The COVID-19 pandemic has fueled stigmatizing rhetoric and racially targeted violence against Asian Americans. According to a new study from the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at Cal State University San Bernardino, Anti‐Asian Hate Crimes in United State's largest cities have increased by 164 percent.
This attack on Asian Americans is not new. The United States has a long a history of anti-Asian racism and violence, but the Asian American story has been erased and forgotten.
However, on July 9th, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker signed the Teaching Equitable Asian American History Act making Illinois the first state to mandate Asian American history in public schools. Starting the 2022-2023 school year, Illinois public schools will be required to add "events of Asian American history" unit to their curriculum.
This bill will require the curriculum to include:
history of Asian Americans in Illinois and the Midwest
contributions of Asian Americans toward advancing civil rights from the 19th century onward
contributions of Asian American communities to the economic, cultural, social, and political development of the United States
According to the bill, "each school board shall itself determine the minimum amount of instructional time that qualifies as a unit of instruction satisfying the requirements of this Section". Sociology professor Natasha Warikoo, a scholar of racial and ethnic inequality in education at Tufts University, explains that while it is a monumental achievement, the TEAACH Act is in the hands of the educators and the community to ensure its effectiveness and impact. For instance, schools providing teachers proper training and resources to be able teach their students.
Many other states throughout the country are also pushing for inclusion of AAPI studies. In March, California State Board of Education approved a voluntary model curriculum for ethnic studies which included instructions for teaching Asian American history. In New Jersey, an AAPI Curricula Bill has been introduced by State Senator Vin Gopal as Senate bill S4021. Teaching Asian American history is a pivotal first step in reducing stigma, breaking down racial ideology and creating a more inclusive and accepting society.