Dear Editor,

ANY non-White person in America, and perhaps also in other White-dominated countries would reveal experiences or encounters of ethnic hate and prejudice and racism; immigrant communities are victims everywhere. Even during the COVID pandemic, when people would be most grateful for the medical assistance received, they exhibited prejudice against medical (health) personnel not of their ethnicity. The immigrants are attending to the victims, some of whom are not grateful.

Since coming to the U.S. in the 1970s as a student, I and almost every Guyanese I conversed with have had countless encounters of racial prejudice from all other ethnic groups. Afro and indigenous Americans historically have experienced racism long before the birth of the nation. Even White Italians and Irish experienced prejudice from other White nationalities a century ago. And there has not been much change in race hate from five decades ago when Indo and Afro-Guyanese started settling in the U.S. Guyanese I have conversed with since the start of the pandemic in February 2020 have narrated varied experiences of prejudice at their places of work, public transportation, and even in neighbourhoods. Indian-Guyanese, in particular, revealed negative experiences although they have no link to the source of the coronavirus; because of their Asian and Indian identities, and with the coronavirus being linked to Asia (China), and the Delta variant (identified in India), they face a lot of heat. The Delta variant does not come from India. The virus mutates itself and has been identified by virologists in various countries and thus becomes the UK or South Africa or Brazil or India variant – alpha, beta, gamma, Delta respectively. Nevertheless, people ignorant about science somehow link the virus to people coming from those countries and spreading the virus. One can get any of those four variants without actually coming into contact from visitors or nationals of those countries infected with the virus. In the U.S., Chinese (all Orientals) have been subjected to extreme forms of hate and racism. Many were physically attacked or spat upon. Indian (including Guyanese and “Trinis”) medical workers were spat on or abused (with profanities) by members of other ethnicities for “bringing” the virus to America. Indians have nothing to do with corona. The virus emerged out of China, but it is not clear whether it was man-made or natural.

Indian (including Guyanese) medical workers and those of other ethnicities have been working extra shifts to save lives.  They were enlisted in the war against COVID. They were on the front- line doing their jobs without complaint. When others were at home, they took the risks and made sacrifices associated with their jobs. They quarantined away from family members.  They have felt intense pride about being a doctor or a nurse or medical-centre staff or health care worker at a home.  They have felt deeply American. Last year, they felt honoured when communities banged pots and blew vehicle horns for their sacrifices. Many lost their lives while attending to others. They felt needed and appreciated.
And yet cruel words are uttered against them on account of ethnicity. It is noteworthy that they focus on their jobs rather than on cruel words of hate. Nevertheless, one should not forget that hate and bigotry still exist in America and almost all members of all ethnicities are guilty. Front- line workers, Guyanese and others, are applauded for ignoring the discrimination they have faced in America and for focusing on the task at hand.
The coronavirus should not be used to perpetuate hate, prejudice and racism.

Yours truly,
Vishnu Bisram