The Minority Report Revisited: Standing with Asian-Owned Businesses Amidst Rising Hate

“I get the worst compliments all the time. ‘Oh you’re Asian? I love orange chicken.” — Jo Koy

Five years ago, the release and subsequent success of the movie Crazy Rich Asians marked what seemed like a new chapter for the Asian American community. As the highest-grossing romantic comedy in a decade and the sixth highest ever, it appeared to signal greater recognition for Asians not just in Hollywood, but in society at large.

This sentiment was further underscored when the movie Everything Everywhere All At Once took home nearly every Oscar it was nominated for this year. Many viewed this as another critical turning point, one that could herald equal opportunities for Asian Americans and foster a more Asian-inclusive American culture.

However, recent events tell a different story. The Allen Mall shooting in Texas, the anti-Asian slur from Georgia lineman Jamaal Jarrett, and even bipartisan efforts to ban TikTok underscore a reality that contrasts with these strides.

The surge in anti-Asian sentiment, fanned by the COVID-19 pandemic and certain political figures who referred to the virus as the “China virus” or “Kung Flu,” has both unmasked and intensified anti-Asian xenophobia and racism. Yet, these issues are not new…