Library Spotlight: Posts

Addressing Anti-Asian Racism and the Pandemic

As part of Humber's Centre for Human Rights, Equity and Inclusion Dialogue 2021-22 series, Humber Libraries will highlight additional readings related to the dialogues.

On Tuesday November 16 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm, Calvin To joins Humber for a talk on "The “Yellow Peril”: Why Anti-Asian Racism Won’t Disappear After The Pandemic Is Over."  Calvin To, a third year law student at Osgoode Hall Law School, came to the legal profession after a career in broadcast journalism. He is actively involved in promoting awareness of anti-Asian racism among a wide range of audiences, including most recently the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Hate Crime Working Group. Calvin To is a first generation Chinese Canadian who is passionate about issues of human rights and equity. 

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Additional selected readings and documentaries: 

Spread of anti-Asian racism: Prevention and critical race analysis in pandemic planning in Vulnerable : The law, policy and ethics of COVID-19. By Jamie Chai Yun Liew. 2020.

• The racist discourse and attacks on Asian Canadians during COVID-19 has illustrated the risks, vulnerabilities and marginalization of racialized peoples. This chapter argues how critical race analysis is essential when evaluating public health responses to ensure differential experiences of racialized communities are considered during a pandemic.

Behind the scenes of COVID-19: The hidden pandemic of anti-Asian racism. Arbutus Review. By Brooke McNab. 2021.

• Alongside COVID-19 came a renewed onslaught of xenophobia and anti-Asian racism, marking people who are or appear to be Chinese as a target for hate-fueled verbal and physical assaults, some resulting in serious injury or proving fatal for the victims. Using news articles published in Canada to collect data, this research explores the impact of anti-Asian racism within Canada.

Identities: experiences and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic from the perspectives of older Chinese immigrants in Canada. China Journal of Social Work. 2021.

• In this exploratory qualitative study, 15 in-depth interviews were held to understand the unique experiences of older Chinese adults in Canada in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mother tongues. The journey of Tam Goossen. (2019). Streaming Video. 

• Through the lens of her life story, Toronto activist and educator Tam Gooseen speaks to the challenges and triumphs of Chinese-Canadian communities. 

Asian Americans. (2020). Streaming Video. 

• This series traces the story of Asian Americans, spanning 150 years of immigration, racial politics, and cultural innovation. It is a timely look at the role that Asian Americans have played in defining who we are as a nation. 

The yellow peril revisited: The impact of SARS on Chinese and Southeast Asian communities. Resources for Feminist Research. By Carrianne Leung. 

• Written in 2008, this report discusses the handling of SARS and its impact on Chinese and Southeast/ East Asian communities, and how the racialization of SARS and its gendered and class effects is one example of how racialized communities are vulnerable during times of public panic.