Tag Archives: Empathy

Should Black People Feel Sorry For Asians?

The Covid-19 pandemic is known to have originated in China. Ever since this revelation, Asians of all nationalities have been experiencing various levels of hatred from other races because as we all know, it doesn’t take much to revert human nature from friendliness to animosity and of course, there is no race more malicious than Caucasians. So, now that Asians are feeling the pain of white hatred, should we as Black people feel sorry for Asians?

Hatred against Asians has risen a thousand-fold in the past year. Most Asians are not Chinese but since hatred and ignorance are directly related, all Asians are being scapegoated for causing the pandemic, which has transformed the social and economic order of every society on Earth. Verbal abuse and physical assaults against Asians in America turned deadly this past week as six Asian women were shot and killed by a white man in Atlanta.  

Asians are now crying out all over Social media and many have taken to marching in the streets to protest against racism. For a seemingly passive race of people, they sure have woken up to the reality that racism is not something to ignore or partake in. Although they have experienced severe racism at the hands of white people before, they have chosen to blend into every white community like Chameleons and support racist economic and political policies that disenfranchise Black people.

Asians have also blended into many Black and African countries where they are known to engage in exploitative and unethical business practices. In China last year, thousands of Black and African people were deported when false rumors began to spread that Black people were disease carriers. We know that not all Asians are bad but isn’t it funny how the tables have turned against them and now they are getting a taste of the hate that Black people have had to endure from them and other races.   

Our conscience dictates that we should sympathize and empathize with anyone who is experiencing injustice. Most people believe that their conscience is being influenced by their god, therefore they will allow themselves to express empathy according to their religion, which is totally wrong because as we all know, many atrocities are being carried out in the name of religion. True empathy cannot be selective.

For example; many Asians are Christians yet those who are expressing hatred towards them are also Christians. So, where is the disconnect? The disconnect exists due to the main flaw of religion, which is the encouraging of a competition to become the most righteous in the eyes of our various gods. Some races believe that they are righteous by default and some believe that the ability to endure pain is a golden pass in the competition. It is a crown of thorns.

Either way, the pain of victim-hood is too physically and mentally severe to endure so most people will cry out in despair and forget their religious illusions. Black people have been experiencing physical and psychological pain at the hands of other races for so long that most of us have become numb and indifferent to our own pain and the pain of others. Those of us who are sworn Christians have fully adopted the principle of forgiveness by believing that pain is a thorny crown of purification.

Do I feel sorry for Asians? Well, based on the principles of the HERU Interface of Black Consciousness, everything in life is a learning experience. I believe that Ethics is the most civilized human pursuit and since Ethics is a product of Conscience, I do empathize with Asians in their plight against racism but I hope that their pain will encourage them to become more ethical in their dealings with Black and African people.