Educate Yourself on Asian-American History
Indeed, people may also be unaware of the long history of Asian-American organizing to end racism targeted toward AAPIs as well as Black, Indigenous, LGBTQIA, immigrant, low-income and other marginalized communities.
Resources:
“Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning” is a collection of essays published in 2020 about the nuances of the Asian-American experience
“Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White” examines stereotypes, such as the perpetual foreigner and the model minority myth, and tackles issues including affirmative action, immigration and interracial marriage
Self Evident: Asian American’s Stories is a podcast that aims to challenge assumptions about Asian-Americans
PBS’ Asian Americans is a five-part documentary series on the history of Asians in America
#AsianAmCovidStories is a YouTube documentary series exploring Asian-Americans’ experiences and challenges during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Model Minority” Myth Again Used As A Racial Wedge Between Asians and Blacks
Resources to Help Empower Asian and Pacific Islander Communities
Support Asian-American Local Businesses
While the restaurant industry as a whole has struggled throughout the pandemic, Asian-American businesses and restaurants have been hit particularly hard and have been subject to racist attacks due to the xenophobic fears surrounding the coronavirus. Show your support by visiting or ordering takeout from AAPI-owned businesses in your community
Check In and Offer Support
Allies can show support by checking in with their AAPI peers in thoughtful ways. Consider offering specific forms of help such as:
Offer your time if they want to talk
Extend a nice gesture like sending over food delivery
Take a meeting off their plate at work
Extend a deadline or pitch in on a project
Let the person impacted dictate how they want to be supported and at the same time be explicit in your offer of support based on what they need. Acknowledge the recent news of anti-Asian violence, and give space for impacted individuals to process, grieve and heal.
You can also volunteer as a chaperone with Compassion In Oakland to support Elderly Asians.
Take a Bystander Intervention Course
If you witness or are targeted in an anti-Asian hate crime, or if you have any further information about another ongoing investigation, report it immediately to your local police, then file a report with the FBI.
Resources:
Stop AAPI Hate offers multilingual resources for those who experience or witness AAPI hate incidents to report it to the group. The coalition also provides safety tips for those encountering or witnessing hate incidents.
Advocacy groups like Asian-Americans Advancing Justice offer bystander intervention training, which can be done virtually.
Hollaback!, an anti-harassment organization, has partnered with Asian-Americans Advancing Justice to provide free bystander intervention training that will give you the tools to step in if you witness anti-Asian harassment.
Donate to AAPI Causes
Resources:
This list from New York magazine shares more than 60 ways to donate in support of Asian communities.
GoFundMe.org created the AAPI Community Fund to support tax-deductible donations toward grassroots organizations that aim to empower and protect the AAPI community, with initiatives such as increased community safety and support for those affected by violence.
Given the nature of the Atlanta shootings, advocates have also encouraged donating specifically toward groups that support Asian and Asian American women, such as the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum.
Support Artists
Resources:
Asian American Arts Alliance, is dedicated to strengthening Asian American artists and cultural groups through resource sharing, promotion, and community building.
Recognize that the fight against anti-Asian racism needs to be inclusive
Although the current moment is focused on hate incidents and crimes as a result of language such as “China virus,” many Asian-American subgroups have long been the targets of racism as well. Groups such as South Asian Americans and Southeast Asian Americans face other challenges and issues that are often hidden by the model minority myth, the belief that all Asian-Americans are successful. Support and seek resources from a broad range of AAPI advocacy groups.
Resources:
South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT), which focuses on public policy analysis, advocacy and community building
The National Federation fo Filipino American Associations (NaFFAA), which develops young leaders, urges political participation and supports small businesses
The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), which promotes visibility and provides education and tools to tackle homophobia and racism
The Sikh American Legal Defense & Education Fund (SALDEF), a media and educational organization that promotes civic and political participation
Empowered Pacific Islander Communities (EPIC), which seeks to empower Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (NHPI) communities through advocacy and research.
