Veteran journalist JuJu Chang has spent years reporting on the lives of marginalized, less visible society members, but the Covid-19 pandemic pushed those people into the forefront, through a surge of hatred and attacks against minorities, particularly Asian-Americans.
Chang, a Korean-American who is the co-anchor of ABC News’ Nightline, told an audience of students, faculty and staff on April 12 that covering the pandemic gave her a first-hand view of the disparities caused by race and income in the U.S. Her presentation was co-sponsored by the Office of Student Activities and the campus’ mental health initiative.
“Brown or black people are twice as likely to die from Covid-19; and many essential workers did not choose those professions, but just needed a way to feed their families,” Chang noted. “Many (who caught Covid-19) had pre-existing conditions related to poverty.”
With anti-Asian rhetoric coming from the highest level of government at the beginning of the pandemic, such as references to Covid-19 as Wuhan flu or the Chinese virus, violence against Asian-Americans skyrocketed. Chang, who has spent years working with the Korean community in New York City and is a founding board member of the Korean American Community Foundation, prepared an hour-long program for ABC in 2021 about attacks on the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community called Stop The Hate: The Rise In Violence Against Asian Americans.
“When you weaponize fear, people act out,” Chang said. “When hate is churned up, stereotypes surface. Stereotypes pit minorities against each other.”
Even positive stereotypes such as Asians are the “model minority” actual carry a lot of prejudice, she added. About 18 percent of Asian-Americans in New York City live in poverty, but often they don’t receive the help other groups do, Chang said. “It (the perception) renders invisible the members of the Asian community.”
Last year, she also anchored an ABC News 20/20 special Murder In Atlanta, following shootings at three massage parlors in Atlanta in March 2021, at which eight people were killed, six of them Asian women. “The idea that they were invisible immigrants was shattered,” Chang said. The accused shooter said he attacked the women because of frustration over a sex addiction, not because they were Asian, but many in the Asian community, including at least one family member of a deceased woman, disputed that.
Outrage was churned up as well. In the middle of the pandemic upheaval, George Floyd, a black man in Minneapolis, was killed May 25, 2020 when a white police officer kneeled on his neck during an arrest. People of all races participated in marches and protests across the country and world. “I covered many of those protests and marches, and they looked like America,” according to Chang.
Her awareness and story-telling skills developed as a young child, experiencing bigotry in their California community, she said. The family emigrated from South Korea when Chang was 4.
“I grew up listening to comments that my family talked funny, our food smelled funny and we looked funny,” she said. “When I saw my father being mistreated, it honed my superpower, which is empathy.”
Chang added she hated when people asked her where she was from or commented that she spoke English very well. “I would say, ‘Thanks, so do you.’”
She urged those in the audience to combat prejudice by not walking by anyone who could be invisible, connecting with different people on an interpersonal level, and investing time in organizations that can make a difference.
Diversifying society also reduces awareness of differences. “Representation matters, because it gives you permission to dream,” she added.
Chang’s accomplishments and message impressed many in the audience. “It was a terrific talk and I’m pleased with the student turn-out and questions,” said university President Dr. John S. Nader. “She is a very engaging speaker and engaged the students.”
“She is a great story-teller, and inspires us to do more,” added senior Moyo Onasoga of North Babylon, a member of the student senate.
Student government President Jake Iaccino, a junior from Huntington, said he especially appreciated Chang’s references to ensuring visibility and representation for everyone and how they really matter.
When it comes to reversing the tide of hate, there are no easy answers, Chang noted. “Hate gives rise to outrage. People who do these things (hate crimes) often are feeling outrage.” If the response to violent acts is too severe, she added, it could lead to more violence. While some people think a much larger police presence could remedy the situation, others think only long-term measures such as efforts to reduce poverty and improved access to health care and affordable housing are the solution.
Senior Alex Colban of Seaford, said Chang’s words were just the inspiration she needed to tackle an upcoming job interview. “I thought she was phenomenal and empowering,” said Colban. “It’s important to have someone with her power, strength, and confidence speak so we can see we can be just as powerful as she is.”
