2
Apr
We, the Asian American Business Association, believe in our purpose to celebrate culture, unite communities, and build more empathy into the world. Our purpose stems from a deep desire to make the world a better place for all. To this end, we stand united to fight against all forms of racism, bias, and discrimination. This conviction runs deep within our organization.
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been an alarming 1900 percent increase in harassment and violent crimes against the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the United States alone. Among nearly 3,000 reports, recent incidents include:
While dangerous Anti-Asian xenophobic rhetoric surrounding the pandemic has contributed to this rise, we must also reckon with the fact that the United States bears a long history of state-sanctioned injustices and individual acts of racial discrimination against the AAPI community. Examples include the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act and the 1942 Japanese Internment Camps Executive Order. In 1982, Chinese-American Vincent Chin died four days after being beaten by two white men in Highland Park, Michigan.
But our fight against these racist crimes is not ours to fight alone in the AAPI community, nor are the burden of others their own to bear. These latest incidents simply remind us of the inequity and inequality that continues to exist for countless communities in this country. We acknowledge the long history of racism in the United States and the role it's played in pitting people of color and marginalized communities against one another. We must stand united with our peers in the Black, Latinx, Native, and other communities to fight racism. We, at AABA, continue to stand in solidarity with BBSA's Call to Action.
Over the long history, since Asian immigrants arrived in America, Asian-Americans have been forced to straddle dual cultures and identities. And we acknowledge that this has too often meant accepting a position of silence that is underpinned by the model minority myth. In some instances, we have even allowed ourselves to be bystanders in the face of struggle and resistance, either by accepting the fate of our community in the wake of injustice or worse, accepting the fate of other communities in the face of oppression.
But let's not forget the tremendous progress the Asian-American community has made in being activists. Most recently, we're grateful to community leaders and activists like Michelle Kim (CEO of Awaken), Amanda Nguyen (founder of Rise), Daniel Wu, Daniel Dae Kim, and Olivia Munn for speaking out. We are also deeply inspired by the joint coalitions built within and across the Asian and Black communities.
This activism, upheld by both Asian-Americans and allies, demonstrates a broader commitment to not only uplift our own community but also strengthen our bonds with other communities. We fully recognize that achieving prosperity for one group, whether that be Asian-Americans, Black Americans, Native Americans, or LatinX Americans, requires the unity, harmony, and collaboration of all groups.
We urge our community and allies to join us in our call to action, condemning all acts of discrimination and racism, and building a world free of inequality and inequity. We are hoping and working for a world where we can all walk alongside each other, with equal worth and dignity. We call for your solidarity in amplifying the AAPI voice and deepening our commitments to take action.
We urge you to help us take action through the following ways:
If you wish to donate with us, you may send your donation to our PayPal account (AABA-2020@umich.edu).
As an organization and community, the AABA is here to offer support to those who identify with Asian-American experiences and those who wish to continue building greater knowledge and allyship.
At the end of this statement, you will find additional resources and a listing of upcoming events hosted by AABA to support this important call to action. We invite you to join us.
Asian American Business Association 2020-21 Executive Board
Greater China Association Executive Board
Indian Subcontinent Business Association
Japan Business Association Executive Board
Korea Business Club Executive Board
Southeast Asia Business Association
Taiwan Business Association Executive Board