Hollaback! | Bystander Intervention Training Resources Hollaback! provides trainings on how to do your part to protect your neighbors and co-workers when bias and harassment collide in front of you. Visit their website here for the list of resources
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) is an independent population health research center at UW Medicine, part of the University of Washington, that provides rigorous and comparable measurement of the world’s most important health problems and evaluates the strategies used to address them. IHME makes this information freely available so that policymakers have the evidence they need to make informed decisions about how to allocate resources to best improve population health. Vision – IHME aspires to make available to the world high-quality information on population health, its determinants, and the performance of health systems. We seek to achieve this directly, by catalyzing the work of others, and by training researchers as well as policymakers. Mission – Our mission is to improve the health of the world’s populations by providing the best information on population health. Research – IHME’s research is organized around answering three critical questions that are essential to understanding the current state of population health and the strategies necessary to improve it. What are the world’s major health problems? How well is society addressing these problems? How do we best dedicate resources to maximize health improvement? A list of forthcoming research and events can be found here.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the Prison Industrial Complex by Raymond Magsaysay “Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and the Prison Industrial Complex” by Raymond Magsaysay Date Written: February 24, 2021 Abstract: Recent uprisings against racial injustice, sparked by the killings of George Floyd and others, have triggered urgent calls to overhaul the U.S. criminal “justice” system. Yet Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the fastest-growing group in the country, have largely been left out of these conversations. Identifying and addressing this issue, I intercalate AAPIs into powerful, contemporary critiques of the prison industrial complex, including emergent abolitionist legal scholarship. I argue that the model minority myth, an anti-Black racial project, leads to the exclusion of AAPIs in both mainstream and critical studies of crime and carcerality. I begin the intervention by critiquing the lacuna that exists within Asian American Jurisprudence, specifically the erasure of criminalized AAPIs’ voices and experiences. I then demonstrate that AAPIs are caught in the carceral web of mass incarceration by highlighting the lived experiences of AAPI youth with the school-to-prison pipeline, in addition to excavating the minimal publicly available data on AAPI prison populations. Adopting multidisciplinary and multimodal methods, I identify and analyze distinct forms of racial profiling and racialized bullying that drive AAPI students out of schools and into prisons. I pay specific attention to the criminalization of various subgroups under the “AAPI” umbrella as whiz kids, gang members, or terrorists. In uncovering previously unexamined dimensions of the criminal system, I stress how the exclusion of AAPIs in critical discourse obscures the actual scale of the carceral state, erases complex intra- and interracial dynamics of power, marginalizes criminalized AAPIs, and concurrently reinforces anti-Blackness and other toxic ideologies. The Article therefore reaffirms Critical Race, intersectional, and abolitionist analyses of race and criminalization. It also directly links Asian American Jurisprudence to on-going abolitionist critiques of the prison industrial complex. I conclude with a proffer of abolitionist-informed solutions to the school-to-prison pipeline as well as a call, particularly to AAPI communities, for fiercer and more meaningful coalition-building. Keywords: school to prison pipeline, intersectionality, prison reform, criminal justice, pacific islander, abolition, critical race, asian american, aapi, prison industrial complex Read and download the full paper here
A Different Asian American Timeline A DIFFERENT ASIAN AMERICAN TIMELINE: https://aatimeline.com/ This timeline covers nearly 600 years of history starting with the early Atlantic slave trade in the 15th Century, tracing the rise of modern nation-states, and covering events that have affected people across racial boundaries. So, what is Asian American about that? Most Asian American timelines focus only on events related to people who arrived in the United States from Asia. However, that approach paints a misleading picture. It implies that Asian American experiences can be understood in the absence of a broader context of race and capitalism, that the history of a given population can somehow be placed outside the systems of power that organize society. It also assumes that Asian Americans share more in common with each other than with other groups of people, yet there is no single Asian or Asian American past, politics, or culture. Most people from ethnic and national subgroups considered to be Asian American don’t call themselves Asian Americans. Many harbor prejudiced notions of one another. This stems from histories of conflict, conquest, and colonization within the vast and ill-defined continent that Europeans labeled Asia many centuries ago. The boundaries of Asian American identity, like the boundaries of Asia itself, are always in flux, constructed by dynamics of power that demand to be studied: imperialism, racial domination, gender oppression, labor exploitation, war, and social movements. THE BOUNDARIES OF ASIAN AMERICAN IDENTITY, LIKE THE BOUNDARIES OF ASIA ITSELF, ARE ALWAYS IN FLUX, CONSTRUCTED BY DYNAMICS OF POWER THAT DEMAND TO BE STUDIED. We cannot fully understand Asian American history without asking why Asians arrived in the Americas, and what relationship their arrival had to the global conditions affecting people across racial and national boundaries at the time. For example, why did the British “coolie” trade accelerate after Britain outlawed slavery in 1833? A more traditional Asian American timeline might not make this correlation visible, yet enslaved