The relationship between the effects of mass media on violence against Asian Americans is explored.
This research study is designed to conduct a comprehensive field study which traces the media coverage paralleling the stages of the murder of Vincent Chin from the predisposing milieu of the violently discriminating community, the killing, the trials, and the impact of the mass media on the society at large and on the Asian American community. Vincent Chin was a 27-year-old Asian American who died in 1982 following a racially motivated baseball bat beating by two Caucasian coworkers. After plea bargaining, the defendants were given probated sentences. The methodology of the study included interviews of Asian American leaders, an in-depth review of the film "Who Killed Vincent Chin?" (1988), and a literature review of the documents and clippings from newspapers and magazines relevant to the Chin case from 1982 to 1987. A list of Asian American leaders interviewed is included in the paper. The progression of events which led to the violent killing are presented in four stages. The results of the study demonstrate how a biased and irresponsible media can have devastating impact on an ethnic community especially increasing its risk of violence. It also shows that a sensitive media can have a significant impact on the hope and positive public attitudes of both the ethnic minority group and the general public. The media, the government, the legal system, the general public, and the Asian American community all had a part in Vincent Chin's death. Recommendations in the paper include advising Asian Americans to promote better public relations and more active political participation and urging mass media to recruit more Asian American youth for training and employment. 15 references