Anti-Asian Hate and Moral Injury: Social Healing through Reclaiming Moral Virtues, Collective Action, and Meaning Making

Focusing on the testimonies and movements that emerged during the surge of anti-Asian racism and hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, this paper will explore the causes and manifestations of moral injury among Asian Americans in the United States, through the lens of gendered, ageist, and xenophobic violence against individuals and communities. Reflecting on Asian Americans’ processes of reclaiming moral virtues, taking collective action, and making meaning, we will identify lessons on social healing, noting the challenges and possibilities of restorative justice approaches in processing moral injury and building communal resilience.