Black and Chinese reporters round table – how to improve the coverage of each others’ communities?

Three fatal attacks on Chinese Americans, two of which allegedly involved Black assailants, have heightened the sense of fear and distrust in both communities. The divide has grown even deeper amid the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes, protests against police violence, and calls to defund the police. Negative stereotypes exist on both sides of the Black American Asian American divide.

What can ethnic media reporters do to avoid perpetuating the stereotypes? How can ethnic media journalists humanize each other’s communities?

Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media organized an editorial brainstorming session. Sandy Close (Ethnic Media Services) and Regina Brown Wilson (California Black Media) moderated the event.

Helen Zia, noted author and journalist, together with Paula Williams Madison, author and owner of Africa Channel, opened the session with an overview of the history of Black and Chinese relations.

Helen Zia, an activist for Asian American and LGBTQ rights, shared stories of growing up in New Jersey as a child of first-generation immigrants. She also spoke at length about the Civil Rights Movement.

Helen referenced an article “Success story: Japanese American style”, published by the Sunday New York Times in January 1966. Sociologist William Peterson, the article’s author, coined the term “model minority.” Peterson credited the successes of the Japanese Americans two decades after World War II to their work ethics and cultural and family values. It served to pit the Japanese (and all Asian) Americans against so-called “problem minorities.” The question Helen asked is “Better minority than who?” She considers this one of the first wedges between the Black and Asian American communities.

Likewise, she refuted claims that Black and Asian American communities never showed solidarity and shared two powerful images. The first was of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. wore a lei. Standing behind him were Asian Americans from Hawaii. They traveled to Alabama to support Dr. King and the Civil Rights Movement.

The other image was of Frederick Douglass and Wong Kim Ark. Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco to Chinese parents in the 19th century. In August of 1845. upon his return from China, Customs detained him and denied him entry into the United States. The government argued he was a Chinese subject born to Chinese parents, even though he was born in the United States. United States vs. Wong Kim Ark was a landmark decision by the Supreme Court. It ruled any child born to Chinese parents in the United States automatically becomes a US citizen at birth. Frederick Douglass (an abolitionist and social reformer) stood up for the rights of Chinese Americans.

Paula Williams Madison, the author of the book “Finding Samuel Lowe: China, Jamaica, Harlem”, spoke about her family’s history and her search to find out more about her maternal grandfather. In her memoir and debut novel, she traced her family’s lineage to Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Jamaica. Along the way, she found three hundred long-lost relatives. Paula spoke about the interconnectedness of the Chinese and Black community that goes back decades.

Both speakers referenced a new analysis that concluded the prevalent number of attackers on Asian Americans are white males.

Ethnic Media Services and California Black Media were awarded a small grant to provide fellowship for the journalists so they can work in pairs and report on stories that humanize each other’s communities. 16 participating journalists from Black and Chinese language media outlets brainstormed ideas to promote cross-racial exchange.