Why ignorance of Black-Asian alliances matters

Summary by The Houston Editorial Desk · Based on reporting by Aswad Walker, Defender Network · July 22, 2026 · 5 min read

Merlin Lu, the young Asian American University of Illinois-Chicago senior who burned a cross in Chicago’s Grant Park, offered a puzzling defense: “My protest had nothing to do with race. Nothing to do with gender.” He went on to say that though he knew a burning cross was a charged symbol, he did...

Why this matters in The Houston

In Houston, where the city's diverse population is surrounded by the larger metropolitan area, the lack of understanding about Black-Asian alliances has significant implications. The city's own history of racial tensions and conflicts, including those related to policing and economic inequality, can be informed by the experiences of other cities like Chicago. The fact that Merlin Lu, a young Asian American, was unaware of the historical context of the burning cross symbol is troubling, and raises questions about the education system's role in teaching diverse histories. As Houstonians, we must consider how our own city's history of coalition building and social justice movements can be leveraged to promote greater understanding and solidarity between Black and Asian communities. By learning from the past, including the examples of Afro-Asian solidarity highlighted by Raven Schwam-Curtis, we can work towards a more respectful and equitable future for all Houstonians.

About this story

Original reporting by Defender Network. The Houston surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page.

For the complete original report, visit Defender Network. Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom.

Category: parks · Published: July 22, 2026 · Source: Defender Network · Reading time: 5 min

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This article was first published on July 22, 2026 by Defender Network and curated for The Houston readers.

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This story was reported by Aswad Walker at Defender Network. To learn more about how The Houston selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards.

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Summary created by	The Houston Editorial Desk — automated, rule-governed
Original reporting	Aswad Walker, Defender Network
Original story	Read at the source
Source published	Jul 22, 2026
Indexed here	Jul 22, 2026
AI assistance	Automated summary drawn from the source’s own published text
Prepublication human review	No — editorial rules, flagged-item review, and published samples

Why ignorance of Black-Asian alliances matters

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