Grace A. Chen, B. Andy Lee, Helen A. Neville, Della W. Mosley, Hector Y. Adames, Naeli Yu. Chavez-Duenas, Briana H. Frances, and John A. Lewis
Irene (pseudonym), a middle-aged Taiwanese woman, was walking alone on the trail when a white man crosswalked her several times with anti-Asian slurs. She was scared because she didn’t see anyone around and she wasn’t sure if the man was trying to follow her. When she saw the other people and realized that he hadn’t followed her, she could finally breathe again.
Different versions of Irene’s story have occurred many times over the years. May is Asian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and May is also Mental Health Awareness Month, which means it’s a good time for Asian Americans to discuss their recovery. Racism.
The current state of ICE raids and political ideology in the US affects people directly and indirectly. to testify injury can also be vulnerable. The circumstances in which we find ourselves can especially affect it Mental health of Asian Americanswhether they know about it or not. Some Asian Americans have a tendency to minimize negative situations – this may be from a culture that values stoicism and not expressing emotions, or even a survival strategy of not coming out or “making waves.” When someone experiences the effects of racism but has difficulty articulating what they feel and why, it can be difficult to process the experience effectively.
In The psychology of the radical treatment framework is a useful framework for fostering well-being in the face of racial trauma. Based on research in this area, we offer five suggestions:
1. Learn about your team’s history
Learn about the social and political realities that affect Asian American communities. As painful as it may be, part of the healing process is understanding how Asian Americans fit into the US racial landscape, which is rooted in anti-Black racism. In 1968The term “Asian America” was created as a political collective personality and reflects the challenges of living within a racist society that is not unlike that of many Asian nations.
From 2019, 57% of Asian Americans were born abroadtherefore, as a group, Asian Americans are less likely to know about the history of US racial dynamics, especially since Asian American history is not covered in most educational institutions. As a result, for some Asian Americans, their pain stems from confusion about why anti-Asian hate has soared in recent years. By knowing more about the history of Asian Americans in the US, Asian Americans can increase their self-awareness in a broader context and take action to create change for the better. Unfortunately for Irene, this was not the first time she had experienced racism, and she is fully aware of the past and current anti-Asian sentiment and history of racism in the US, so she was not entirely surprised by this incident.
2. Use the potential in your social networks
Historically, many Asian ethnic groups have interacted with their communities and become culturally aware – it is usually acceptable to come together to share food and celebrate cultural holidays. We encourage Asian Americans to share more stories at these community gatherings and develop auxiliary fields, because there is a great need for it-especially for experiences with racism and difficult times, to know you are not alone and to seek support from each other.
As for Irene, she immediately called friends for support and talked about her experience. He also wrote about what happened in his journal and published it Social media. After she wrote, a friend reached out and offered to walk with her in the future so she wouldn’t be alone. In voicing their stories, Asian Americans can have the opportunity to process their emotions and allow others to share their stories and survival strategies.
3. Identify and accept your identities
By embracing and reclaiming their racial, ethnic, and cultural (REC) identities, Asian Americans can harmful stereotypes and beliefs like the myth of the model minority and the eternal trope of the foreigner. Asian Americans can give praise instead, such as asking their family members about stories of strength, celebration, struggle, resistance, and hope. It could also look like participating in AAPI heritage celebrations throughout the year, not just in May or during the holidays; search for groups or nearby places; and engaging with books, music, and performances that reflect AAPI stories. There is value culturally, ancestrally, spiritualityand historical wisdom which are authentic and reflective of REC’s sense of identity. Irene is comfortable with her cultural identity as a Taiwanese American and said she didn’t take the incident personally, which helped her recover quickly from the incident.
4. Challenge old narratives and shape your own stories
With a critical understanding of Asian American history and the systemic and intersectional nature of oppression, Asian Americans can challenge the narrative that Asians do not experience systemic racism or that they do not “deserve” racism as a model minority. In fact, the model minority myth is rooted in anti-Black racism and the false belief that Blacks experience racism because they have not worked hard to overcome their circumstances.
Asian Americans can join the long history of AAPI involvement in interracial solidarity and civil rights support for Black, Indigenous, and Other People of Color (BIPOC). In our current time, engaging in collective efforts to challenge systems that were not built for Asian American communities and are still actively harming them can be a healing process in and of itselfaffirming values, capacities for change and strengthening a sense of community. Being engaged efforts for solidarity between racesthey can channel anger and energy alongside fellow BIPOC to target the roots of oppression. In Irene’s case, she is involved in social justice work and regularly connects with others who work against racism and other forms of oppression, which helps her stay hopeful.
5. Cultivate hope along with struggle
Especially in times of witnessing and experiencing struggle through structural and personal problems, it can be difficult to realize and turn to hope. Radical hope encourages Asian Americans to notice the present moment and imagine possible futures that not only support survival, but also bring prosperity and joy. It can be helpful to see how our ancestors and elders were able to stand up after all of their toughest times, and to imagine how the future of Asian American youth can be based on current choices of action and resistance to oppression. In addition to examining the history and triumphs of Asian Americans in the struggle for justice in the midst of oppression, we encourage exploration of other BIPOC movements and organizing efforts that have fostered change for the betterment and freedom of all.
The Psychological Framework of Radical Healing is helpful in understanding how Irene dealt with and recovered from her traumatic experience. By engaging in radical healing practices, Asian Americans can improve their mental well-being.
