From Personal to Collective: Asian American Counter-Narratives in the COVID-19 Era

Abstract: This essay examines how Asian Americans have confronted anti-Asian racism during and after COVID-19. Using autoethnographic methods and analysis of online discourse, it argues that the pandemic experiences enabled many Asian individuals to redefine their sense of being Asian from an individual racial category to a political identity. The heightened anti-Asian sentiment reinforced stereotypes of Asians as "perpetual foreigners" and "multicultural others." Ironically, this atmosphere fostered stronger coalitions within pan-Asian communities. The study highlights the creation of counter-narratives within Asian communities that advocate for racial justice and how shared experiences of discrimination on online platforms foster unity within marginalized communities.