Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, racism and violence against the Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community has increased. Racism manifests in different ways and AAPI communities have experienced everything from physical attacks, verbal harassment, and violence leading to death, as seen in the fatal shootings at Atlanta-based massage parlors in March 2021.

At Social Justice Watcher, we believe racism is violence. We stand with the AAPI communities who have experienced the trauma of racism long before the pandemic and even more so now. We also call for advocates and allies to come together and support asian community.

This year, we invite young people from all over the world to discuss the new wave of racism we are now facing through art and writing, and think about how we can change people’s ideas through actions. We hope to convey a message to everyone：

Asian is not a Virus, Racism is.

We must act now.

Prompts

1. How is the asian identity different from others and why did it come into existence when and where it did?

2. "My point is that illness is not a metaphor, and that the most truthful way of regarding illness -- and the healthiest way of being ill -- is one most purified of, most resistant to, metaphoric thinking." -- Susan Sontag

Compose a piece of writing or artwork that reflects upon Sontag's remark above, its implications for the recent stigmatization of COVID-19 as "Chinese Virus" or "Kungflu," and the resultant wave of Asian Hate.

3. Will the world be better if everyone has the same race identity?

All candidates must answer one of these questions via writing or artwork.

Entry Requirements

Entry is open to students from any country and any school. Candidates must be 21 years old, or younger, on the date of the submission deadline, 31 August 2021.

Key Dates​​

31 August 2021: Submission deadline

15 September: Short-listed candidates notified

Winners will be announced in 30 September.

Awards
First Prize, Second Prize, Third Prize，Shortlist for each genret, and Grand Prize.

Entry fee

30 USD/200 CNY. All income will be used for project operations and other non-profit activities. Surplus funds will be donated to AAPI Civic Engagement Fund(www.aapifund.org).