Judy: This month marks 40 years
since the brutal killing of
Vincent Chen in a suburb of
Detroit the 27-year-old was
beaten to death by a baseball
bat from two men who were fined
and received no jail time.
Some are calling for justice in
his name in a movement among
Asian Americans.
Amna nawaz has a closer look at
the legacy of Vincent Chen in
our ongoing coverage of race
matters.
>> June 18 1982, Vincent Chen,
days away from his wedding, went
out to celebrate with friends in
Detroit.
Later, two white men attacked
Chen and beat him to death.
A documentary dove into his
story and was nominated for an
academy award.
It is getting a special airing
tonight.
>> It was a hot night in Detroit
and the men from the auto plants
were out for a night on the
town.
Somebody started a fight in
Vincent Chen was dead, his head
split open with a baseball bat.
Plex -- >> Was it racism or a
ballroom ball -- ballroom brawl?
>> It is not something you plan
on happening, but it happens.
>> I want justice for my son.
Thank you.
Amna: To mark 40 years since
Vincent chin's death, that
documentary will air tonight.
For more on what followed his
death and Asian American
identity today, I am joined by
an author.
She is a writer and resident at
amherst college.
Welcome back, thank you for
making the time.
There are a number of
remembrances and memorials in
his name, but to mark those 40
years, people are remembering
what happened that night.
It is a story the very much
resonates with millions of
people today.
Why is that, 40 years later?
Guest: Right now is one of the
worst times to be Asian or
asian-american in the U.S.,
demonstrated by the data we have
seen that since the onset of the
pandemic, over 11,000 incidents
of hate have occurred and been
reported in the last year and a
half.
That is the experiences of
Asians and Asian Americans.
Amna: Today Asian Americans are
the fastest growing demographic
group in America and the most
diverse in terms of ethnicity
and language.
Since the death of Vincent chin,
there was not a real Asian
American identity.
It is fair to say that the calls
for justice that followed helped
shape a community.
What should we understand about
that?
Guest: Asian American as a
political identity was formed
around his era.
I think after his terribly
tragic murder what ended up
happening was, people felt we
needed to become more important
and powerful.
That has occurred and it is a
dutiful legacy of a tragic
Amna: It is fascinating when you
look at historical footage, you
see people like that civil
rights icon we saw, and there
were also black civil rights
leaders who showed up with
Vincent chin's mother and called
for justice in his name.
What do we need to know about
how the Asian American call for
justice was built on black civil
rights?
Guest: All oppressed minorities
in this country have a debt to
African Americans that cannot be
understated.
When they took up their time and
energy and resources and
political intentions to support
to get justice for Vincent chin,
that is the reason why it became
more remembered.
An executor of his estate and
the memory has highlighted this
point.
It is so important for us to
recognize that, especially this
weekend.
Amna: You talked about how you
think it is a terrible time to
be Asian American right now.
You wrote a piece for the new
York Times called, Asian
Americans have always lived with
fear.
I wonder as you reflect back, is
the fear today the same as it
was 40 years ago at the time of
Vincent chin's death?
Guest: Ironically, Asians and
Asian Americans have faced great
hostility since their arrival in
this country.
That said, there have been
moments of great peace.
Since the pandemic, over two
years, we saw greater rise of
incidents of violence against
Asians and Asian Americans
because since the trump
administration and people who
supported his organization, have
often said the virus or the
pandemic came from China and
that became associated with
Asians and Asian Americans.
Unfortunately, Asian Americans
are seen as a monolith where we
don't have distinct ethnicity or
identity and are often
considered disease carriers and
stereotyped as foreigners.
Amna: 40 years marked from the
death of Vincent chin.
As we look back on everything
that happened in our community
and marginalized communities, if
there is a lesson that can, of
such a tragic event, what is
that?
Especially for the next
generation?
Guest: The greater
politicization of Asian
Americans and civic engagement
to support democracy is a
beautiful thing.
You don't want bad things to
happen to give attention to
voting, but if we can be more
engaged as good citizens in this
country, it is wonderful news
out of a tragedy.
Amna: The work you do in your
writing, you try to humanize
people, make sure you are
building ridges in your work.
Tell me about the importance of
that narrative work you do.
Guest: Within that story it is
possible for the reader and
writer to feel a greater sense
of identification with each
other.
When we find empathy we realize
Asians and Asian Americans are
not a mob, but individuals and
human beings.
We can feel empathy and sympathy
for human beings.
That is an important role of
storytelling and I hope to be
part of that.
Amna: Thank you so much for your
time.