Asian-Americans hope for less racism, a more inclusive society under Joe Biden

While Trump’s actions fuelled hatred against Asian-Americans as a whole, Biden is seen ‘trying to improve’ US race relations

Even those who don’t agree with the Democrat’s policies are looking forward to having a president who does not actively incite racism and division

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Joe Biden shakes hands with a young Chinese boy in Yanzikou, a village north of Beijing, while chairman of the US Senate foreign relations committee in 2001. Photo: AFP

Published: 6:15pm, 11 Nov 2020Updated: 9:51pm, 11 Nov 2020

With US President Donald Trump repeatedly calling the novel coronavirus the “Chinese virus”, many Asian-Americans have been exposed to adverse experiences because of their race or ethnicity.

But now that Democrat Joe Biden has beaten the Republican president in the November 3 White House election, they are hoping the incoming administration will bring change by helping unite the divided country.

Asian-Americans also welcome the ascent of Kamala Harris, Biden’s running mate and a US senator from California who is set to make history as the first female, black and Asian-American vice-president in January.

“Trump, in my opinion, has incited racism and supported racism, so you have a lot of groups that have come out much more emboldened and willing to state their opinion, the racist opinions,” said Sylvia Lee, head of the Arizona Democratic Party Asian-American Pacific Islander Caucus.

Donald Trump has been criticised for supporting racism while US president. Photo: Bloomberg

“Biden is trying to improve the climate when it comes to race relations and immigration,” said Lee, whose grandmother was half Japanese and grandfather was Chinese.