In response to the rise of hate crimes against Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts felt it was important to address his players and coaching staff via email.
Roberts, whose mother is Japanese, condemned the violent attacks and called on others to use their voice to reject racism in all forms. Inspired by the message, Mitch White wanted to raise awareness of what has been happening across the nation.
“These last few months have been tough,” he began. “Culminating in the most recent murders in Atlanta, which were just terrible. That whole situation. Knowing what my mom had to go through to make it, and her family as well, it’s tough to see other people being persecuted for that.
“Hopefully some good can come out of this in terms of awareness and solidarity from the majority of good people, I think, in this country.”
As White alluded to, his mother moved to the United States from South Korea at a young age. He shared the hardships she faced while growing up in the Bay Area.
“In terms of overt racism, I don’t think there was so much of that; that I know of, at least. But in terms of the struggle of just coming here when she was 9 years old, her and her parents and younger sister came here and just had to grind to make a living and make a life,” White said.
“They’ve had a lot of success doing that, but it was never easy for them to make it, being outsiders and not really having too much of a community. Now it’s a lot different. I think there’s a lot more of an established Asian community — at least in the Bay Area where I’m from — but that wasn’t the case back then.
“So I think they felt like they were kind of on an island. To do what they did, it’s insane to think of how much they had to deal with. But they figured it out and did well for themselves.”
White revealed that neither he or his family has been the target of a hate-fueled attack, which he is thankful for. “Me personally, luckily, no. And then in terms of my family, no,” he said.
“We definitely talk about it. My aunt is very vocal about that, but nothing — luckily — super specific or anyone that I really know.”
White credits aunt for helping him better understand what is going on
White credited his aunt, ABC anchor Juju Chang, for helping him better understand the issues Asian Americans are facing. “To be honest we haven’t talked too much about it specifically. On Instagram I follow her, so I see a lot of the stuff going on,” he said.
“She’s worked with other Korean-Americans and other Asian-Americans in terms of raising awareness. For me, she’s always been a great person to talk to and learn about what’s going on in the world in general.
“This issue in particular, maybe that is something I need to reach out and talk to her about.”
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