In a year stained by Covid, I thought that I had seen it all in regards to Asian American hate. From attacks on the elderly in grocery stores to the Atlanta spa shootings, every day I was shocked to learn of new attacks on the AAPI community. But this past school year I learned that these occurrences started long before the devastating pandemic.
This Spring in my world studies class, during a unit about World War II, I learned for the first time about the Japanese internment camps that resulted after the attack on Pearl Harbor. During the lessons, I found myself filled with a medley of emotions: anger for the atrocities committed against people like me, sadness for their families, then anger again but now paired with embarrassment that I had not learned about it prior to that class. Consequently, I began to think of what other instances of anti-Asian violence I had failed to be informed of. When speaking with my fellow Asian American friends and classmates, there was a consensus that discussions about our cultures had been neglected in classrooms.
On July 9, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker of Illinois signed the Teaching Equitable Asian American Community History Act (TEAACH), a bill mandating the inclusion of Asian American History in the state’s public school curriculum. Set to begin during the 2022-2023 school year, this ensures that students like myself will have the opportunity to learn about important events in Asian American history early on.
From a young age, many Asian American children feel excluded as “true” American citizens, due to numerous reasons, a main one being the lack of knowledge and appreciation of their own history and culture in society. As their history begins to be recognized on greater scales, they can begin to overcome mistaken identities of being foreign and alien.
When attempting to create change for any type of minority community, it is essential to acknowledge and become aware of their oppression throughout history. This legislation is the first step towards building a greater sense of empathy, understanding, and inclusion within classrooms. Topics that are required to be taught include “the Asian Americans advancing civil rights and the contributions Asian Americans have made in government, the arts, sciences, economics and politics.” Along with the Japanese Internment camps, significant moments in American history such as the Chinese Exclusion Act, Transcontinental Railroad, and Gold Rush have left lasting impacts on the Asian American community. Once non-Asian students are also able to address the problems we face, people across various demographics can work together to rectify these social issues.
TEAACH is the first of many actions needed to be taken in order to combat Asian American prejudice and hate. Along with including Asian American history into school curriculums, this bill also highlights the importance of voting for representatives that will help movements like this, and properly elevate the voices of minorities. The TEAACH is a glimmering sign of hope and progress in our country, and hopefully will inspire other states to follow in Illinois’ footsteps.