OCA STATEMENT ON ANTI-ASIAN BACKLASH 

The Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA) is a national nonprofit 
Asian Pacific American (APA) civil rights organization with over 80 
chapters and affiliates across the country and headquarters in Washington, 
DC.  OCA has been monitoring the backlash against Chinese Americans 
and APAs that has come about since the strain in relations between the 
United States and China.  Much of the behavior that we have seen has 
been truly appalling; some of it has been so blatantly ignorant and far 
removed from the ideal of diversity that America represents that OCA 
did not even see worth in taking the time to respond.  General attitudes 
toward Chinese and Asian Americans, however, do not seem to be changing. 

It is OCA's official policy not to comment on international affairs; our 
bylaws and constitution forbid OCA from representing an opinion 
concerning relations between the United States and another country.   
The anti-Asian and Chinese sentiment that has been so prevalent in the 
past several weeks, which was sadly not completely unexpected, has 
manifested itself in hostility toward Chinese Americans and other APAs.   
This is something that affects all Americans of Asian descent; thus 
greatly concerns OCA.   

Many people in our country cannot tell the difference between a Chinese 
American, whose family has been in the United States for five generations, 
and a Chinese National.  Those who feel anger toward a country on the 
other side of the world can easily take their frustrations out on their 
supermarket clerk, or dentist, or cab driver who is of a race that has been 
the target of dislike so extreme that it borders on hysteria.  Those who 
doubt the possibility of such events need only to remember Vincent Chin, 
a young Chinese American man who was beaten to death during his 
bachelor party by two white men who blamed Japan for their unemployment 
in 1982.  The rival from across the ocean becomes the perceived enemy 
next door. 

OCA often feels the need to remind people of the contributions APAs have 
made to our country and in how many ways our everyday lives are made 
easier and more enjoyable because of the innovations of APAs.  OCA is 
proud of those who have achieved heights that many never thought possible 
for an APA; our community has helped to make tremendous advances in 
politics, medicine, space travel, music, literature, film, athletics, and 
countless other fields.  There should be no question that we more than 
prove our loyalty to this nation. 

Continually proving our loyalty to America, however, has been a process 
that is taking entirely too long.  That we as a society need to constantly 
be reminded that APAs are Americans is outrageous.  There is a list of 
accomplishments by APAs that OCA has always displayed as though it 
were a free ticket to acceptance, but our arms are too tired to keep holding 
it high.  It is a rare occurrence to see an American with European ancestry 
have to prove his or her loyalty, but for Americans with Asian ancestry it 
happens every single day.  Recently, it's been happening every time we 
turn around. 

Throwaway comments can turn into inflammatory statements when coming 
from certain mouths.  Ray Lytle, a radio personality on WQLZ in Springfield, 
Illinois, suggested that Chinese should be placed into a "Japanese camp;" 
he also contended that "they all have slant eyes."  Although an apology has 
been widely circulated, OCA cannot help but wonder how a professional could 
have made such hurtful comments in the first place.  Similarly closed-minded 
comments directed toward African Americans would never cross the lips of a 
professional broadcaster; but our society seems to have a higher tolerance 
for ignorance when it is directed at the right people. 

Lytle also called a woman in New York City's Chinatown to taunt her.  This 
is a clear example of misdirected aggression; his feelings toward the 
government of a foreign nation came out against a Chinese American. 

"Slats," a radio personality on WMMS in Cleveland used the word "Chinks" on 
the air; Janice Coffey of KSTE in Sacramento referred to Wang Zhizhi, the 
first Asian-born NBA player, as "Chinaman."  Again, only the most extreme 
of the ignorant and insensitive would consider using a similar racial slur 
about African Americans, but trained broadcasters on mainstream stations in 
major cities use dehumanizing words without pausing to breathe. 

Countless other equally offensive events have taken place from Washington, 
DC to California.  The Asian Pacific American community is certainly strong 
enough to withstand questions of loyalty; we have done it before, and we 
expect to have to do it again.  Whether we are newly arrived or trace our 
roots back to those who built the first transcontinental railroad, nobody 
should feel the need to doubt our loyalty.  Those who question us because 
of our race should turn the finger inwards and try to imagine how they would 
feel if they were teased, taunted, and targeted because of their height or 
the length of their nose; in short, differences that do not make us better 
or worse than anyone else, but do make us who we are. 

The Asian Pacific American community is diverse and our level of visibility 
will continue to rise as our population grows.  We are honest and loyal 
citizens just like any other race in this country; that is why the 
discrimination we face daily at the hands of other Americans is simply 
un-American.