How Crises Lead to Racist Hate


Asian American Courage

With anti-Asian racism and violence threatening our communities, how do we draw courage from our parents’ struggles and experiences, so we can find our own strength and find the language to share this with our children? 

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When John Tateishi was three years old, his family was among 120,000 Japanese Americans forcibly removed from their homes after Pearl Harbor. 

When the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks led to a wave of racist responses against a community of color, John recognized the pattern of racially inspired blame. Now, in 2021, with another wave of anti-Asian sentiment on the rise, John reminds us to learn from the Japanese American Redress Movement's fight for an official government apology and compensation — to make sure our voice is heard and to stand firm in the fight against injustice and racism. 


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John Tateishi explains how a Japanese American movement for reparations after WWII inspired a movement for justice multiple times after.

This story is part of a series produced and written for AARP AAPI in honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (2021). Video credits: Candice Quimpo — Story Development, Interview and Story Capture, Scriptwriting.

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I used to be very ashamed of my Vietnamese identity

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Fighting Racism with Intergenerational Courage