April showers bring May flowers.
The phrase insinuates that the heavy rainfall in April will bring about the blooms in May. We all know that making our way through the murky waters of a difficult season will bear something beautiful on the other side. But, May has come and gone a few times and we’re still experiencing the rain.
The surge of violence against marginalized groups continues. Hate-fueled attacks on Asian Americans have spiked across major U.S. cities last year — in some cases by triple-digit percentages.
We all know we can do more, read more and listen more. Here are just a few things our community has shared with us to help all learn to stop AAPI hate.
Reading
Asian Americans Advancing Justice has tons of Covid-19 resources to stand up against racism.
Caste by Isabel Wilkerson
The Pulitzer Prize–winning, bestselling author of The Warmth of Other Suns examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America and shows how our lives today are still defined by a hierarchy of human divisions.
Watching
Yellow Rose is the first Filipino-American film and storyline put out by a major studio and it’s cast with Filipinos.
Yellow Rose is the timely story of a Filipina teen from a small Texas town who fights to pursue her dreams as a country music performer while having to decide between staying with her family or leaving the only home she has known.
Listening
Self Evident: Asian American’s Stories is a podcast that aims to challenge assumptions about Asian Americans.
Self Evident is where we tell Asian Americans ’ stories to explore what it means to claim America today. Each episode presents an in-depth story or conversation from specific communities within the Asian diasporas in America. We bring Asian American voices into the national conversation as they’ve never been heard before — across generations, cultures, and classes.
Learning
Shannon Downey of Badass Cross Stitch has teamed up with Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Chicago, to bring you a free Bystander Intervention Training. There is one more on April 21st. Learn more and Register here. If you can’t make that one, the national organization, Asian Americans Advancing Justice has a few more trainings available. Learn more here.
These crimes, along with all the other injustices against minority communities, have affirmed my belief that words matter. How we lead our circles in this moment matters. How we show up for our brothers and sisters matters. Celebrating AAPI joy and contributions is the beginning, but not the end. Here are some resources that we’ve been sharing in our community that you can use to learn and get involved.
Shopping
Let’s support the AAPI women+ who have created incredible businesses in fashion, services, writing, beauty, food, art, and more.
We all have the capacity to support our AAPI brothers and sisters through our intentional support, actionable learning, and advocacy. How are you working to support these communities right now?