Xiao Zhen Xie, the 75-year-old woman who sent her attacker to the hospital, has flipped the script again.
She has pledged a GoFundMe account started in her name, which seems likely to pass $1 million, to help fight discrimination.
Most contributions to the fund seemed to be $25 and below, evidence of widespread grass-roots rejection of anti-Asian discrimination. According to an update to the site, Xie said she is donating the money because the issue of anti-Asian hate crimes is bigger than her.
By defending herself against her much younger attacker, she showed strength. She showed another kind of strength in pledging the money. Her action gave people everywhere an avenue for objecting to anti-Asian hate crimes. One donor write that her defense had inspired him, but her generosity made him get off the sidelines and make a contribution.
It is despairing when hate crimes pop up seemingly everywhere. But when a selfless decision by one person motivates thousands to stand with her, we get a clearer picture of good in the country.
We can all be involved. The Boas Busters’ modest statement was made years ago when one of our first cultural competence guides was “100 Questions and Answers About East Asians.”
We support contributions as well as conversations that help us all understand each other a little better.
Learn more. “100 Questions and Answers About East Asian Cultures” is available from Amazon or the Front Edge Publishing bookstore.
Enjoyed reading this booklet, full of wisdom!