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American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism
This probing account shines a new light on the problem of anti-Asian violence and inspires us to build lasting solidarity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, racist demagoguery fomented a campaign of terror against Asian Americans. But these attacks were part of a much longer pattern that made anti-Asian racism integral to the outbreak of white supremacist, misogynist, and colonial violence across 175 years of U.S. history. Written in the radical spirit of Howard Zinn, American Peril represents the culmination of thirty-five years of study and activism by award-winning scholar Scott Kurashige.
From the lynching of Asian immigrants during the exclusion era to the U.S. military's slaughter of Asian civilians, the book connects domestic and global events that have been erased from the official record. Going beyond victimhood, it traces the rise of Asian American community protest and activism in response to the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin and other overlooked tragedies. While many have worked to legislate and prosecute hate crimes, Kurashige argues that hope lies in grassroots activism for multiracial solidarity.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, racist demagoguery fomented a campaign of terror against Asian Americans. But these attacks were part of a much longer pattern that made anti-Asian racism integral to the outbreak of white supremacist, misogynist, and colonial violence across 175 years of U.S. history. Written in the radical spirit of Howard Zinn, American Peril represents the culmination of thirty-five years of study and activism by award-winning scholar Scott Kurashige.
From the lynching of Asian immigrants during the exclusion era to the U.S. military's slaughter of Asian civilians, the book connects domestic and global events that have been erased from the official record. Going beyond victimhood, it traces the rise of Asian American community protest and activism in response to the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin and other overlooked tragedies. While many have worked to legislate and prosecute hate crimes, Kurashige argues that hope lies in grassroots activism for multiracial solidarity.
352 pages, Hardcover
Published April 7, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 7, 2026
American Peril: The Violent History of Anti-Asian Racism is a powerful, meticulously researched, and deeply illuminating work of history that uncovers the long and often overlooked legacy of anti-Asian racism in the United States. Drawing on decades of scholarship and activism, Scott Tadao Kurashige delivers a compelling examination of how racial violence, exclusion, and resistance have shaped American history while offering readers valuable insight into issues that remain profoundly relevant today.
At the heart of the book is the argument that anti-Asian violence is not a recent phenomenon but a recurring feature of American history stretching back nearly two centuries. Kurashige traces the evolution of anti-Asian discrimination from the exclusion era and racial violence against immigrant communities to more recent attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating how these events are connected through enduring systems of white supremacy, colonialism, and racial hierarchy.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its expansive historical perspective. Rather than isolating individual incidents, Kurashige reveals the broader political, economic, and cultural forces that allowed anti-Asian racism to persist across generations. By connecting domestic events with American military actions abroad and global patterns of racial inequality, he presents a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the historical roots of anti-Asian prejudice.
Kurashige also excels at centering the stories of resistance alongside those of injustice. While the book confronts painful chapters of violence and discrimination with honesty and clarity, it equally highlights the courage of Asian American organizers, community leaders, and activists who have fought tirelessly for justice, equality, and civil rights. Their efforts demonstrate the enduring strength of collective action and the importance of solidarity across communities.
The writing is accessible, thoughtful, and grounded in rigorous historical research. Kurashige skillfully blends historical analysis with contemporary relevance, encouraging readers to examine how the past continues to shape present-day conversations surrounding race, immigration, identity, and social justice. His ability to explain complex historical developments without sacrificing nuance makes the book valuable for both academic audiences and general readers.
What makes American Peril especially impactful is its emphasis on solidarity and collective responsibility. Rather than presenting history solely as a record of oppression, Kurashige argues that meaningful progress depends upon building alliances across racial and cultural communities. This hopeful and forward-looking perspective gives the book lasting significance beyond its historical analysis.
Insightful, timely, and exceptionally well researched, American Peril is an outstanding work for readers interested in American history, Asian American studies, civil rights, race relations, political history, and narrative nonfiction that challenges conventional historical narratives while inspiring thoughtful reflection.
At the heart of the book is the argument that anti-Asian violence is not a recent phenomenon but a recurring feature of American history stretching back nearly two centuries. Kurashige traces the evolution of anti-Asian discrimination from the exclusion era and racial violence against immigrant communities to more recent attacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating how these events are connected through enduring systems of white supremacy, colonialism, and racial hierarchy.
One of the book's greatest strengths is its expansive historical perspective. Rather than isolating individual incidents, Kurashige reveals the broader political, economic, and cultural forces that allowed anti-Asian racism to persist across generations. By connecting domestic events with American military actions abroad and global patterns of racial inequality, he presents a richer and more comprehensive understanding of the historical roots of anti-Asian prejudice.
Kurashige also excels at centering the stories of resistance alongside those of injustice. While the book confronts painful chapters of violence and discrimination with honesty and clarity, it equally highlights the courage of Asian American organizers, community leaders, and activists who have fought tirelessly for justice, equality, and civil rights. Their efforts demonstrate the enduring strength of collective action and the importance of solidarity across communities.
The writing is accessible, thoughtful, and grounded in rigorous historical research. Kurashige skillfully blends historical analysis with contemporary relevance, encouraging readers to examine how the past continues to shape present-day conversations surrounding race, immigration, identity, and social justice. His ability to explain complex historical developments without sacrificing nuance makes the book valuable for both academic audiences and general readers.
What makes American Peril especially impactful is its emphasis on solidarity and collective responsibility. Rather than presenting history solely as a record of oppression, Kurashige argues that meaningful progress depends upon building alliances across racial and cultural communities. This hopeful and forward-looking perspective gives the book lasting significance beyond its historical analysis.
Insightful, timely, and exceptionally well researched, American Peril is an outstanding work for readers interested in American history, Asian American studies, civil rights, race relations, political history, and narrative nonfiction that challenges conventional historical narratives while inspiring thoughtful reflection.
May 28, 2026
Part 1 was infinitely better than the second part. The tone shifts in certain places that takes you out of the gravity of the subject matter. 3.75
July 12, 2026
Explores the connection between violence wrought by war and U.S. imperialism in Asia, and anti-Asian racism and violence at home from the mid 19th century to present.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews