“Say something in your language”: Lived experiences of Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

This paper explores anecdotes about and experiences of implicit and explicit acts of racism experienced by 16 Asian Americans living in the United States, who narrate stories about incidents of race-based verbal, physical, or emotional violence. In addition, the participants detail hardships and experiences before COVID-19, at the onset of COVID-19, and most importantly, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of the study build on the growing literature on the experiences of racism, othering, and invisibility among Asian communities. Further research is needed to capture the diversity of experiences of the Asian American communities and to identify interventions and practices that will best support their needs.