LOS ANGELES – The Federal Bureau of Investigation is now warning of an increase in hate crimes against Asian-Americans amid the coronavirus pandemic.  

One University of California Los Angeles Women’s basketball player may be home, but she’s using her platform to speak against the racism.

In the wake of her disrupted basketball season, Natalie Chou came back home to Texas, sad and afraid.

MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE:

She was scared to leave her house not just because of the coronavirus, but because of the color of her skin.

But Chou had to say something about the recent wave of anti-Asian racism that has surged since the president referred to the coronavirus as the “Chinese virus.”    

“Calling it the Chinese Virus or anything of that sort creates unnecessary xenophobia for people who look like me,” said Chou in a message on Twitter.

It was a tweet she knew she had to send.  

 

 

 

The words came easy, yet not many Asian-Americans are vocalizing them. Chou explains her culture is founded on propriety.

“Our culture isn’t one to come out just to be vocal on social media,” says Chou.

Chou is busy with coursework for a new quarter of classes, but her biggest lesson has already been one of leadership and standing up for what she believes in. She credits her UCLA coach and teammates as her teachers. 

“From this whole experience I’ve really learned to be more fearless,” said Chou.

She has work to do and an example to set. Just over one percent of D1 women’s basketball players identify as Asian-American, and Chou knows she is more than an athlete.

“Posting my tweet and writing that article was just another way to stay strong.”

In a world where people already feel socially and physically isolated, social tensions only continue to divide.

In the words of Natalie Chou, “We are all going through this together. We need each other.”