Racism Working Group to address anti-Asian racism on campus and take steps to make U of T more inclusive and welcoming to members of Asian communities.

As part of its mandate, the working group – co-chaired by Carol Chin, principal of Woodsworth College, and Vikram Chadalawada, assistant director, student information, Enterprise Applications and Solutions Integration and Information Technology Services – will consult U of T community members about their experiences with anti-Asian racism and review U of T’s existing policies, procedures, programming and practices.

It will then recommend actionable steps to respond to anti-Asian racism on the university’s three campuses and help build a respectful, accountable, equitable and inclusive community.

“One of the aims of the working group is to gather information on the range of experiences of racism of people belonging to different parts of the Asian community,” said Chin, an associate professor in the department of history in the Faculty of Arts & Science. “This is, of course, a very broad category and people will have different backgrounds, including being born and raised in Canada, born and raised in Asia and everything in between.

“We’re interested in hearing from as many people as would be willing to contribute their voices, and it’s about coalescing that into a coherent report and recommendations.”

The Anti-Asian Racism Working Group also plans to develop a tri-campus inventory of existing resources, initiatives and projects that address anti-Asian racism and advance inclusion for Asian community members, as well as review previous recommendations regarding anti-racism and inclusion practices made by U of T community members and other research-intensive universities.

“As an institution and as a community, we have been concerned by recent incidents of anti-Asian racism here at U of T, in our city-region, and indeed across North America,” the three senior leaders said in a message to the U of T community. “It is our collective responsibility to develop strategies to dismantle barriers and enhance inclusivity for Asian members of the U of T community.”

Chin said the working group will draw on the experiences of previous anti-racism initiatives at the university to inform its processes and approach. She notes, for instance, that she regularly speaks with Roger Bulgin, co-chair of the Anti-Black Racism Task Force and chief administrative officer at Woodsworth, whose office is located next door. “I’m constantly poking my head in and saying, ‘Roger, when you did this or that, what did you learn?’” said Chin. “So, we will definitely be drawing on others’ experiences in terms of how to go about the process, what worked and what didn’t.”

Chadalawada, who is chair of the University Affairs Board in U of T’s Governing Council, said the working group aims to support the response to anti-Asian racism in every aspect of university life and interactions.

“This is not just for the Asian community,” he said. “It’s also for everyone who interacts with members of the Asian community at U of T – so, it applies to all of us.

“It’s also not just about students or staff or faculty, but also about extending awareness, supports and accountability to every interaction that takes place within the university – whether you’re a full-time member of the university community or a vendor, contractor or part-time or temporary worker who’s deployed into the university environment.

“We want to enhance the awareness of everyone who participates in university life, and we hope this approach opens doors to deeper, respectful, more meaningful conversations. I truly hope that, with the help of this working group, we are able to foster an inclusive mindset that is acknowledged broadly within the university community.”

The launch of the working group comes amid a sharp rise in instances of anti-Asian discrimination in Canada in recent years.

Jodie Glean, executive director, equity, diversity and inclusion at U of T, said that while anti-Asian racism is not a new phenomenon in this country, the COVID-19 pandemic has further stoked prejudice and bigotry.

“Systemic anti-Asian racism has unfortunately been a lived reality for diverse Asian communities for many years – historically and in the present day,” Glean said. “Without a doubt, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated already existing inequities and inequalities, and the reality of xenophobia has continuously manifested itself in physical and verbal forms of violence against Asian community members.

“Therefore, there is a pressing need to be intentional in the ways we address anti-Asian racism and build initiatives for inclusion and belonging. The ��߲ݴ�ý is looking forward to engaging the community on this important matter and carving out an informed approach to addressing anti-Asian racism across our tri-campus.”

Glean encouraged members of the U of T community to direct any questions about the Anti-Asian Racism Working Group to psec.equity@utoronto.ca.

She added that a call for members for the working group will be shared with the U of T community in the coming weeks.

