The Minor Feelings author talks about stereotypes in the wake of the coronavirus and being inspired by Richard Pryor
When the state of New York received its first confirmed coronavirus patient, both the New York Times and the New York Post published articles with accompanying pictures of East Asian people, even though the diagnosed woman in the news report had recently travelled to Iran.
“Anti-Asian racism has come roaring back with the coronavirus scare,” says Korean American writer Cathy Park Hong. “People don’t think Asians face racism, but it’s always lurking under the surface. For instance, my friend is worried for his kids. He lives in New York City, and he has a son in school who has been bullied and made fun of for having the coronavirus. There’s this yellow peril stereotype that never goes away.”
White America has flattened our experience to a single story – Minor Feelings is an attempt to overthrow that
Minor Feelings by Cathy Park Hong is published by Profile. (£16.99)
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