Sacramento health chief calls Asians 'yellow folks' in a meeting against racism.

Sacramento County Health Director Dr. Peter Beilenson apologized for calling Asian Americans 'yellow folks' during a supervisors' meeting.

Sacramento County Health Director Dr. Peter Beilenson apologized for calling Asian Americans 'yellow folks' during a supervisors' meeting.The Sacramento County Board of Supervisors, on Nov. 17, 2020, collectively approved a resolution that declared racism a public health crisis and described ways to promote racial equity within the county through policies and programs. While speaking in the meeting, Health Director Dr. Beilenson referred to Asians as 'yellow folks,' expressing support for the resolution. He said that it was crucial to address the issues of people of color in the country.

The term 'yellow' has been used to evoke exoticism and danger regarding specifically East Asian people. Phrases like 'Yellow Peril' were common in the early 1900s to support racist, anti-China policies. Beilenson told Capital Public Radio that he had misspoken and the comments were a significant mistake.