Anti-Asian Racism and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada

The outbreak of COVID-19 led to an alarming increase in assaults and discrimination against individuals of Asian descent in many countries, including Canada. A shadow pandemic of racism affected mental health, interracial relationships, and the representation of Asians in a variety of ways. Anti-Asian Racism and the COVID-19 Pandemic in Canada is a comprehensive exploration of the underlying causes, implications, and responses to this resurgence of racism. While the earlier epidemics of SARS and H1N1 led to an increase in anti-Asian sentiment, the racism prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic was particularly severe. The "yellow peril" trope that originated in late-nineteenth-century public discourse was redeployed to defame Asians as an existential threat to the West. Even after the pandemic, Asian Canadians have continued to face COVID-19-related socio-economic and racial discrimination. The multidisciplinary contributors to this book employ historical analysis and empirical research to examine the rise in anti-Asian racism and to explore the strategies Asian communities have used to defend themselves and build solidarity. This work is essential to supporting the goals of combatting racial injustice and building an equitable society.