The following is a short excerpt from a 233 page U.S. Commission on Civil Rights report (Feb. 1992), "Civil Rights Issues Facing Asian Americans in the 1990's". An excellent reference!

Bigotry and Violence Against Asian Americans

In 1986 the Commission drew attention to the problem of bigotry and violence against Asian Americans [1]. Our investigation shows that bigotry and violence against Asian Americans remains a serious national problem today. This report has recounted numerous incidents of bigotry and violence against Asian Americans. These incidents include the vicious bias-related murders of Vincent Chin, Jim Loo, Navroze Mody, and Hung Truong, and the recent massacre of Southeast Asian schoolchildren in Sacramento California; attacks on Asian American homes and places of worship; racially motivated boycotts against Asian-owned businesses; racial harassment of Asian Americans on college campuses; and racial slurs made by public figures, one of whom was a candidate for governor. The incidents reported here are by no means exhaustive: for every incident reported here, there are many more that have not been reported.

The root causes of bigotry and violence against Asian Americans are complex. Racial prejudice; misplaced anger caused by wars or economic competition with Asian countries; resentment of the real or perceived success of Asian Americans; and a lack of understanding of the histories, customs, and religions of Asian Americans all play a role in triggering incidents of bigotry and violence. The media have contributed to prejudice by promoting stereotypes of Asian Americans, especially the model minority stereotype; by sometimes highlighting the criminal activities of Asian gangs; and by failing to provide the indepth and balanced coverage that would help the public to understand the diverse Asian American population. Furthermore, the media give little attention to hate crimes against Asian Americans, thereby hindering the formation of a national sense of outrage about bigotry and violence against Asian Americans, a critical ingredient for social change. Schools contribute to the problem by not teaching students about the histories, cultures, experiences, and contributions of Asian Americans. Political leaders contribute to the problem when they unthinkingly lash out at Japan as the cause of United States economic difficulties. More important, political and government leaders have yet to make it a national priority to prevent and denounce anti-Asian prejudice and violence.

[1] U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, "Recent Activities Against Citizens and Residents of Asian Descent (Clearinghouse Publication 88, 1986).