Survey Finds 1 in 3 Asian Americans Report Being Targets of Hate

The State of Hate: Asian Americans Report Increase in Hate Crimes Despite National Perception

A recent survey conducted by Savanta Research has revealed a stark contrast in perceptions of hate crimes against Asian Americans. While most Americans believe that hate crimes against Asian Americans are decreasing, the reality is quite different. According to the survey, 1 in 3 Asian Americans reported being the subject of hate in the past year.

This finding is particularly concerning given that it has been four years since the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic. Despite anti-hate campaigns and assurances from elected officials, Asian Americans still feel like targets of discrimination and violence.

During Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May, Axios will delve deeper into the state of Asian Americans, exploring their accomplishments, obstacles, economic well-being, and efforts to preserve Asian American history.

The survey also highlighted the perception of hate crimes towards other minority groups, with Americans believing that hate has increased the most towards Black Americans (42%), followed by Asian Americans (33%) and Hispanic Americans (25%). However, the study showed that 61% of Asian Americans feel that hate towards them has actually increased.

Furthermore, the survey found that 41% of Asian Americans believe they are likely to be the victim of a physical attack in the next five years due to their race, ethnicity, or religion. Only 38% completely agree that they belong in the U.S., and just 18% feel completely accepted in the U.S. for their racial identity.

The rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans has been overshadowed by other forms of hate, such as rising antisemitism, anti-Arab American sentiment, and anti-Muslim incidents. This has led to a lack of focus on addressing the discrimination faced by Asian Americans.

Norman Chen, CEO of The Asian American Foundation, emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing hate crimes against Asian Americans, stating, “It’s not a competition of who gets attacked the most.” Chen highlighted the need to raise awareness about the discrimination faced by Asian Americans and other minority groups.

In the past year, almost 1 out of 3 Asian Americans reported being called a racial or ethnic slur or being physically threatened with violence due to their race, ethnicity, or religion. This number is even higher for certain subgroups, such as Asian Americans of Southeast Asian descent.

Experts believe that ignorance about Asian American history contributes to the persistence of hate crimes against Asian Americans. The survey revealed that most Americans struggle to name a famous Asian American, further underscoring the need for greater awareness and education about Asian American contributions to society.

Overall, the survey sheds light on the ongoing challenges faced by Asian Americans in the United States and the urgent need to address and combat hate crimes and discrimination against this community.