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“Our ERG community is hurt, but not surprised by the events that have unfolded over the past year. We're afraid for ourselves, our elders and our youth given the rise of xenophobia and racism toward the AAPI community. To help support, Praytell will be donating to Asian Americans Advancing Justice, a national nonprofit org, chosen by elevAsian, that advances civil and human rights.
We’re thankful to have fostered a community, safe space and open dialogue for our AAPI employees. In processing the ongoing violence and racism, we are also looking at the positives that are happening amongst our community right now, such as increasing representation of our stories in the media and growing awareness of systemic issues that have existed for decades, not just within the past year. ”
Makiyah Ruggieri-Vesey, Account Strategy Manager, elevAsian Lead
America has a long history of scapegoating its Asian citizens, but Covid-19 has sparked a new wave of discrimination and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Earlier in the pandemic, misinformation and xenophonic rhetoric from the Trump administration caused an increase in anti-Asian bias, and in recent weeks, an uptick in violent attacks has caught media attention.
With AAPI communities on high alert, it’s important to confront the fact that these incidents of racial discrimination have a very tangible impact in the workplace — both in terms of their emotional toll on Asian-American employees, and the ways in which racial discrimination shows up at work.
As the recent attacks incite a broader reckoning with anti-Asian racism in the U.S., business-as-usual in the workplace can leave AAPI employees feeling unheard and unsupported.
Below are 5 ways you can show solidarity with your Asian American coworkers.
Offer tangible support to teammates
While checking in to ask AAPI coworkers “How are you feeling” may be well intentioned, it can create an emotional burden that’s a lot to handle in the workplace. It’s more helpful to thoughtfully acknowledge the situation, and then offer tangible support; for example, offering to take something off their plate, setting up a working session, or helping them re-delegate tasks so they can take a mental health day or two.
If you’re a leader, send a clear message
At a time when Asian American employees are likely under emotional stress, it’s important to reaffirm your company is a safe, inclusive workplace with a zero-tolerance policy on racism or discrimination of any kind. An “it doesn’t happen here” approach is unrealistic and unhelpful. Company leaders should ensure clear internal communications, and implement channels for mental health support and incident-reporting.
Engage in spaces for education
Despite the blatant violence of recent incidents, it took a lot of work from Asian American activists to get the crisis being faced by their communities the attention it deserved. The myth that Asian Americans represent a “model minority” downplayed the discrimination, and there’s a lot of unlearning to be done in order to understand the ways in which Asian American struggle is silenced.
If your AAPI peers or employee resource groups open spaces for discussion and education, make sure you show up ready to listen and engage. At the same time, don’t rely on your AAPI coworkers to give you the full history of Asian American identity and struggle. The below resources are a great starting place to expand your knowledge and empathy:
Read: Asian Americans Are Still Caught in the Trap of the ‘Model Minority’ Stereotype. And It Creates Inequality for All by Viet Thanh Nguyen
Watch: Need to Know, Yoonj Kim, MTV NEWS
Listen: Asian Enough, hosted by Jen Yamato and Frank Shyong
Scroll: @TeachandTransform
Offer mutual aid support
You can show solidarity by donating to organizations investing in justice, prosperity and safety for AAPI communities across the U.S. (check out this list from New York Magazine or here at GoFundMe). However, a high-impact way for individuals to directly support your AAPI coworkers is by creating a mutual aid network. This could be as simple as starting a slack channel where folks can post and respond to requests; for example, offering funds for folks who’d feel safer taking an uber home from work, or need to send money to elderly family members.
Be an ally in your community
In response to recent incidents, organizations in cities across the U.S. are setting up foot patrols to escort elderly residents to and from work. If you live near these communities, volunteering to help out, or even gathering a group of employees to go together is a great way to show up for your AAPI coworkers. Try committing to one outing a week — and even if you only make it out once or twice, you’ll still make a positive impact.
Questions? Or looking for guidance about how your brand can support? Send us an email allyship@praytellagency.com.
About elevAsian: ElevAsian’s purpose is to connect in a safe space, discuss issues impacting the Asian community, and seek opportunities to uplift others.
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