U of T experts work with local Chinese community to investigate upsurge in anti-Asian racism

geoff.vendeville — Wed, 04 May 2022 15:50:20 +0000

U of T experts work with local Chinese community to investigate upsurge in anti-Asian racism

geoff.vendeville Wed, 05/04/2022 - 11:50

Cutline

A rally against anti-Asian racism drew hundreds to Toronto's Nathan Phillip Square in March 2021 (Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Topic

Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work

Just before the onset of the pandemic, recent ��߲ݴ�ý graduate Kennes Lin helped launch a website with the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNTO) for reporting incidents of anti-Asian racism.

The graduate of the master of social work program hadn't expected to see such a rapid upsurge in hate speech and violence. In 2021, the site logged 943 reports – a 47 per cent increase over the year before. Now, to better understand this disconcerting trend, Lin is collaborating on two U of T social work research initiatives that focus on Chinese Canadians.

The projects’ lead researchers – Lin Fang and Izumi Sakamoto, both associate professors at the Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work – have partnered with community organizations to reach a cross-section of Canada’s Chinese population. Though they’re taking different approaches, Fang and Sakamoto are both aiming to explore Chinese people’s past and present experiences of anti-Asian racism, heighten awareness inside and outside Chinese communities, and develop strategies to address the crisis.

“Social work research on contemporary anti-Asian racism and the unique ways it manifests has been scarce, reflecting its low profile in broader society,” Fang says. “This racism has always existed in Canada and elsewhere, but it’s not been at the forefront of most people’s consciousness. COVID-19 was a catalyst, unfortunately, making it more visible and present.”

Fang’s multi-phase research began in late 2020, when she asked Chinese youth to submit photos and visual art representing their thoughts on anti-Asian racism. Called ‘My Script, My Voice,’ the project is co-led by the Hong Fook Mental Health Association and its youth advisory committee, along with the Asian Canadian Living Archive.

“The images and written reflections that accompanied them revealed how young people were thinking and feeling about anti-Asian racism early in the pandemic, and what they were doing to take care of themselves,” says Fang.

From left to right: Kennes Lin, Lin Fang and Izumi Sakamoto (photo of Sakamoto by Johnny Guatto)

To dig deeper, Fang and her collaborators later held focus groups and conducted individual interviews with nearly 40 participants aged 12 to 25. Beyond COVID-19, the youth pointed to the legacy of white supremacy in Canadian society and ignorance as some of the key factors driving the increase in racism against Asians.

The respondents’ personal or witnessed experiences included overt acts, including being pushed or spat on and receiving hateful social media posts, but also offhand comments on their eyes, “natural” math aptitude or poor athleticism. “As they unpacked their memories, many said they felt their experiences were dismissed by others at the time. They also said they felt confused about whether the subtler incidents were really racism,” she says. “This uncertainty isn’t surprising, since racism directed specifically at Asians hasn’t traditionally been covered in schools or the media.”

It’s also rarely mentioned at home. A frequent theme in the focus groups was the relative lack of openness around anti-Asian racism in Asian families. “Parents are often uncomfortable speaking about it because they don’t feel equipped, or they may subscribe to cultural beliefs about keeping your head down and not making trouble,” says Fang, the Factor-Inwentash chair in children’s mental health. “If they’re immigrants, they also could be afraid to rock the boat.” Focus groups with Chinese parents are currently underway to gain more insight into these barriers.

The youth participants said that anti-Asian racism made them feel like outsiders or “foreigners,” triggered fear of being in public spaces and had a negative impact on their mental health. Still, Fang says the process of coming together and finding common ground sparked strength and hope. “They want to talk about it more, and some of them have even been inspired to activism.”

In the next phase of the project, Fang and her co-researchers in the faculty – Assistant Professor Stephanie Begun, Associate Professor Eunjung Lee and Sakamoto – will publicly share what they’ve learned from youth and parents. In co-operation with Lin, who is lead of youth and family services at Hong Fook and an anti-Asian racism advisor at the Chinese Canadian National Council Toronto Chapter (CCNCTO), they hope to engage Chinese communities in ongoing discussion and education through social media campaigns, peer-to-peer groups, school workshops and parent support groups.

