WEB EXCLUSIVE

While Covid-19 is now well-known throughout the country, back when the news of this deadly virus was first spreading, President Donald Trump referred to the virus as the “Chinese Virus.” This put a large target on the back of Asian Americans.

I feel that calling the coronavirus the “Chinese Virus” is racist. In the time of a world-wide pandemic, this is not the time to pin the blame on any race, especially on Asian Americans who still face discrimination in their daily lives. The leader of the free world should know better.

“He’s fueling these anti-Chinese sentiments among Americans … not caring that the people who will truly suffer the most are Chinese Americans and other Asian Americans, his citizens whom he’s supposed to protect,” said Charissa Cheah, a psychology professor at the University of Maryland Baltimore County.

President Trump is exploiting his political power to influence the American citizens that watch the news or listen to his speeches; even those that don’t agree with him are still being influenced by his wording, unconsciously thinking of the virus as the “Chinese Virus:” The persuasive appeal ethos often leads people to believe certain things that come from people that are credited or in a high position of power.

However, using this type of language is damaging to Asian Americans as they now have to face even more discrimination. There have been reports in the news of people spitting and yelling at Asian Americans and blaming them for the deadly virus when they have nothing to do with it.

Calling this virus “Chinese” is creating a more dangerous situation than we’re already in. It generalizes Asian Americans and labels them as diseased and dangerous, which is not something anyone should be doing in a time of national crisis.

According to the Washington Post, “its usage could lead to increased discrimination and racism toward Asian Americans — a marginalized group with a long history of being scapegoated amid public health crises.”

Call this disease what it is: Covid-19 or coronavirus. Don’t allow yourself to play into harmful negative stereotypes.