People of color in Michigan battle targeted disinformation

by Eliana Alzate for Michigan Advance

Each video that spews propaganda on Alice Yi’s WeChat feed reminds her of the life she fled four decades ago.

In her native China, the government controlled her family’s land, and her mother lost a job merely because a sister lived in neighboring rival Taiwan. It was useless to speak out, Yi said, because the Communist Party and its propaganda machine could turn opponents to “dust.”

Worse, she recalled, tears welling in her eyes: “You’ll be disappeared.”

She dreamed of a life far away – to witness a democracy free of deceptive and dangerous narratives. Encouraged by her father, Yi came to the United States in 1981 to attend college, beginning a decadeslong journey to amplify the voices of other immigrants.

Today, as co-founder of one of the largest Asian American networks in Texas, she is among a legion of advocates across the United States combating disinformation that singles out immigrant communities and people of color.

“Democracy means you will have a voice,” Yi said. “We do need to speak out and speak loud.”