WHY REMEMBER VINCENT CHIN?

Forty years ago, a young Chinese American named Vincent Chin was killed in a climate of intense anti-Asian hate. It was a time, much like today, when hostility and blame were directed against China and to all people who looked Asian—South Asians as well as East Asians. In the 1980s, the hateful anti-Asian rhetoric was aimed at Japan. From the halls of congress to the C-suites and union halls, anyone who looked Japanese or Asian was a moving target. In those years, an oil crisis contributed to a nationwide recession and the collapse of the auto industry and the manufacturing sector of America, with Detroit as the epicenter. Japanese-made fuel-efficient cars were vilified. Notably, German-made cars and people who looked European were not targeted in the same way. Today, the COVID pandemic, global economic turmoil and other societal ills are blamed on China, often with overtly racial overtones. Some irresponsible pundits even scapegoat China for Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for the oil shortages that may worsen the economy—claims that continue to fuel attacks against Asians and Asian Americans. Too many Asian Americans today have been harmed, and even killed, during this most recent wave of hate. Vulnerable seniors, women and girls have been the most often targeted. Mass and individual murders are aimed at Asians of all ethnicities, religions, and skin tones of yellow and brown. These racial attacks happen at work, on streets and public transportation, in parks and shops, and even cases where Asian Americans are stalked in their own homes and apartment buildings. We remember their names. Just since 2020: in Atlanta: Daoyou Feng, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Paul Andre Michels, Soon Chung Park, Xiaojie Tan, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Yong Ae Yue; Indianapolis: Amarjeet Johal, Jaswinder Singh, Amarjit Sekhon, Jaswinder Kaur; NYC: Michelle Go, Christine Yuna Lee, GuiYing Ma, Yao Pan Ma; Albuquerque: Mary Ye, Sihui Fang; Elders: Vicha Rattanapakdee, Yik Oi Huang, Pak Ho; by police: Soobleej Kaub Hawj. And too many others whose names did not become national news. In this time of continued anti-Asian violence, we remember Vincent Chin and the national climate of racism and hate that fueled two white autoworkers to beat him to death with a baseball bat. He was not the first Asian American, and clearly not the last, to be killed in such anti-Asian times. We remember his name because of a community of people who were moved to stand up and speak up; because of journalists and filmmakers who amplified the voices of a small and spontaneous group of committed activists; because of attorneys and academics, waiters, cooks and laundry workers; because of scientists, engineers and factory workers; grandparents and babies in strollers. Because of non-Asian allies from all walks of life who reached out in the cause of justice to lift up our fledgling pan-Asian movement. We must rededicate ourselves to the righteous outrage and activist spirit that moved Asian Americans across the nation to step from the shadows of invisibility to demand justice 40 years ago. In the 80s, Asian Americans were energized to fight racial inequality and to stand up for fair treatment. We organized our disconnected Asian ethnicities to

join together at the grassroots level for the first time in our history. With our rising voices, we reached out to build solidarity with other people of color and people of conscience. Out of that solidarity sprang newer generations of activists. They in turn created a network of essential advocacy and service groups—in myriad Asian languages and cultures—to address the complex and changing needs of the Asian American immigrant experience in America over these past four decades. In remembering Vincent, we pay homage to the courage of his dear mother Lily, who steeled herself to speak through her grief in the spirit of Mamie Till, who exposed the ugly face of the racism that killed her son Emmett. Lily Chin told all how Vincent’s killers beat her son “worse than they’d treat an animal,” and asked everyone who’d listen to fight for justice so no other mother would have to lose a child from hate and violence. Her brave moral leadership inspired other Asian Americans to create and lead a new civil rights movement, with Detroit as its epicenter. Inspired by Lily Chin’s example, in 1983 the newly formed American Citizens for Justice (ACJ), adopted these founding principles: » When the rights of one individual are violated, all of society suffers. » ACJ will work toward eradicating racism in any form, especially against Asian Americans. » It is counterproductive and unconscionable to permit racism to exist in American society. » ACJ feels that attitudes and stereotypes regarding any individual’s race, sex, religion, color, or national origin go against the very principles of equality and justice guaranteed to all Americans. » Through its efforts on the Vincent Chin case, the ACJ hopes to promote unity among various ethnic groups; increase understanding of the Asian American community in Detroit and across the nation; and to build and maintain lasting relations with all groups of people. None of the activists from that movement-building time ever imagined that our guiding principles and efforts would be of interest forty years later—or that the lessons drawn from speaking out, organizing and building solidarity would resonate in today’s tsunami of anti-Asian scapegoating and violence. These are all reasons why we remember Vincent Chin and why we rededicate ourselves to the legacy of fighting for racial justice and for the full humanity of all people. This photo of Vincent Chin is closer in age to the time he was attacked. Please be respectful and use this and others in this guide. The photo of Vincent with glasses is from early high school and does not reflect what he looked like as a grown man.

Guides to support conversations about Vincent Chin

This article and others in this guide, provide conversation questions to spark dialogue with your peers, students, family, friends or community. Our aim for these questions is to build connections with people about how the story of Vincent Chin is critical for the civil rights of Asian American communities and all communities of color in the United States today.

Conversation Questions

» What is the importance of remembering people who have passed and the times in which they lived? » Who are the people that you remember? How do you honor their legacies? » Why is it important for communities to remember, and honor the legacies, of people like Vincent Chin?