Attacks against Asian Students in Philly School

On December 3, 2009, twenty-six Asian students at South Philadelphia High School were assaulted both inside and outside the school by a large group consisting mostly of African Americans, Philly.com reports. Some people, including Superintendent Arlene Ackerman, suggest the attacks were in retaliation to an assault that took place the previous day when “two Asian students beat up an African-American student after school near a drugstore,” Education Week states. Seven students went to the hospital to seek medical treatment. The Associated Press writes, “Asian students at South Philadelphia High School say two off-campus fights and a lunchroom attack left them feeling unsafe and helpless, in part because they say school security guards often turn a blind eye.” These attacks stem from “a long history of intolerance, assaults and racial slurs targeting Asian students at South Philadelphia High School,” Education Week reports. Executive director of Asian Americans United, Ellen Somekawa, quoted a Vietnamese student: “ ‘As soon as we open our mouths and speak, they treat us like we’re animals.’ . . . ‘Where are you from?’ ‘Hey, Chinese.’ ‘Yo Dragon Ball.’ ‘Are you Bruce Lee?’ ‘Speak English.’ ” The student was referring to comments made by adult staff at the high school—staff who let the attacks happen. About 50 Asian students boycotted classes for a week, and protesters carried signs with such poignant messages as “Grown-ups Let Us Down” and “It’s Not a Question of Who Beat Whom, but WHO LET IT HAPPEN.” As quoted in an article by Philly.com, President of Black Men at Penn Chad Dion Lassiter said “in a society in which immigrants are seen as the ‘other’ . . . prejudice is ‘deeply rooted’ and ‘then we act out aggressively against something we don’t understand.’ ”