Skip to content

Letter: Don’t paint everyone in Richmond with the same brush

A Richmond News reader took exception to the suggestion that the Asian community in Richmond was anti-Black
Anti-racism sign

Dear Editor,

Re: ”More racism faced here than anywhere,” News, April 28.

As an Asian person, I feel for the Black people and the Black community in Canada and in the U.S. because we have a shared history of being oppressed by colonial powers, being enslaved and discrimination.

During the civil rights movement in the U.S., there was a time when “Yellow Power” and “Black Power” were united, but apparently disagreements arose, and this opportunity to bridge the Black and Asian communities failed.

The notion the community as a whole is anti-Black is dangerous as it paints a picture of an evil Fu Manchu-like caricature lurking in the background committing all manners of evil.

Let’s take a look at the statement “Micro aggressions are most common... the look, the attitude, and the body language.”

These are very non-specific. Many things could have caused a “Look, attitude, or body language” which appeared to offend the complainant.

As a disabled Asian person who has lived in this community for their entire life, I have to say that I have experienced much worse than micro-aggressions.

Alvin Lee

RICHMOND