Tan France joins Netflix stars to urge Asian Americans to reclaim their identity

A video featuring France highlights the treatment of Asians onscreen and in the western society. British-Pakistani-American fashion maven Tan France recently uploaded the video to his Instagram in honour of being Asian.

In the short video, he urges Asian Americans to reclaim their identity more confidently and loudly than ever before.

“We're not just one thing one, obviously. Being Asian is so much more than that," said the Queer Eye star. "Asians deserve better than the erasure, caricatures, and stereotypes perpetuated by the entertainment industry," read Netflix's caption on the same, which was also uploaded on the platform's YouTube channel.

The streaming giant said, "We are brave, we are strong, we are more than a stereotype. Our stories have no boundaries. Today and every day, celebrate who we are."

The video highlights the treatment of Asians onscreen and in the western society. It shows France along with other proud, renowned Asians speaking out against the reducing of Asians to mere ‘clichés’, as take a dig at how easy it is to "hurt someone who's not real.”

The video also features Daniel Dae Kim, Ashley Park, Ramona Young, Lana Condor, Justin H Min, Ronny Chieng, Jimmy O. Yang, Leah Lewis, Jessie Mei Li, Jo Koy and Punam Patel.

France has called out racism, colourism and Islamophobia in the western world numerous times before. He has talked about the problems that lead many Asians to develop an identity crisis or at the least, feel unwelcomed and otherised.

The video ends on the note, "Leave your shoes at the door. You've been walking in sh*t all day and we don't want that in our house!"

Hate crimes against Asians in the US have quadrupled during the pandemic. The FBI warned at the start of the Covid outbreak in the US that it expected a surge in hate crimes against those of Asian descent, a May 2020 BBC report claimed. “Federal hate crime data for 2020 has not yet been released, though hate crimes in 2019 were at their highest level in over a decade,” it added. A May 2021 New York Times report informs how several recent attacks on Asian-Americans have not been charged as hate crimes, fueling protests and outrage.

“Let’s call it what it is,” said Don Lee, a community activist who spoke at one such protest rally. “These are not random attacks. We’re asking for recognition that these crimes are happening,” he added. The rally reflected upon how to confront a rise in reports of violence against Asian-Americans, who have felt increasingly vulnerable with each new attack.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.