“Yellow Peril” and Anti-Asian Prejudice in the Shadow of Coronavirus

Since the COVID-19 (popularized as simply “coronavirus”) outbreak began spreading from Wuhan, China in December 2019, anti-Asian prejudice has become painfully visible in daily life, echoing the “Yellow Peril” rhetoric of the 19th century. News and social media are bursting with cruel jokes and misinformation about Asians—from mocking what they eat to assuming that they are agents of contagion. These stereotypes are not only offensive and hurtful; they perpetuate underlying institutionalized racism and xenophobia. This panel will discuss recent episodes of anti-Asian prejudice in historical perspective, and debate how the global coronavirus scare is impacting the conversation.

Panelists:

Barbara Lee, Founder and President at Point Made Learning

Heidi Kim, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, UNC Chapel Hill

Moderator: Sophie Bao-Chieu To, PhD Student, Gillings School of Global Public Health

Co-sponsors: Carolina Asia Center and the Hussman School of Journalism and Media