Even in racism there is racism in the US

The year 2021 is turning out to be a banner year for anti-Asian hate crimes in the United States. Even before the year is half over, anti-Asian hate crimes have already logged a 164% increase in that country's 16 largest cities, according to a new study by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University, San Bernardino.

A total of 95 anti-Asian hate crimes have been reported to the police in the first quarter of 2021, up from only 36 reported in the same period in 2020. The highest number was reported in New York with 42, up from only 13. San Francisco follows with 12 cases, up from five. Los Angeles came next, with nine hate crimes from five.

But do not be deceived by the terminologies here. Anti-Asian hate crimes do not necessarily cover the broad spectrum of Asians in America. Judging by the cases that have been reported, anti-Asian hate crimes more precisely refer to violence committed against the "brown" and "yellow" Asians, especially the "chinky-eyed" ones.

There has rarely been reported, if at all, any violent attacks committed against "white" Asians like Russians, or Iranians, or Israelis. In almost all cases the attacks were directed against the "yellow" Chinese and the "brown" Filipinos and Indians. So even in racism in America there is still racism in the subliminal level.

Why are Russians, Iranians or Israelis not getting attacked? Or for that matter the Armenians, Azeris, Georgians, Cypriots, and Saudis? Because they are generally "white" and more or less "look like us." The germ that is embedded in the American psyche and only needs a little stimulus to spring into life is primed against those who do not look "like us." No different from "he may be a sonofabitch, but at least he is our sonofabitch."

Such a stimulus may have been engendered and unleashed by Donald Trump in his demonization of China, especially with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic which the former American president blamed on the Chinese. But no amount of blaming and bashing can inspire and instigate violence against a people unless there is already that germ of hatred and racism just waiting to be awakened.

Racism and the subliminal racism that lies underneath it do not manifest themselves only in the abhorrent and despicable incidents like violence against a people. They are seen as well in the travesty that has befallen certain American institutions. One primary example is the Oscars. The Oscars is all about excellence in the craft of moviemaking. Excellence, not race, should be the sole measure for making it to the awards.

But no, certain influential "blacks" backed by influential "whites" who pretend to be even "blacker" have started making noise about the Oscars being "too white." And now they cannot hold the Oscars without including "blacks" among the nominees. The Oscars are now all about race, no longer about excellence.