Kennes Lin (far right) speaks at the March 28, 2021 anti-Asian racism rally at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto (photo courtesy of Izumi Sakamoto)

In Sakamoto’s separate pilot study, “2020 in Hindsight: A Virtual Chinese Canadian Dialogue on Race,” Lin has been a key member of the research team from the start. The project is examining how Chinese Canadians from different generations and socioeconomic positions experience anti-Asian racism in the context of increased awareness of racism and white supremacy in the larger society. To do this, the researchers brought together five speakers (several of whom had reported a racist incident on the website Lin helped create) to tell their stories to 30 community participants on Zoom. The second part of the event involved small group discussions facilitated by volunteers, including several social work students who were fluent in Mandarin and/or Cantonese.

“We wanted to include people whose voices aren’t often heard, such as teenagers, seniors, frontline workers in low-income jobs and people with precarious immigration status,” says Sakamoto, who notes that she is Japanese and works from the perspective of an ally. She has collaborated with CCNCTO for the past 20 years as a researcher and advocate focused on issues facing Asian Canadians.

“It has been a privilege to work with Dr. Sakamoto and to be part of this research project, which has allowed me to apply my previous experience in community organizing as well as my experience as a member of the community,” says Hogan Lam, a master of social work student who was involved in the pilot study. “This project has taught me so much. It’s allowed me to rethink my intersectional identities in Canadian society and my relationship with anti-Asian racism as well as white supremacy.”

Similar to the youth in Fang’s project, many of the participants in Sakamoto’s pilot study said they felt unsure about how to process their experiences. “They spoke about not feeling safe at school or in their workplaces, but not being able to articulate exactly how or what,” says Sakamoto. “While some articulated their experience of anti-Asian racism, others expressed a sense of self-doubt and unsureness when experiencing something like a shove on a crowded subway platform, and they wondered whether it was racism. We can attribute this to the insidious nature of racism, but also to the lack of language and resources around anti-Asian racism. Many people aren’t sure how to talk about it.”

While Sakamoto was familiar with the alarmingly high numbers of incidents reported online, she says seeing the faces behind the data prompted a “visceral reaction.” She didn’t expect to hear that high school students are still physically assaulted for being Asian, or that Asian frontline workers still face relentless verbal abuse and violence in Toronto. But the painful narratives forged connections and a sense of community among the participants, says Sakamoto, offering hope that the research team can build on this virtual format. Future possibilities include a town hall and forums with other Asian communities, as well as further research building on Asian identities and activism.

“While I wish the COVID-related racism targeting Asians never happened, the critical mass of incidents and awareness has given the issue a new sense of urgency,” she says. “Ten years ago, possibilities for these conversations among community members and researchers across different walks of life or generations were still limited. Putting experiences into words is a powerful thing.”
Fang and Lin agree that the growing desire in Asian communities to talk about, learn about and do something about anti-Asian racism is cause for optimism. “There’s a word in Chinese that essentially means ‘crisis,’ but within it is the word ‘opportunity,’” says Lin. “I’ve thought a lot about that word over the past two years.”

Former senator – and U of T Chancellor Emerita – Vivienne Poy reflects on Asian Heritage Month, 20 years later

geoff.vendeville — Mon, 02 May 2022 19:22:55 +0000

Former senator – and U of T Chancellor Emerita – Vivienne Poy reflects on Asian Heritage Month, 20 years later

geoff.vendeville Mon, 05/02/2022 - 15:22

Cutline

Vivienne Poy, the first person of Asian ancestry to sit in the Senate, proposed a motion to recognize May as Asian Heritage Month in 2001, with an official declaration following in 2002 (photo by David Wong/South China Morning Post via Getty Images)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

Global Lens

Anti-Asian Racism

Diversity and Inclusion

Alumni

U of T Libraries

When Vivienne Poy was appointed to the Senate by Prime Minister Jean Chrétien in 1998, she became the first person of Asian ancestry to sit in the upper house of Parliament.

