“The Real” co-host Jeannie Mai is using her platform to draw attention to the wave of violence and racism directed at the Asian American community since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The surge in attacks against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community has been extremely disturbing, with communities across the country seeing a significant rise over the past year. Jeannie Mai has had enough and is taking action by sharing her own personal experiences and also revealing where help is needed.
“Racism has no hierarchy! COVID-19 and the hateful rhetoric of Donald Trump have catalyzed a surge in anti-Asian violence,” Jannie Mai declared to her over 2 million Instagram followers.
She continued, “Fighting racism against Asians is deeply tied to the social justice we are fighting for through George Floyd, Atatinia Jefferson, Botham Jean, Breonna Taylor and the countless Black bodies that have fallen victim to hate because racism has no hierarchy!”
The former “Dancing with the Stars” contestant has been vocal about standing up for minorities in the past and continues to try and purge the hate from our world.
Sharing some of her own childhood experiences of racism and violence towards Asian Americans, Jeannie Mai explained:
“‘Go home chinks,’ was spray painted across my aunt’s car when I was a kid. We had just walked out of my house because she was giving me a ride to school. She asked me what those words meant. I felt embarrassment and shame. I didn’t want her to feel what I was feeling. I have now realized that over time I’ve accepted these racist remarks because, as a first generation immigrant in America, I thought I had to accept the good (freedom) with the bad (racism). These times have taught me to unlearn.”
Jeannie Mai revealed that she will be participating in a Clubhouse talk on Sunday evening with other prominent members of the Asian American community in Hollywood and politics. The list of celebrities attending includes; Daniel Dae Kim, Andrew Yang, Daniel Wu and Lisa Ling.
“The transparency of America’s racism and social injustice reflect the country’s denial of basic human rights for People of Color. We need to work together- we have the same goal in becoming anti-racist and dismantling white supremacy,” Mai declared on social media.