African people and indentured “coolies” were closely related within British and U.S. systems of racialized labor control in the 19th Century. Viewing Asian migration to the Americas in this context starts to erode the myth of the United States as a benevolent land of immigrants, to reveal instead a nation effectively ruled by oligarchy in which the plights of various kinds of exploited workers and oppressed groups have been inextricably connected. Many of us learn to think of race as natural categories of human difference based on skin color, culture, or national origin. This timeline invites us to think of race differently, as an instrument of empire. As Asian American scholar James Kyung-Jin Lee has stated, “Race is better described as a verb than a noun, as production rather than destiny.” Race is the verb that animates a centuries-old world economic process, constructing human difference among the many to build power for the few. No timeline could fully account for six centuries of history, and this one is no exception. Instead it is meant to serve as a resource for critical thinking, a tool for in-depth and nuanced discussions to see Asian Americans and others both as subjects of domination and as agents of history. It is organized by historical time periods marked by major shifts like the U.S. Civil War, the Spanish-American War, World War II, and Reagan-Era neoliberalism. Events are organized by the reasoning, or logics, that have shaped the United States economically, politically, and culturally – the interrelated struggles over land (settler colonialism), labor (slavery), and geopolitical power (empire). It also features sample stories of freedom, a contested idea that has fueled efforts both to lift greater numbers of people out of oppression, and to amass benefits for some people at the expense of others. “RACE IS BETTER DESCRIBED AS A VERB THAN A NOUN, AS PRODUCTION RATHER THAN DESTINY.” —JAMES KYUNG-JIN LEE This tool invites us to see both the specificity of group-differentiated oppressions and their relationships to one another within racial capitalism. The importance of studying Asian American history in this way lies in the urgent need to work toward democracy amid rising forms of authoritarianism and nationalism. These dangers are the products of American empire, which has accumulated power and wealth for the few by producing and leveraging divisions among the many. True democracy will depend on our ability to imagine new ways of being that reject racial subjugation and supremacy in favor of “a new society based more on human values,” as the great Grace Lee Boggs put it so well.
How to Organize Asian Americans – Notes from Two Generations Click here to read the full article How to Organize Asian Americans – Notes from Two Generations – By: Rinku Sen “Organize your people for affordable housing, fair wages, better schools, correct data, reproductive health, real sex education, enough public transportation, brighter street lights, a deportation moratorium, family unification, clean water, clean air, clean soil, bigger parks, youth programs, elder programs, breastfeeding programs, health insurance for all, net neutrality, more public libraries, more grocery stores, more childcare, a union contract or a new community center. Organize them for anything they want, as long as it doesn’t damage any other community” “Organize the old ones, the young ones, the middle-aged ones, the female ones, the male ones, the gender non-conforming ones, the queer ones, the straight ones, the fifth generation ones, the fresh-off-the-boat ones, the ones that are afraid, the ones that aren’t. Organize the athletic ones, the nerdy ones, the sexy ones, the shy ones, the ones with crutches, the ones in wheelchairs, the funny ones, the stylish ones, the dorky ones, the working ones, the jobless ones, the rich ones, the imprisoned ones, the musical ones, the dancing ones, the literary ones, the cinematic ones. Organize the too-loud ones and the too-quiet ones” “Make a mighty commotion. Build actual power.” “Become Asian American.”
Knowledge Hub: For Movement Partners The Youth Engagement Fund centers equity and wellness in our support to Movement Partners. As trusted partners in your networks and communities, you (movement leaders and organizations) are often the first line of communication on COVID-19 related resources. Guided by our conversations and your recommendations, the Youth Engagement Fund team curates a list of COVID-19 related resources and opportunities focused on 3 areas: fundraising, trainings, and wellness; and spotlighting 1 story to spark thought. The information on this page will be time relevant, which means it will only include links to currently active sources and open deadlines. This Knowledge Hub page will be updated every two weeks on Wednesdays. Visit the Knowledge Hub page with resources and opportunities here!
The 19th News | #WeAreThe19th Welcome to The 19th, a nonprofit, nonpartisan newsroom reporting at the intersection of gender, politics and policy. We aim to empower women — particularly those underserved by and underrepresented in American media — with the information, community and tools they need to be equal participants in our democracy Visit their website at: https://19thnews.org/ Today, women make up more than half of the American electorate and are more engaged than ever in our politics — marching on state capitols, voting at higher rates than men, and running for local office and seeking the presidency in record numbers. Yet they remain underrepresented in government and in the nation’s executive ranks. Women and gender diverse people are also underrepresented in politics and policy journalism and in newsroom leadership, which influences what stories are told, how the news is covered and whose voices are elevated. In short: The 19th Amendment remains unfinished business, a fact we acknowledge in our logo with an asterisk — a visible reminder of those who have been omitted from our democracy. The expansion of the franchise continues today, and The 19th aims to capture this ongoing American story. Our goal is to empower those we serve — particularly women, people of color, and those historically underserved by American media — with the information, resources and community they need to be equal participants in our democracy.