The former ��߲ݴ�ý chancellor and alumna says the honour of being the first came with a sense of duty.

“It's a huge responsibility and a burden because I just had to do the right thing,” she told U of T News.

Born in Hong Kong, Poy fled to mainland China with her family when she was seven months old, after Japan attacked the British colony during the Second World War. She moved to Montreal in 1959, where she studied history at McGill. She later earned a master’s degree and PhD in history at U of T. In 1981, after studying fashion at Seneca College, she founded Vivienne Poy Mode, which sold high-end knitwear.

Poy, who is the author of several books – about her own family, Sino-Canadian relations and Chinese immigration to Canada – served as U of T chancellor from 2003 to 2006.

While in government, she put forward a motion to recognize May as Asian Heritage Month, a move that was supported unanimously. Poy donated the motion and other papers from her 14 years in the Senate to U of T's Richard Charles Lee Canada-Hong Kong Library – the largest research collection for Hong Kong and Canada-Hong Kong studies outside of Hong Kong.

Two decades after the signing of Asian Heritage Month declaration, Poy is, fittingly, one of the speakers at the Asian Heritage Month opening ceremony this weekend, along with Ahmed Hussen, the federal minister of housing and diversity and inclusion, Mayor John Tory and her son, Justin Poy, the head of a strategic and creative agency. The free, online event will be held this Saturday at 2 p.m. with Poy expected to speak about the relevance of Asian Heritage Month.

At U of T, events to mark the month are being held by the Anti-Racism & Cultural Diversity Office and U of T Libraries, among others.

In an interview with U of T News, Poy discussed the creation of Asian Heritage Month and its ongoing importance.

You moved to recognize May as Asian Heritage Month in the winter of 2001 – just a few months after 9/11. In your speech in the Senate, you mention attacks on multiculturalism. Can you explain how this context influenced the motion?

Actually, I haven't looked at my own speech in a while [laughs]. The reason why I introduced it was because Asians – meaning all of Asia, all the way to west Asia – we were quite invisible in Canada because we were not part of Canadian heritage. I just wanted to give visibility to all Asians in Canada – Canadians of Asian heritage. That was the main reason – just for visibility. Just to let everybody know we're here.

I'm a student of history, and Canada was part of the British Commonwealth and Canada was a white country. But through immigration, Canada is very multicultural. That is how Canada was built. Of course, we have the First Nations who were here first and then the French and the British came, and then a lot of other people from other parts of the world. It is important for Canada to grow as a multicultural country because that's the only way forward.

Maria Lau, director of U of T's Richard Charles Lee Canada - Hong Kong Library, displays Vivienne Poy's motion to recognize May as Asian Heritage Month (photo by Geoffrey Vendeville)

Do you feel like that multiculturalism is under attack again? There have been reports of increased anti-Asian racism in Canada during the pandemic.

Yes. Well, because racism in Canada is systemic and I would say there's always racism wherever there are people – because most of us are more comfortable being with people who look like us. So, it's always there.

It's a work in progress. We need to constantly be vigilant and actually teach the younger generation about how important it is – not only to make friends and get along, but to learn about other cultures. I think that may be – and I'm not an educator – but that may be what is missing in the schools. Children growing up should learn world cultures, world religion. That would really help future generations because peace is what we all want.

What has been happening since COVID-19 is systemic racism against Asians has suddenly flared up. To me, that is totally out of ignorance because viruses don't care what colour your skin is, or where you come from. Viruses just need bodies to inhabit and grow and attack.

What are some of the contributions made by the Asian Canadian community that Asian Heritage Month invites people to reflect on?

There are many. People talk about the railway workers who have made it possible for B.C. to be part of Canada, otherwise B.C. would have joined California. And anybody who knows anything about Canadian history would know that. That's just one aspect because even before that – before the railroad – there were a lot of Japanese who came.

The opening of the forests and building the trails for the gold rush – a lot of that was done by Asians. People seemed to forget that.

