As the nation continues to grapple with issues of prejudices towards minorities and government brutality, many oriental Americans have taken to the streets to stand in solidarity with the African community. The 2014 shooting of defenseless Black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri sparked widespread protests and ignited a public debate about civil rights and policing.
Asians, like all people of color, have a stake in the fight for racial justice. While the oriental US experience is not identical to that of Black Americans, we still face our own forms of intolerance and oppression. By speaking out against injustice in Ferguson and beyond, Asian US citizens are taking a stand against all oppressions and gathering in solidarity with marginalized communities.
Whether through protests, donating to organizations that support Black citizens, or engaging in difficult conversations about race, there are many ways for eastern US citizens to get involved and make a difference. The time for action is now, and it is up to all of us to get together and fight for a more just and equitable society.
In the example of minority unity in US society, we can see our true desire for unity, not division. It is on the basis of mutual respect, empathy and equality that our modern society of spirituality and prosperity must be built.