Between Model Minorities and Perpetual Foreigners: The Impact of Rising Anti-Asian Hate Crimes on AAPI Communities in Kentucky (RPA Pilot / Seed Project)

This project aims to examine the impact of anti-Asian hate crimes on the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) communities in Kentucky. Following the tragedy of March 16th Atlanta shooting, which killed eight people including six women of Asian descent, mass protests against anti-AAPI hate crimes occurred at multiple cities across the nation. In Kentucky, on university campuses (e.g., UK, 3/24 and 4/28; Berea College 3/25) and in downtown in Louisville (3/21), Lexington (3/27), Henderson (5/24), AAPI community leaders expressed their fear and anger toward anti-AAPI hate crimes as well as their frustrations with being treated as either the model minority or perpetual foreigners. Situating this project in the social movement literature, the project asks two questions: How does the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes encourage/discourage political mobilization of AAPIs in Kentucky? How has the rise of anti-Asian hate crimes led to unity or division in the AAPI community, particularly between East and South Asians, in Kentucky? We will use three methods, including: (a) interviews of the key organizers of anti-AAPI hate rallies across Kentucky (Who organized?), (b) topic modeling, sentiment analysis, and rhetorical analysis of speeches, mass media coverages, and social media posts on AAPI community actions and organizing (How were the issues framed? Who spoke?), and (c) a survey with the members of AAPI advocacy organizations (What impact did these organizations and members observe?). In the pilot phase, we will primarily focus on AAPI organizations and leaders in Lexington for interviews and text analysis. In collaboration with AAPI leaders in Lexington, a survey instrument will be developed during the pilot phase which will be implemented in the next phase. Findings and lessons from this pilot research will be shared at the first Annual Asian and Asian-American Studies Symposium to be held in the beginning of May 2022.