That was a long time ago. Since then, look at the number of people of Asian descent today who are very prominent in the pandemic response. Their academic and research contributions are immense. Some of them are well known and others aren't. Of course, there is Theresa Tam, who is from Hong Kong, and there is Dr. Njoo [Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer and ��߲ݴ�ý graduate]. There are many others from other parts of Asia and other parts of the world.

Even though Asian heritage month gives Asians more visibility, I feel that inclusion is extremely, extremely important for the good of Canada. Canada can lead in the world. We have the possibility of doing that.

Look at the war that's happening right now in Ukraine. Who needs a war? I believe in talking and solving problems and appreciating each other. Don't fight because everyone loses when you fight.

You broke barriers in the Senate as the first person of Chinese ancestry to sit in the upper house of Parliament. How did it feel to be the first?

It's a huge responsibility and a burden because I just had to do the right thing. I just had to set a good example, and I was really happy at the 15^th anniversary of the passage of this motion – this big celebration where there were so many Asian senators on stage. They were all there. I was at another event and I was sitting with Senator [Victor] Oh, and he said there were at least 15 Asian senators from every part of Asia. That to me was very gratifying.

How should people mark Asian Heritage Month? Are there books or films you recommend?

There's an organization called Reel Asian that showcases Asian performances and movies. The last couple of years, because of the lockdown, the festival wasn't possible but it was going extremely well. Now it's picking up again this year.

To me, this month is about learning about each other and sharing. We should all work together. I believe in that.

U of T’s Kenneth Fung on the impact of anti-Asian racism on mental health

rahul.kalvapalle — Thu, 20 May 2021 19:30:06 +0000

U of T’s Kenneth Fung on the impact of anti-Asian racism on mental health

rahul.kalvapalle Thu, 05/20/2021 - 15:30

Cutline

(Steve Russell/Toronto Star via Getty Images)

Rahul Kalvapalle

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Asian Racism

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Temerty Faculty of Medicine

Mental Health

Psychiatry

University Health Network

Kenneth Fung

With anti-Asian racism on the rise in Canada, concerns are mounting over the impact on people’s mental health.

That’s why ��߲ݴ�ý psychiatrist Kenneth Fung says it’s important to couple the fight against Anti-Asian racism with efforts to build resilience in individuals and communities – and foster culturally competent mental health services.

On May 22, Fung, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry in U of T’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine and clinical director of the Asian Initiative in Mental Health at the University Health Network (UHN), will discuss the topic during a workshop and panel discussion titled “Anti-Asian Racism: Addressing the Mental Health Impact of Racism.”

The first in a three-part series on resilience, the webinar is hosted by the Asian Initiative in Mental Health.

Fung will joined by Fei-Fei Liu, chief of the radiation medicine program at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre and professor in the department of radiation oncology in the Temerty Faculty of Medicine; Janice Fukakusa, chancellor of Ryerson University and chair of the board of directors of the Princess Margaret Cancer Foundation; and Jenny Liu, a post-doctoral researcher at UHN and lecturer at Ryerson.

Ahead of the webinar, which will feature interpretation in Cantonese and Mandarin, U of T News spoke with Fung about anti-Asian racism, the impact of discrimination on mental health and how individuals and groups can tackle racism and build resilience.

How has the COVID-19 pandemic fueled or influenced anti-Asian racism in Canada?

There has been a long-standing history of anti-Asian racism since the founding of the nation. Since COVID-19, we are now seeing brazen physical and verbal attacks that blame Asians for bringing in the virus and people acting as if Asians the source of contagion. We also see negative portrayals of Asians and suggestions that maybe it’s their bad habits that created the virus.

Insults like “go home” are pretty obviously damaging and un-Canadian, if you will, because when you ask someone to go home, you’re saying that Canada isn’t welcoming you here and isn’t considered your home. This is something that is being said to people who have been here for generations and are just as Canadian as any other Canadian.

There’s also the pre-existing myths of the “model minority” and of Asian-Canadians taking away everyone’s jobs and being so well-off. In fact, there’s just as much diversity and spectrum within the Asian-Canadian population as other Canadian populations. We know from pre-existing data that Chinese Canadians, for example, have more limited access to mental health care.

