Pew Research Center | What It Means To Be Asian in America In the fall of 2021, Pew Research Center undertook the largest focus group study it had ever conducted – 66 focus groups with 264 total participants – to hear Asian Americans talk about their lived experiences in America. The focus groups were organized into 18 distinct Asian ethnic origin groups, fielded in 18 languages and moderated by members of their own ethnic groups. Because of the pandemic, the focus groups were conducted virtually, allowing us to recruit participants from all parts of the United States. This approach allowed the Pew Research Center to hear a diverse set of voices – especially from less populous Asian ethnic groups whose views, attitudes and opinions are seldom presented in traditional polling. The approach also allowed it to explore the reasons behind people’s opinions and choices about what it means to belong in America, beyond the preset response options of a traditional survey. You can view the additional 30-minute video documentary produced below. See the data essay written by Pew Research Center, and read what participants had to say in their own words at this link.
Hmonglish Hmonglish is a podcast that explores the intersection of Hmong and American culture. Co-hosts Chef Yia Vang and news anchor Gia Vang have lived their entire lives processing their Hmong-American identities. This program provides a space for them to explore this dual heritage while also educating the populace on Hmong culture with the help of guests and other members of their community. Listen to the podcast HERE or wherever you get your podcasts
NBC News | 100 AAPI-led Actions Against Racism & Violence Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPIs) have reported surges in hate incidents, crimes and violence since 2020, often related to racist scapegoating because of the pandemic. As a result, AAPIs have spurred their own communities and other leaders and industries to take action. From local fundraisers to rallies to national legislation to systemic changes in schools, AAPIs and others are developing solutions to increase visibility and fight racism. NBC News, courtesy of writers, Angela Yang, Kimmy Yam, Claire Wang, Brahmjot Kaur, has compiled 100 of the ways legislators, teens, artists, schools, athletes and many others nationwide have stepped up to fight hate and increased attacks. View the interactive website and links to articles and news stories here.
Change Consulting | Drop the Mic: Media Spokespeople Training Hosted by Change Consulting LLC on May 3-4, 2022 for members of the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund’s AAPI Speaks program, the slides below provide techniques and advice for those interested in becoming more effective spokespeople. Slides 30 to 34 provides recommendations for specific media types, and slide 36 provides a good starting point for questions spokespeople would receive. AAPI-Speaks-Media-Training-May-2022-1Download
Asian Feminist Writing Workshop | Writings In 2021, the inaugural Feminist Writing Workshop was organized by Kundiman in collaboration with the Asian American Feminist Collective to foster a safe space for writers to explore the unique history of Asian American feminist writing and how it influences their own work. Kundiman is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to nurturing generations of writers and readers of Asian American Literature. The Asian American Feminist Collective engages in intersectional feminist politics grounded within our communities, including those whose backgrounds encompass East, Southeast, and South Asian, Pacific Islander, multi-ethnic and diasporic Asian identities. Through public events and resources, AAFC seek to provide spaces for identity exploration, political education, community building, and advocacy. The Workshop’s syllabus, assigned readings, and curriculum are available online at this link. Following the Workshop’s conclusion, the cohort published To Us & Ours: An Asian American Feminist Collection. This collection of writing is available for download at this link. See below for the table of contents. Table of Contents: Dandelion Spell (For Safety), Ching-In ChenWakashu and Lost Traditions, Sam NakahiraTo the Daughters of War, Victoria HuynhFig Tree, MATNightswimming in August, Alyssa Mae CruzMasturbation, Pleasure & Feminist Politics, Fatema HaqueTo May, Linda Sachiko MorrisWe Have Names, danny ryuI’m a Public School Teacher and I Spent $500 to Take a Bath and Cry, Shivani DavéWork at TheCompany!, Anne Cong-HuyenPreserves, Amanda NavaUndoc Letters, goeunRain Pollen Fossil Record, Aishvarya AroraUntitled, Jas PerryLife & Pain, A Compilation, Erme MaulaPandemic Diary, Joy ChenMy Brother Tells Me Why I Love Q-Tips, Ashna AliEverything Beautiful, In Its Time, Hairol MaFlowers for the Living, Flowers for the Dead, Promiti Islam
Notes from the Field: Critical Race Theory and AAPI’s “The attack on Critical Race Theory (CRT) is here to stay, at least for a while. To be honest, when Republican pols first began using the term around 2020, it felt like a trial balloon that would surely be short-lived. After all, the very few Americans who knew about CRT back then were probably professors and lawyers and what they knew about it was that CRT was an esoteric, marginalized legal theory. The stuff that law professors might get excited about, but practically no one else. Yet, as Glenn Youngkin showed in Virginia’s gubernatorial race last November, Republican candidates and strategists may just be onto something. The assault on CRT now appears to be one of the main weapons in the messaging arsenal that Republicans will deploy to woo and win voters in the 2022 midterms. This installment of Notes from the Field thus shares some background and some thoughts on CRT and how it may relate to Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) engagement in 2022. I first review how we got here – both the recent politicization of CRT as a campaign issue and the origins of CRT as a legal movement in the academy. There are two “critical race theories” in play here and at the end of the day, the role that CRT plays in 2022 will depend on how it is defined and understood. “Critical Race Theory” as Republican candidates and campaigns aim to define it is a dog-whistle and a Hermione Granger grab bag for all sorts of discontents and resentment. Critical Race Theory as a considered and coherent perspective on the role of race in American law, society, and politics, however, is something that AAPI voters should relate to and have a stake in.” Check out our latest piece on “Critical Race Theory and AAPIs” in Notes from the Field, a series of semi-regular think pieces authored by Takeu Lee, Senior Fellow at the AAPI Civic Engagement Fund. Lee is also the George Johnson Professor of Law and Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, and currently serves on the U.S. Census Bureau’s National Advisory Committee.
