1 in 3 US Asians and Pacific Islanders faced racial abuse this year, AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll shows

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Despite continued efforts and laws aimed at addressing anti-Asian racism, which surged post-pandemic, approximately one-third of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have reported experiencing racial abuse in the past year. This includes verbal harassment, slurs, physical threats, and cyberbullying.

More than half of those surveyed (51%) perceive racism as a critical issue in the U.S. Jennifer Lee, a 29-year-old Filipino American in San Diego, has faced racial slurs and discrimination over a long period, even during a recent job interview for a tutoring service. The interviewer mistook her for Japanese, commenting negatively on her presumed nationality.

In terms of specific experiences, around 23% of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders reported verbal harassment or abuse in the last year, with 22% encountering racial or ethnic slurs. Approximately 10% have faced physical assaults or threats. A significant portion often or sometimes experiences discrimination in job applications due to their race or ethnicity.

Despite a 7% overall increase in hate crimes reported by the FBI last month, anti-Asian incidents decreased by 33% from 2021 to 2022. Stephanie Chan, director of data and research at Stop AAPI Hate, notes that Asian Americans are less likely to report crimes, highlighting that anti-Asian hate remains a significant concern post-pandemic.

In political perspectives, President Joe Biden has a moderate approval rating among Asian Americans, at 52%, compared to a 44% approval rating from the general U.S. population. Vice President Kamala Harris, of Asian American and African American descent, holds a similar favorability rate of 47% among Asian Americans. Jennifer Lee, a Democrat, expresses reservations about Biden’s approach to racism and his age.

Political scientist Natalie Masuoka emphasizes that Asian Americans’ lukewarm view of Biden could affect voter turnout in lower-level offices, warning Democrats not to overlook AAPI voters. Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, is viewed unfavorably by 70% of those surveyed. Other Republican candidates, including those of Indian descent like Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley, are not widely recognized by the AAPI community.

Thomas Lee, a Taiwanese American from Long Island, New York, who switched from Republican to Democrat, expresses concern about the impact of a potential Trump re-election on discrimination and hate crimes. Conversely, Tia Davis, a 26-year-old of Samoan and Black descent in California, downplays racism and supports Trump, focusing more on economic issues.

The survey reveals that perceptions of discrimination among AAPI communities vary along party lines, with Democrats more likely to acknowledge discrimination against people of color. About half of the Asian American and Pacific Islander respondents identify as Democrats, and a quarter lean Republican.

Many in the AAPI community are pessimistic about the future of anti-Asian racism, with about half expecting to face discrimination in the next five years. Stephanie Chan of Stop AAPI Hate hopes the poll will raise awareness about the broader spectrum of anti-Asian discrimination, including everyday harassment and civil rights violations.

The survey, conducted from Oct. 10-20, 2023, included 1,178 U.S. adults who are Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. The margin of error for the respondents is plus or minus 4.2 percentage points.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Anti-Asian Racism

More about Anti-Asian Racism

• AP-NORC/AAPI Data Poll Results
• FBI Hate Crime Statistics
• Stop AAPI Hate Organization
• Asian American Political Perspectives
• Discrimination in Job Applications
• U.S. Racial Issues
• Future of Anti-Asian Racism