The mantra “Yellow Peril Stand With Black Power” is a powerful statement that signified the unity between the African American and Asian communities during the American civil rights movement. But while Black Power is a commonly taught topic in history classes across the USA, the term Yellow Peril is much more obscure. It is nonetheless important to acknowledge the hardships Asians have faced. So, what is the meaning and history behind the term “yellow peril?”
The Yellow Peril originated in the late 19th century as a term to represent anti-Asian fear throughout the Western world. This fear continued throughout much of the twentieth century, appearing in many mediums like art, television, movies, and books. Racist cartoons depicted Asians as people with large heads and small eyes who would “steal American women” and rape and plunder indiscriminantly, or sometimes even as monkeys. Books like “Dr. Fu Manchu\’\’ and “Yellow Peril: The Adventures of Sir John Weymouth Smythe\’\’ published during the 20th century further developed this stereotype. Asians were painted as the “other” in American society, with Asian men being feminized and vilified, while Asian women were hypersexualized and fetishized. This xenophobic and hateful media portrayal has created the stereotypes that, to this day, still have negative impacts on Asian Americans in American society.
Yellow Peril was not just unique to America. Other Western countries like Britain, Germany, and even New Zealand have utilized this fear of the “other.” The Boxer Rebellion of 1900 helped to cement these fears, with the dictator Kaiser Wilhelm comparing the Chinese to apes and monkeys in an attempt to raise support for an invasion of China. His racist “Hunnenrede” speech suggested that they were morally justified to raze Beijing: “When you come before the enemy, you must defeat him, pardon will not be given, prisoners will not be taken! Whoever falls into your hands will fall to your sword! Just as a thousand years ago the Huns, under their King Attila, made a name for themselves with their ferocity, which tradition still recalls; so may the name of Germany become known in China in such a way that no Chinaman will ever dare look a German in the eye, even with a squint!” Kaiser Wilhelm’s tirade was so offensive that even German newspapers had to censor it in order to protect the public image of Germany. On a similar level, Opium Wars led Britain to view China as an expansionist force in the East filled with morally ambiguous and depraved peoples. Historically, these Western countries used propaganda filled with xenophobia and racism to justify their actions towards Asians as well as to expand their own power.
The effects of Yellow Peril have been serious and can still be felt today. The longstanding stereotypes that came from it (like the feminine Asian man, the hypersexual Asian woman) continue to affect people in the Asian community, and the COVID-19 pandemic has reignited fears about Asian Americans, with people going so far as to beat, harass, and even kill Asian Americans solely because of their race. This dehumanization is nothing new, but it will become a serious problem once more if it is not addressed.
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