The History of Asian American Hate and Discrimination in Education
By: Nick Dong
A rally to stand against AAPI hate in 2021 | Jason Redmond / AFP - Getty Images file
The history of Asian Americans in the US is one marked by perseverance and resilience in the face of systemic racism and discrimination. Despite the immense intellectual and societal contributions that Asian Americans have made, their experiences, particularly educational experiences, have been marred by prejudice, hate, and violence. For centuries, Asian American children have suffered from exclusion and physical, verbal, and racial bullying at educational institutions. Today, such hate remains ever more prevalent and non discriminant of age, traumatizing Asian American children from the early ages of elementary school.
Early Exclusion and Segregation
Chinese Exclusion Act | Bill of Rights Institute
The roots of discrimination against Asian Americans in education can be traced back to the mid-19th century, a time when large numbers of Chinese immigrants arrived in the United States to work on the transcontinental railroad and in other labor-intensive industries. Despite their work in dangerous jobs, these immigrants were met with hostility from the dominant white population, and denied paths to citizenship.
This animosity quickly translated into educational exclusion. In California, for instance, Chinese children were often barred from attending public schools, forcing communities to establish their own separate schools. One of the most infamous examples of this segregation was the 1885 case of Tape v. Hurley, where Mamie Tape, a Chinese American girl, was denied access to a public school in San Francisco solely based on her race. Although the California Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Tape family, mandating that she be allowed to attend, superintendent Andrew J. Modular urged the California State Legislature to pass a bill to create separate schools for those of Mongolian or Chinese descent. Later, all Asian children were barred from public schools if separate schools were established, perpetuating segregation.
The Tape Family | Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Japanese Americans faced similar discrimination, particularly in the early 20th century. In 1906, the San Francisco School Board attempted to segregate Japanese students by placing them in a separate "Oriental School" alongside Chinese children. The move sparked international outrage and led to diplomatic tensions between the United States and Japan. Although the policy was eventually reversed, the episode highlighted the pervasive anti-Asian sentiment in the education system.
The Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act
The Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, which effectively barred Chinese immigrants from entering the United States, had a profound impact on the Chinese American community and their access to education. The Act not only reinforced the notion that Chinese people were unwelcome in America, but it also severely restricted the opportunities available to those already living in the country. With immigration halted and anti-Chinese sentiment at an all-time high, many Chinese Americans were relegated to low-paying jobs and struggled to gain access to quality education.
This period also saw the rise of discriminatory practices in higher education. Asian American students were often subject to quotas and exclusionary policies at colleges and universities, limiting their ability to pursue higher education and advance professionally. These barriers persisted well into the 20th century, with some universities maintaining informal quotas on the number of Asian American students admitted.
Japanese American Internment and Its Educational Impact
Young Japanese American elementary students at an internment camp school |
National Archives and Records Administration
One of the darkest chapters in Asian American history occurred during World War II, when the U.S. government forcibly relocated and incarcerated approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans in internment camps. This mass incarceration had devastating effects on the Japanese American community, particularly in terms of education.
Many Japanese American students were forced to abandon their studies, with some being removed from their schools just weeks before graduation. While some efforts were made to provide education within the internment camps, the conditions were far from ideal. The quality of education was often poor, and students faced significant disruptions to their learning. For many Japanese American children, “their first educational experience was in a windowless barrack that would become unbearable as temperatures rose” (Sandhu-Longoria). Additionally, the trauma associated with internment had lasting effects on the educational and career opportunities available to Japanese Americans even after the war ended, and discrimination remained rampant in American institutions and society.
The Modern Hate and Discrimination in Educational Institutions
Students protesting after anti-Asian attacks at South Philadelphia High School in 2009 | Harvey Finkle
During the late twentieth and early twenty-first century, Asian Americans have made significant strides in education, with many achieving high levels of academic success. However, this success is met with continued hate and discrimination, where Asian Americans are “pushed, spat on, called names, and laughed at [for] their accents” and physical appearance (Sandhu-Longoria). Despite the growing number of anti-Asian incidents, schools fail to take the necessary steps to protect Asian students and often overlook the severity of such incidents.
On December 3rd, 2009, more than two dozen Asian students were attacked at South Philadelphia High School, or Southern, the culmination of racial tensions and negligence at the school. At Southern, Asian students were constantly harassed, both physically and verbally, “behavior that school staff tolerated and sometimes abetted” (Mezzacappa). Asian students recall going to school “for fear of taunts and attacks,” and would be ridiculed by the staff, and when instances were reported, the school took no action (Mezzacappa). In the wake of the attack, Asian students organized an eight day boycott, forcing action to be taken, and adoption of an anti-bullying policy. A landmark ruling in 2010 by the US Department of Justice found that Asian students’ rights had been violated, and the district “remain[ed] deliberately indifferent to severe and pervasive student harassment” (Mezzacappa). Since the ruling, districts across the US have adopted similar anti-bullying policies and have made greater efforts to protect Asian American students.
However, in recent years following the COVID-19 pandemic, the hate and discrimination in educational institutions has brought renewed attention to the challenges faced by Asian Americans in education. “COVID-19 reinvigorated a dormant strain of anti-Asian thought,” subjecting Asian American children to racist attacks, racial slurs, and constant harassment (Sandhu-Longoria). There has been a significant increase in Asian Americans experiencing bullying, where “80% of Asian Americans have experienced bullying” at some point in school (“80% of Asian”). Despite these findings, many districts across the US refuse to take action to protect Asian American students, allowing for this racial harassment to continue.
Conclusion
The history of Asian American hate and discrimination in education is a sobering reminder of the challenges that marginalized communities have faced in their pursuit of equality and opportunity. From early segregation and exclusion to the lasting impacts of wartime internment and present day harassment, Asian Americans have had to navigate a system that has often sought to limit their potential. As we reflect on this history, it is essential to recognize the resilience of Asian American communities and to continue working towards a more just and equitable educational landscape for all.
References:
“80% of Asian Americans Have Experiences Bullying, New Bullying Survey Finds.” Act To Change, 7 Apr. 2023, acttochange.org/press-release-bullying-report/.
“History of Anti-Asian Racism in the United States.” theSkimm, 18 Apr. 2022, www.theskimm.com/news/history-of-anti-asian-racism-in-the-united-states.
Mezzacappa, Dale. “Anti-Asian Attacks at a Philadelphia School Led to Landmark Ruling over a Decade Ago. Did Anything Change?” WHYY, WHYY, 6 Apr. 2021, whyy.org/articles/anti-asian-attacks-at-a-philadelphia-school-led-to-landmark-ruling-over-a-decade-ago-did-anything-change/.
Sandhu-Longoria, Amritpal Kaur. “Asian Students Face Racism, Harassment at School. What Would Make It Stop?” Center for Public Integrity, 16 May 2024, publicintegrity.org/inequality-poverty-opportunity/addressing-anti-asian-hate/asian-students-face-racism-harassment-at-school-what-would-make-it-stop/.
