Standing with our AAPI Community

It’s been a week since the news of the hateful murders in Atlanta took place.

It’s been a week of disturbing information that has been shared about the trend of racially charged violence and rhetoric.

While the COVID-19 pandemic has changed many things about life as we know it, for the AAPI community, it’s carried it’s own brand of danger as threats and unprovoked violence spiked between 2019 and 2020 to as high as nearly 150%.

This is ridiculous, this is shameful, and sadly, this is not new.

We wish to publicly extend our arms and hearts to the loved ones of those who were killed, and wish them strength during yet another instance of harm against marginalized communities.

“The Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University released findings in early March (2021) that showed hate crimes against Asian Americans spiked 149% from 2019 to 2020...”

— Center for The Study of Hate and Extremism

As an organization that proudly boasts a desire to be a safe community for all through the arts, we also wish to continue these efforts to ensure that inclusivity and openness and warmth is felt and presented at every event, in every program, and with every project. When we open the mic or when empower young people to open their hearts and minds, we do so with the goal of our mission: engaging, changing and saving ALL lives.

This calls on us to be evermore intentional about providing space for performers and artists from all backgrounds.

This calls on us to include literature that reflect the history and culture of Asian American and Pacific Islanders in our youth program.

This calls on us to recognize dope music and poetry from musicians and poets like Low Leaf, Awkwafina, Mitski, and Victoria Chang.

This calls on us to loudly call out implicit and explicit biases. Racism, discrimination and hatred do not belong at The Listening.

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We are far from experts on critical race theory, but we are engaging in the fight to do better. Join us.

Educate Yourself

Learn about the history, contributions, and past and present experiences of Asian American communities.

Watch:

• The PBS series Asian Americans about the history of identity, contributions, and challenges experienced by Asian Americans

• The Smithsonian’s video series We are not a stereotype: Breaking down Asian Pacific American bias which explores what it means to be Asian Pacific American and the impacts of Asian Pacific American stereotypes

• Asian Americans and Seattle’s Civil Rights History

Read:

• America’s long history of scapegoating its Asian citizens

• Books about Asian Pacific American history and experiences

• What is the Model Minority Myth?

• Anti-Asian Racism Exposes the Model Minority Myth

Listen:

• Asian America: The Ken Fong Podcast

• Self-Evident: Asian America’s Stories

• Asian Enough

Speak up

Silence is consent. As Archbishop Desmond Tutu said, “if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.” Now is the time for all of us, particularly those who have privilege, to speak up and challenge racism, discrimination, and white supremacy when we encounter it.

• How to Respond to Coronavirus Racism

• COVID-19 Toolkit: Strategies to Defeat Asian American Racial Profiling and Xenophobia

• Show Up: Your Guide to Bystander Intervention

• Speak Up! Responding to Everyday Bigotry

• Sign up for a virtual Bystander Intervention training jointly organized by Asian Americans Advancing Justice and Hollaback!

• Safety Tips for Those Experiencing or Witnessing Hate

Report any incidence of hate or bias

If you see something, say something. Report any incidence of hate or bias locally to the Chinese Information & Service Center and nationally to Stop AAPI Hate or Asian Americans Advancing Justice

Shop at businesses owned by Asian Americans

The Intentionalist has a great database of local businesses owned by Asian Americans.