Fed up with anti-Asian harassment, Master of None co-creator and Tigertail director Alan Yang and the Ad Council have teamed up to release the video, Fight the Virus, Fight the Bias.
The public service announcement features Asian Americans from all walks of life talking about how they’ve personally experienced anti-Asian hate during the pandemic.
“I’m honored to be part of this campaign and to help tell real stories of API experiences in America, especially during a time that’s difficult for so many people across the country,” said director Alan Yang. “I hope to do my best to represent our community and show that we’re stronger when we support each other and share our experiences honestly and compassionately with others.”
AsAmNews has documented the surge in hateful and racist incidents faced by Asian Americans during the surge in coronavirus. References by the White House to the virus as the kung flu, the Wuhan virus and the China virus have only added fuel to the fire, according to many Asian American community leaders.
The Stop AAPI Hate campaign revealed that out of 1843 incidents, 27% or 502 victims reported the perpetrators specifically mentioned the terms “China” or “Chinese.”
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“Some individuals yelled “Chinese, go back to your country!” then threw their soda at me from a moving vehicle in my neighborhood,” said one victim.
“Person called me a “yellow n—-r” and yelled ”go back to China, bitch!” said another.
“At a time when hateful rhetoric and racially-fueled discrimination are plaguing the API community, it’s critical that we all play a role in dispelling the racist misconceptions and actions pervading our country,” said Ad Council President and CEO Lisa Sherman. “Amid this pandemic and the stresses associated, nobody should have to also endure the added layer of fear that comes from this surge in racial violence and harassment. We hope this film will inspire Americans to rethink their biases and help put an end to the wave of racism facing the API community.”
Some, however, question whether such campaigns really have an impact.
“I don’t know if this is enough, or how effective it will be, but let’s do baby steps and create awareness,” he said. “I have not seen enough of this — we should do more,” Steven Moy, the chief executive of the Barbarian ad agency, said to the NY Times.
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