It all started when a certain former president began labeling the coronavirus as the “China Virus.” What followed was a troubling surge in hate crimes against East Asian individuals. The pandemic was already a source of fear, but the subsequent violent attacks on Asian communities were devastating. In every public statement made by the former president regarding the virus, there was a pointed reference to Chinese or Asian people. Since March, the U.S. has witnessed a staggering 150% increase in hate crimes against Asians, particularly in cities like New York and Los Angeles, though the issue extends beyond those locations. This rise in hate can be traced back to the careless rhetoric of one misinformed leader.
Now, some scientists continue to perpetuate racism by naming various strains of the virus after their places of origin, opting for terms like the “Brazilian strain” or the “African variant” instead of using more scientific names such as SARS-CoV-2. This language reinforces the narrative that blames entire ethnic groups for the pandemic.
When we encounter labels like “the Brazilian strain” or “China variant,” they can trigger latent biases within us. According to the World Economic Forum, human brains are wired to make quick judgments, which often leads to unconscious biases. Repeated exposure to terms that associate diseases with specific nationalities may lead us to generalize negative feelings toward entire ethnic groups, unfairly attributing blame for our struggles to them.
The virus, known as SARS-CoV-2, does not discriminate, and we should not either. Our lives are already at stake due to the pandemic, and using terms like “the Brazilian variant” or “the U.K. variant” only fosters division and encourages us to isolate from those who are different. The organization Lean In points out that “affinity bias” causes us to gravitate toward those who resemble us in appearance and beliefs, potentially leading us to alienate others.
This is particularly evident within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Researcher Samir Patel, a leading voice on this issue, noted in an interview that the former president’s language helped establish a harmful narrative. The way he frequently used social media and public speaking platforms to shape this narrative undoubtedly contributed to the rise in hate against Asian Americans as COVID-19 cases surged in March 2020.
Racial bias, whether explicit or implicit, is harmful regardless of its delivery, and we must confront and challenge these attitudes. The culture of silence surrounding racism must end. If anything, the former president’s rhetoric has forced us to acknowledge the existence of hatred.
We all have the ability to combat this issue, beginning with our choice of words. What we say holds power.
In February 2020, a college student named Leo Chen from Singapore was brutally attacked in London. His assailants yelled that they didn’t want the virus in their country. Leo poignantly responded on social media, sharing a picture of his injuries: “Racism is not stupidity — it’s hate. Racists will always find excuses to justify their prejudice, and in this time of the coronavirus, they’ve found yet another scapegoat.” He is absolutely correct.
To eliminate the stigma associated with the coronavirus, we need to refer to it by its scientific name and refrain from linking it to specific countries. Let’s call it what it is: a disease that affects everyone, irrespective of race or ethnicity. For further insights into home insemination and fertility, check out this other blog post and consider visiting Make A Mom for authoritative information.
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In summary, the language we use is crucial in shaping perceptions and attitudes toward different communities. Using terms that link diseases to specific regions fosters discrimination and hatred. Instead, we should focus on scientific terminology that emphasizes the collective struggle against the virus, ensuring we do not unfairly blame any group of people.
Keyphrase: “racism and the coronavirus”
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