In addition, if you compare immigrants or visible minorities, they often – as a group – earn less and are more likely to be under-employed for their training and equivalent status. There are all kinds of studies showing that they’re less likely to be promoted in corporate settings, and more likely to be precariously employed.

So, systemic racism is taking a toll on the Asian population on top of the overt verbal insults and violent assaults. There’s cause for concern that all this has risen in the context of the pandemic.

How do acts of racism affect the mental health of victims and communities?

There is a very direct impact from racist attacks and comments. It can be a very traumatic experience to be accosted and assaulted. All of this can have a psychological – even physical, in some cases – impact on the individual.

It can also psychologically make Asians feel like this is not their home – so you don’t feel like you have a Canadian identity. This has direct implications for mental health and psychological well-being.

One Ontario study showed that the Chinese-Canadian population has one of the lowest expressed senses of self and belonging in Canada. I think that’s likely related to Chinese Canadians also having one of the poorest self-rated mental health. Racism just increases all of this by decreasing the sense of belonging and well-being.

Of course, there are also other indirect impacts that include the social determinants of health, such as finding it more difficult to get a job because of your credentials not being recognized or maybe because of language skills or an accent. Even if Asian Canadians have been here for generations, speak the language and are educated here, there’s still a disparity that can be seen in terms of employment, under-employment and promotions. All of that has an impact on mental health.

That’s why we’re seeing impacts on the individual level, family level as well as the community level for the entire Asian-Canadian population.

How can the mental health impacts of racism be addressed in a culturally sensitive manner?

When people’s mental and physical health and well-being are under attack in the context of a racist environment, a lack of culturally appropriate services means that people who are also suffering from racism are less likely to reach out for help.

Secondly, in the Asian context, a lack of acknowledgement of racism can lead to internalized racism – especially given the myth of the model minority. This means people’s experiences with racist attacks may be invalidated, minimized or not understood in their appropriate cultural context. This leads to people internalizing racism or feeling shy to stand up to racism. They may feel like, “Oh, we hear about the Black Lives Matter movement and that group has it worse so we don’t have a right to complain.” It’s often a part of Asian culture to build harmony, which can make people reluctant to come forward.

The myth of the model minority can sometimes be used to pit one group against another group rather than striving for equity for everyone. This means the impact of racism can be worse and the capacity for people to speak up, feel validated and get help is worse. We need to dispel the myth of the model minority and address the impact of people internalizing racism.

A culturally sensitive and competent approach is needed to understand both the history and the context in which these acts of racism occur, as well as to understand the impact of the racism and address it.

What does it mean to build resilience, and how can this mitigate the mental health impacts of racism?

Resilience is very important. Whether you have a diagnosis mental illness or not, everyone can benefit from attention to resilience as a way to promote well-being.

People often define resilience as coming back from adversity, which I think is important – the ability to bounce back. We need to be able to bounce back from difficulties, whether it’s the pandemic or racism. Building resilience, then, is important so that when you encounter adversity you have the enhanced capacity to bounce back.

However, one potential flaw with talking about resilience in this way is that you might be tempted to mistakenly say that being resilient means not caring about racism attacks. Resilience isn’t just about an individual’s capacity to bounce back, but about recognizing that resilience is sourced from both internal and external resources. That means your actual resilience is partly determined by your external environment, which includes culturally competent and accessible services, and includes a feeling of security and belonging to your community.

In the case of racism, we need to internally acknowledge and recognize that racism has a direct psychological impact and we need to be equipped to heal from the trauma and not internalize racism. All of that is important to strengthen internal resilience and acknowledge that if you do feel stress, it doesn’t mean that you’re weak. But external collective resilience also needs to be there from friends, family, communities and getting involved to advocate for services and collectively stand up against racism.

Individually, people can feel pretty powerless against systemic racism. But as a collective, both within the Asian community and with the Canadian community at large, we can all work together to strive towards an equitable and just society.

