Racism/Intolerance

2020 will be remembered not only for COVID-19, but also the growing movement to stop racism. Asian Americans experienced a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes from those who blamed them for the coronavirus. Images reflected fear or the difficulty of safely celebrating being Asian American. Others remembered historical racism: the incarceration of Japanese Americans because of EO9066, or having to hear racist jokes while fighting in the war in Vietnam. There were reminders that intolerance and insensitivity takes many forms, including seeing those with limited lung capacity as being less worthy of saving, over those without chronic conditions. The killing of George Floyd and the ongoing killing of innocent Black lives added fuel to supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. There were images responding to institutional and systemic racism, police violence, and the disproportionately negative impact on Black communities.