AAAJ-Atlanta | #RememberingMarch16 Collective Statement & Toolkit This March 16 will be the one year anniversary of the murders of eight people, including size Asian women massage workers at spas in our metro Atlanta community. As the organization that led the rapid-response efforts to directly support victims, survivors, and their families, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta invites individuals and partner organizations to join in solidarity on march 12 for a day of remembrance, and to observe Wednesday, March 16 as a sacred day for quiet reflection. Sign-on to our collective statement by Wednesday, March 9. The statement will be released on on Saturday, March 12 and organizations who have signed on will be listed as co-signers. Observe, join, or organize solidarity events on March 12, 2021 in your local community. In Atlanta, AAAJ-Atlanta is co-hosting a community remembrance event with the Asian American Advocacy Fund alongside co-sponsors: Raksha, CPACS, Korean American Coalition, and New Georgia Project. Please share our solidarity day invitations with your networks. Use this community toolkit to uplift AAAJ-Atlanta’s 5-part art collaboration series dedicated to the one year remembrance.
EPIC | Pasifika Art Gallery: Reflection, Revival, (R)evolution Pasifika Art: Reflection, Revival, (R)evolution is a multimedia project grounded in the Samoan cultural practices of talanoa and teu le vā, meaning talk story and to care for the space that connects us. EPIC understands the critical role that art plays in articulating the realities of our communities while also creating space for dreaming of radically different futures Reflection has a duality that speaks to the need for PI’s to be seen and be in critical dialogue about our roles in social justice movements. Revival speaks to healing and the renewed energy that elders and youth are feeling in response to the pandemic and racial justice uprisings. (R)evolution is both a call to action and a meditation on the changes our communities have undergone due to colonization as well as the conscious decisions younger generations are making about what parts of culture to preserve and evolve. What We Heard The EPIC team crowdsourced responses to prompts issued through Instagram asking: Can you envision a world without police/prisons? Who or what makes you feel safe? WE TAKE CARE OF US. When asked what makes them feel safe, respondents told us about sisters, siblings, prayer circles, parents, friends, and family. Hundreds of times they named people and not systems. It’s clear that the abolition we want will require deep relationships that center community and connection. THE FUTURE WE WANT IS POSSIBLE. Though a strong majority of our respondents want abolition, the current state of the world has made it feel unattainable. We want to illustrate that it’s not only possible, in many ways it is already here. TOGETHER, WE HAVE THE POWER. This message and framework comes directly from Culture Surge’s The Storytellers’ Guide to Changing Our World. We disrupt traditional notions of power that are exploitative and instead inspire movement building towards a collective power because we know that liberation will require all of us. Click here to view the Art Gallery, including film screenings, commissioned artists, and an art contest.
SEAFN | Week of Action Communications Toolkit Southeast Asian Freedom Week of Action Communications Toolkit A political education and freedom campaign to end the detention and deportation of Southeast Asian migrants and refugees. Topline messages: The U.S. government is an agent of anti-Asian violence each time it detains and deports Southeast Asian migrants and refugees. Detention and deportation are extensions of U.S. imperialism, whereby our people are continuously displaced from our homes and families by the U.S. government, as we had been in Southeast Asia. Southeast Asian migrants and refugees are unconditionally deserving of dignity. The immigration system is bereft of that. Detention and deportation does not create safe communities. In fact, it exacerbates violence and injustice. Southeast Asian liberation is deeply intertwined with the freedom struggles of other migrants and refugees and of the Indigenous nations of the U.S. whose lands were also pillaged by the U.S. Fighting anti-Blackness is a central pillar in ending the oppression of Southeast Asian people internationally. Petition: http://bit.ly/seafreedom Share the toolkit: https://bit.ly/seafreedomtoolkit
Reviving Sisterhood | Shifting From Hate to Health: Benefits of Leading From within Community Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and white nationalism are weapons of racism promoting fear and isolation and putting individuals and entire communities at risk for stress, trauma, isolation, and poor health. Listen to the full session here! The current social and political context fosters hate speech and acts of hate against Muslims and Jews. Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, and white nationalism are weapons of racism promoting fear and isolation and putting individuals and entire communities at risk for stress, trauma, isolation, and poor health. By investing in organizations led by communities under attack—and through robust, genuine, and reciprocal relationships—grantee partners are shifting the focus from hate to health. In this Quick Take, hear from Jewish and Muslim leaders, and learn successful strategies to creating safer and more welcoming communities and drafting actionable steps for your organization.