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Los Angeles Times owner says ‘US Better Wake Up’ of racism after attacks on Asian Americans
Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong comes forward with strong words about unconscious prejudice and racism in America and says, “This country needs to wake up better with this.” In the wake of the ongoing attacks on Asian Americans, biotechnological multi-billionaire Soon-Shiong, who is of Chinese descent and was born in South Africa, published in a CNN Business story on Friday that he was “completely disillusioned” with systemic racism. In the US, Soon-Shiong expressed dismay over recent hate crimes against Asian Americans and racial tensions that fueled the Black Lives Matter movement. ‘The unconscious prejudice and racism are common. “Unfortunately, it is almost inherent in the historical structure of this country,” he said. “We have to acknowledge it, accept it and then break it,” he told CNN Business. Also read: Meet the TV journalists who are paying attention to the rise in anti-Asian violence. “I came from South Africa, where I saw [racism] grow up, ”he said. “In a funny way, the difference is that it was apartheid, but that it was apartheid in public.” Soon-Shiong, who moved to the United States in 1977, added: ‘I thought we would come to the land of the free. And honestly, I’m totally disillusioned. His remarks make him one of the most business leaders of Asian descent who has spoken out about recent attacks on Asian Americans, including an incident in late March in which a gunman killed six Asian women and two others in spas in the metropolitan area. Atlanta killed. In another recent case, a 65-year-old Asian woman was attacked in downtown Manhattan, and the attacker kicked and kicked her while shouting insults and racial captions. Passers-by did not intervene, which Soon-Shiong said he found ‘heartbreaking’. He wrestled with issues of race and bias in his role as owner of the LA Times, and responded to complaints that former executive editor Norman Pearlstine had not actually taken steps to diversify staff. Soon-Shiong wrote in a letter to staff in September: Also read: LA Times editor-in-chief outlines ‘Long overdue’ changes following criticism of Newsroom’s diversity The national calculation on race and that within the Los Angeles Times developments are what have already led to productive talks, concrete plans and accelerated progress for us. We are committed to change, both because it is fair and because it is mission-critical for our business. Only a diverse newsroom can tell the city’s stories accurately. Only a newspaper that holds responsibility and exposes injustice can really succeed. In the CNN report, Soon-Shiong urged other Asian business leaders to speak out about the recent attacks. ‘Unfortunately, the Asian culture and mentality is just to suck it up. Do your job. Do your thing. I do not think it can happen anymore. He added: “This country needs to wake up better, because it will be something that this next generation has to deal with.” Read original story Los Angeles Times Owner says ‘US Better Wake Up’ of racism after attacks on Asian Americans at TheWrap