U of T community roundtable focuses on anti-Asian racism

Christopher.Sorensen — Fri, 16 Apr 2021 21:01:04 +0000

U of T community roundtable focuses on anti-Asian racism

Christopher.Sorensen Fri, 04/16/2021 - 17:01

Cutline

(Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua via Getty Images)

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Women and Gender Studies

The ��߲ݴ�ý’s Faculty of Arts & Science recently hosted a Community Roundtable on Anti-Asian Racism and Intersectional Violence webinar in the wake of the March 16 shootings that killed six Asian women during an attack on spas and massage parlors in Atlanta, Ga.

The event – organized by the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Women & Gender Studies Institute and the department of sociology – drew more than 500 registrants and hundreds of subsequent viewers on YouTube. It was moderated by Hae Yeon Choo, associate professor of sociology at U of T Mississauga and the Asian Institute at the Munk School of Global Affairs & Public Policy, and Robert Diaz, associate professor of transnational feminisms, globalization and sexuality studies at the Women & Gender Studies Institute.

Diaz and Choo emphasized that anti-Asian violence in North America is far from new, with Choo calling it “embedded in a colonial history that has treated Asians as perpetual foreigners who do not belong, but whose labour is very much needed.”

They also pointed out that the Atlanta murders must be viewed through an intersectional lens since they are reflective not only of structural racism, but sexism, misogyny and classism as well.

Speakers at the event included Justin Kong from the Chinese Canadian National Council, Rick Sin from the Asian Canadian Labour Alliance, and Elene Lam of Butterfly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Support Network.

Lam, who founded the organization Butterfly in 2014 with the aim of providing support to Asian and migrant sex workers, enumerated the various ways such workers are vulnerable.

“Every year we have workers in the sex industry being murdered,” she said. “It’s happening everywhere, not only in the U.S. but many places in Canada as well.”

While sex work has been decriminalized in Canada, workers often cannot access traditional forms of support offered to other business owners, according to Lam. She said they are frequently fined and assaulted, and that police often victimize them further through arrest and deportation.

Kong similarly supports and advocates for Asian workers and community members. He says many have seen their businesses vandalized since the pandemic started, while essential workers – such as those in grocery stores – have been repeatedly exposed to COVID-19 and deprived of sick leave and fair pay.

Attacks on seniors have been particularly tragic and such incidents often go unreported unless caught on video by bystanders, according to Kong.

“The discussion is ultimately about building power,” said Kong, the council’s executive director. “How do we build and support it in the community? And what does it mean to be in a society where labour isn’t respected and is devalued?”

Sin, who also teaches social work at York University, talked about the historical nature of anti-Asian racism in Canada and noted its resurgence due to events in the news.

He said geopolitical tensions between North America and China, as well as COVID-19’s racist designation as the “China virus,” are perceived to be intensifying assaults that have never really stopped since the start of Asian immigration to Canada in the 18th century. Sin added that modern anti-racism is more about the denial of racism, which he said can be more damaging than racism itself.

He also said that Canada’s fabled multiculturalism is not necessarily a protective force.

“We are sharing the same space, vis-à-vis white nationalism,” he stated. “We are not being targeted because of our cultural heritage but because we ‘look alike.’”

Following the presentation, many attendees asked what actions are currently being taken against anti-Asian racism. The speakers said the responses have been many and varied. In May, for example, Kong said his organization will produce a survey reporting on the experiences of hundreds of Chinese-Canadian workers in the Greater Toronto Area. During the pandemic, Butterfly has been active in raising emergency funds to support sex workers, according to Lam. And, on April 2, Choo and Diaz published a column in Inside Higher Ed calling for continual challenges to anti-Asian racism in the curricula and institutional structures of post-secondary institutions.

While empathy with the victims of the March 16 and other attacks is necessary, Diaz said it must not stand alone.

“Empathy cannot only mean mourning,” he said. “Empathy must also become militancy. It must become a demand for social change … to mourn, and to demand immediate change for the oppressed, must always coexist.”

