Fear from Xenophobia as a Chinese American

Start Talking SJU is a social media impact campaign that encourages members of the Saint Joseph’s University community to engage each other by discussing difficult, yet important topics, that are vital for a healthy, open, inclusive campus. Our current topic is Living in Fear, Striving for Hope.

More videos like this one on the topic of Living in Fear, Striking for Hope in 2020 can be found at http://livinginfear.starttalkingsju.com. You can also see our prior campaigns: Attacked (http://attacked.starttalkingsju.com), Belonging (http://belonging.starttalking.com), and Mental Health (http://mentalhealth.starttalking.com).

This video was co-created with the person depicted and/or represented in a story read by another. All persons reviewed and signed consent forms granting permission to share this story online. 

f you are experiencing any personal or social effects due to fear on or off campus, the university has resources that can help, including:

The Office of Student Outreach and Support (https://sites.sju.edu/sos/); the SJU COVID website (https://www.sju.edu/hawk-hill-ready); if you are experiencing food insecurity, HawkHub (https://clubs.sju.edu/hawkhubclub); The Bias Activity Review Group, which connects to Public Safety (https://sites.sju.edu/oid/bias/); CAPS (610-660-1090); TitleIX titleIX@sju.edu; REPP (*confidential support) 610-733-9650 (24 hr. Peer Helpline); or SJU Public Safety 610-660-1111.

“I mean all my life I kind of been dealing with some sorts of racism. Kind of just jokes here and there that people think are funny. And like, there’s no harm intended usually its just racial jokes. Ever since the Corona Virus started, it was kind of like tough I guess.  Walking around in, not really necessarily at SJU but at home.I definitely dealt with a lot of racial comments. People telling me like don’t give them anything.  They see me in the stores during like especially the peak of the virus, where people would like make comments towards me. And actually be like very racist towards me and not even in a joking way. It’s in a way that was hurtful and they seemed sacred of me for being just Chinese. I am actually a food marketing major right now and I have a few interviews set up. And I’m hoping to, there is this one company I am looking at is Hannaford. to their supermarkets. So that is something I am really looking forward too.”