Besea.n Tag

Side note: I’ve been updating this post over the past couple of days as I’ve found more and more articles related to violence against ESEA people.

Hi All, hope you’re having a restful Easter break however that may look. Myself and Ivy are raising funds for anti-Asian discrimination, especially during this current climate there has been an increase in violent attacks against Asians here in the UK and in the US. It’s really sickening to hear that people are getting beaten up in broad daylight and in public as well.

I have already posted this on my Facebook page, so I’m just going to copy and paste what I wrote on their as it pretty much sums up what we’re doing.

In light of the recent events against East and South East Asians here in the UK, and in the US, we are doing a fundraiser for a community that has been violently attacked throughout the pandemic.

We are raising funds for Besea.n and DCLC Doncaster Central Learning Centre, the donation will be split 50:50 between the two organisations. I’ve worked with Lai before and a while back I ran an Etsy training course for those accessing the service who want to gain some digital skills.

I came across Besea.n via Instagram not so long ago and everything that they do really resonates what was missing until now in terms of providing a platform and voice for ESEA people and marginalised groups. They are a small network of individuals whose aims are to raise awareness and to challenge the misrepresentations of ESEA people and marginalised groups within the media. You can find their mission statement here for more of what they do.

DCLC do an incredible job for the local community as they provide a link for users to access different types of services within the area. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, a lot of their workshops have had to stop. Hopefully, once things return to some sort of normality they will be up and running again. They serve a lot to the Asian and BAME community; my parents for instance were doing some volunteering work for Lai and my mum was taking part in a textile project- something I don’t think she would’ve done if it wasn’t for Lai and my auntie.

ESEA communities are also mis and underrepresented in the media. In the midst of the outbreak, the media were constantly using images of ESEA alongside with their articles- therefore perpetuating and reinforcing the idea that it is/was a ‘Chinese virus’. Even Trump used racist language throughout it. My mum has shared some stories with me about her friends experiencing racism during this time. It is honestly quite shocking to say the least.

Everyday racism exists and is coupled with sexism especially if you are a woman. I experienced this back in January, broad daylight in the early afternoon. A man asked me where I was originally from/did I have a BF and he said my husband was a ‘very lucky man’.

What can we do about it? We need to have an open dialogue about the continuing closed discussion about racism and stigma ESEA face. Do you think it’s okay if your mate asks if you want to ‘order from the Chinky?’ Do you say anything or leave it? To me being British-Born Chinese, it’s casual racism and the language people still use today makes my blood boil. Please, don’t even say ‘well, we used to say it back in the day’.

There is always light at the end of the dark tunnel. Let the positivity and love shine through, we need to stick together and stand up against racism.

For more information about Besea.n and Doncaster Central for Learning, please see below:

Besea.n on Twitter and Instagram @besea.n

Doncaster Central for Learning on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.