Race—The Power of an Illusion Race—The Power of an Illusion is an award-winning three-part docuseries that provides a comprehensive and nuanced view of the history and uses of race throughout time. More relevant now than ever, the first event in this series, The Difference Between Us (Part I), will consist of a one-hour film screening followed by a one-hour panel discussion and will attempt to answer one foundational question: is race biological or social? Part I seeks to reveal the complexities involved in what may appear to be a basic concept: What do we mean when we say “race”? Is this concept a biological one rooted in genomic sciences? Is it merely a phenotypic categorization? Is it culturally based? Is it a social construct used by elites to organize societies? The video shows interviews with scientists and ultimately illustrates that racial differences as commonly understood have little biological meaning — We are all pretty much the same under the skin. In fact, there is greater genetic diversity within a racialized group than between groups. Part II (September 25) will cover the roots of race and racism in America, as well as how race is used to naturalize inequality. Part III (October 9th) will examine intersections of race with social institutions, power, wealth, and status. Visit https://www.racepowerofanillusion.org/events/ for more event information and the recorded videos of the live panel discussions, Note: Members of the UC Berkeley community can access the documentary series at any time for free through Kanopy using CalNet authentication. If you are a member of another university or public library click here to access the documentary.
COVID-19 and Anti-Asian Racism: Contexts, Resources, Reflections – University of Maryland Visit the website here: https://blog.umd.edu/aast200spring20/ About the Project The current COVID-19 pandemic has led to a sharp rise in various forms of anti-Asian racism in the U.S., including here in Maryland. Although these alarming incidences may seem unprecedented, they are rooted in a much longer racialization of Asian bodies as invasive diseases that threaten the nation’s health. In short, Asian and Asian American Terrapins have been exposed to two viruses: the virus of COVID-19 and the virus of yellow peril-fueled “medical nativism.” The mission of this Asian American Studies (AAST) classroom-based, digital humanities project is to give the University of Maryland community critical tools to deepen its understanding of the roots and routes of COVID-19 anti-Asian racism. The project also serves to make space for all UMD members to reflect on how the current strain of anti-Asian racism has impacted them, their loved ones, and their intersectional orientation to other systemic inequalities and struggles for social justice. Finally, in partnership with Asian American and Pacific Islander Student Involvement in the Office of Multicultural Involvement & Community Advocacy (MICA), this website offers resources to anyone in need of support for navigating the pandemic and its socio-economic ills. The hope is that the contexts, reflections, and resources offered by this website will make the College Park campus a more equitable and inclusive space for Asian and Asian American students, staff, and faculty. Website Guidance Visitors may navigate the website in whichever way is most useful, but we suggest starting with the “Keywords” section. It is comprised of several essays that define and situate helpful terms related to COVID-19 anti-Asian racism. Utilizing several of these keywords, the “Histories” section contains a primary source analysis of the racialized regulation of Los Angeles’s Chinatown more than a hundred years ago, part of a larger project of anti-Asian medical nativism that targeted several Chinatowns at the turn of the century. These keywords and histories contextualize the current strain of anti-Asian racism, as well as grassroots projects that resist such racism as explored in the section, “Anti-Asian Racism: Present Day.” Students also composed written and visual reflections that personalize what these keywords, contexts, and the current moment means to them. UMD community members are also invited to post their own reflections.
VietLead Community Resources VietLead has put together a Community Resources page containing information and videos regarding voter registration, mail-in and absentee ballots, COVID-19 information in Vietnamese, unemployment compensation, and the 2020 Census for individuals in Philadelphia. Check out the Community Resources page here Read more about how VietLead has responded to COVID-19: https://www.vietlead.org/covid19-response In addition, supported by a tight network of partners, the VietLead Health Team has held 4 Vietnamese-language community webinars on a wide range of topics: How to apply to the Philadelphia Small Business Fund with Councilwoman Helen Gym’s Office and the Philadelphia Department of Commerce on Wednesday, April 3rd, 2020. 25 Vietnamese businesses attended the webinar on zoom 10 applications were submitted with VietLead’s assistance How to Apply to Unemployment and New Benefits due to Covid-19 Webinar in partnership with Julia Simon-Mishel of Philadelphia Legal Assistance on Wednesday, April 8th, 2020. 27 Vietnamese individuals attended the Zoom call and 400 more have watched our Facebook live video since Workers’ Right Webinar in partnership with Community Legal Services in Philadelphia and CATA in New Jersey on May 8, 2020 20 workers and community members from Philly and New Jersey attended the webinar COVID-19 in Philadelphia & Camden Webinar in partnership with Dr. Ruth Abaya from the Philadelphia Health Department, and My Anh Nguyen, R.N. from Cooper Hospital on Thursday, April 16th, 2020 This webinar had over 40 people in attendance, and over 1000 views on Facebook in just the four days. Reopening Guidelines for Nail Salons and Restaurants in Philly and New Jersey Webinar in partnership with Ting Wang from Philadelphia Office of Commerce and Dr. Tran Huynh from Dornsife School of Public Health. We have a dozen workers and business owners attending the meeting. Many more sent in questions and concerns about safety guidelines’ violations that were answered on the webinar.