The New Normal with Maydianne Andrade (Ep. 19 part two): Scapegoat

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 15 Apr 2021 16:30:12 +0000

The New Normal with Maydianne Andrade (Ep. 19 part two): Scapegoat Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 04/15/2021 - 12:30

Topic

Our Community

Anti-Asian Racism

COVID-19 New Normal

Ecology & Evolutionary Biology

Faculty of Arts & Science

Graduate Students

U of T Scarborough

Undergraduate Students

For ��߲ݴ�ý students Gigi Hoi and Alfonso Ralph Mendoza Manalo, one of the first steps in dealing with anti-Asian racism is having difficult, honest conversations.

“Having a space where people can feel safe and share … whatever it is that they're going through,” is crucial says Hoi, a PhD candidate in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science.

Hoi and Manalo are guests on “Scapegoat,” a special two-part episode of The New Normal podcast hosted by Maydianne Andrade. In the episode’s first instalment, Andrade, a professor at U of T Scarborough and Canada Research Chair in Integrative Behavioural Ecology, spoke with Associate Professor Diana Fu and Associate Professor Jooyoung Lee about the history of anti-Asian racism and its devastating impacts.

Being able to have a candid conversation about racism is vital whether “you've been on the receiving end of aggressions or you were a bystander and regret that you didn't do anything or you suddenly realize that you have unintentionally caused harm,” Hoi says.

“I think it's so important as a first step towards fighting anti-Black, anti-Indigenous and anti-Asian racism.”

Manalo, a third-year undergraduate at U of T Scarborough, is completing a work term at the RCMP as an equity, diversity and inclusion policy adviser, where he is working on an anti-racism course for employees.

“Sometimes in order for someone's voice to be heard, something tragic has to occur,” Manalo says. “I think for Asian Canadians, it's seeing our elders being targeted in Chinatown, it's seeing law enforcement agencies not adequately responding to hate crimes or understanding that we're scared.”

Having a voice at the table can make a difference, he adds.

“With this course on anti-racism, we're given the opportunity to make 30,000 employees across the RCMP understand the oppression that Black Canadians, Asian Canadians and Indigenous Peoples face and have been facing here for so long – and how they should respond to that.”

The New Normal is created in collaboration with a ��߲ݴ�ý Communications team led by Lisa Lightbourn. You can listen to the podcast on Spotify or listen on SoundCloud. You can also find it on Apple or listen on Google.

The New Normal with Maydianne Andrade (Ep. 19 part one): Scapegoat

Christopher.Sorensen — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 15:19:12 +0000

The New Normal with Maydianne Andrade (Ep. 19 part one): Scapegoat Christopher.Sorensen Thu, 04/08/2021 - 11:19

Topic

Faculty of Arts & Science

Sociology

U of T Scarborough

Anti-Asian racism and violence in North America have been called a “shadow pandemic” – one that has intensified over the past year and builds on a long history of discrimination.

How, then, can we stop it?

“One of the things that I've been trying to promote in the aftermath of the shootings in Georgia is the power that allies and bystanders have,” says Jooyoung Lee, an associate professor of sociology at the ��߲ݴ�ý. “If you're a witness to harassment in public, just speaking up, just doing something … can have significant effects.”

Lee is one of two guests in “Scapegoat,” a special two-part episode of The New Normal podcast hosted by Maydianne Andrade. The second guest is Diana Fu, an associate professor of political science at U of T Scarborough and an expert on U.S.-China relations.

“Anti-Asian racism during the pandemic has been called a shadow pandemic and I think that term is very, very powerful,” says Fu. “It's not just that Asians are experiencing the pandemic like everybody else, but, on top of that, we are being beaten, being yelled at, being spit at. All of those things are being experienced on top of experiencing the virus.

“And it's also not a recent problem.”

Together, Fu, Lee and Andrade, a professor at U of T Scarborough and Canada Research Chair in Integrative Behavioural Ecology, explore the history of anti-Asian racism and its devastating impacts.

“Do you know what it feels like to have others act like you have less value than other humans? In Canada, we call it being racialized,” Andrade says. “How do we find solutions? How can we be agents of change?”