MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A grassroots organization called Make Us Visible is trying to incorporate Asian American history into the curriculum of public schools across the country.
Mimi Chan is leading the Florida initiative.
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“In my classes, I was probably one, maybe one of two Asian students,” Chan explained. “What has made me really proud is all the achievements we have made, how we have come together within this country.
Chan started change petition, which now has around 8,000 signatures.
“Florida doesn’t have the largest Asian American population, [but] If you’re American, you should learn. This is even more important in places with fewer Asian Americans,” Chan said.
Chan and other organized announced this week that HB281 and SB490 have been filed with the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, which is forwarded by Representative Anna Eskamani and Senator Linda Stewart.
High school students like Julian Alexandre-Wang are also volunteering to get the word out.
“It’s very important to try to educate yourself and others about your identity,” said Alexandre-Wang, who has faced discrimination before.
Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of anti-Asian hatred have increased across the country. ‘Stop AAPI Hate’ reported over 9,000 hate incidents from March 2020 to June 2021.
Chan said the injury and fear ended with the spa shooting in Atlanta, where eight people were killed. Six of them were women of Asian decent.
“It was definitely a very challenging time, building up to that shoot,” said Chan, who believes that ignorance aligns with hate.
Chan knows that meeting the need for this initiative in schools will be a challenge.
“This is not a political bill. This is an education and public health bill,” she insisted, hoping her fellow Floridians would understand why it was important.
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“Models to dispel the minority myth so we are not constantly seen as foreigners,” Chan said. “Learning about the fact that Asian Americans have it is an integral part in building this nation today.”
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