Solidarity with the Asian Community
Discrimination and hate crimes against Asian Americans have risen to alarming levels in recent times. Recent data collected by Stop AAPI Hate reveals nearly 3,800 hate incidences between March 2020 and February 2021. About 68 percent of the reported incidents were verbal harassment, with another 20 percent classified as shunning or deliberate avoidance of Asian Americans.
If you are in Atlanta, Georgia, and wondering how to be an ally to the Asian community, Lamar Law Office will gladly offer guidance. We are a minority-owned law firm in Atlanta, Georgia, showing solidarity with the Asian community through practical and meaningful ways.
How to Support the Asian American Community
Members of our AAPI communities are terrified, hurting, and frustrated at all the hate, rage, and violence directed towards them. This kind of emotional, and, in some cases, physical abuse, cannot continue. There is an urgent need for every American to help stop Asian hate. Here are a few things every Atlanta, Georgia resident should do to take action:
Research the History of Asian Racism
Learning the history of Asian racism helps better understand the root cause of the vice and how it has impacted both the Asian community, and all of American society, for decades. Racism against Asians runs deep from the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act to the 1982 killing of Vincent Chin.
The root source of all the hate and prejudice against the Asian community and other minority groups can be traced back to the fabricated societal hierarchies placed on us, for example, the Asian community being labeled “the model minority.” This label was a weaponized myth used to effectively divide the minority groups and create the perception that Asians typically didn’t face the same challenges that other minorities face from time to time.
Ironically, these stereotypes and perceptions have conditioned APPI’s not to seek help when faced with challenges. A recent study reveals Asian Americans are three times less likely than whites to seek mental health help. Understanding how systematic racism has impacted minorities in relation to each other will help change our attitudes towards one another and empower us to find effective ways to dismantle racism.
Offer Support
Supporting our AAPI community doesn’t have to involve significant actions. We can offer support through simple but effective ways, such as learning how to correctly pronounce your Asian colleagues’ names. Regardless of race, a name is an integral part of a person’s identity, and calling them by their given name can be a great way to show respect and value.
If you are a people leader in Atlanta, Georgia, consider uplifting the minority voices in the office. Consider workplace tactics that ensure you are assigning work, promotions, or coaching opportunities fairly and equitably for all your team members regardless of their race.
Be an Active Ally
You can join the long list of new and growing nonprofits that are working hard to end Asian hate. Some of the ways to offer support are by giving back through donating money to nonprofits, reporting anti-Asian hate crimes, and volunteering your time and skills to efforts that seek to dismantle Asian racism. Some of the non-profit organizations to partner with include:
- Asian American Resource Center
- Center for Pan Asian Community Services
- Stop AAPI Hate
- Support the AAPI Community Fund
- Asian Americans Advancing Justice | AAJC
- Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Patronize APPI-owned businesses
The COVID-19 related racism has impacted AAPI owned small businesses in an unprecedented manner. These businesses are struggling with low sales and high costs of operation due to a loss of a significant customer base. Some of the ways to support these small businesses include:
- Ordering take out from AAPI owned eateries without using third-party delivery services
- Patronizing AAPI owned online shops and groceries
- Contributing to the overall AAPI fundraising pool for small businesses
Contact Lamar Law Office If You Witness Any Racist Incidents
Documenting harassment is crucial even if the incident doesn’t legally qualify as a hate crime. At Lamar Law Office, we are committed to empowering our communities to fight all forms of racism.
Lamar Law Office practices Civil Rights law for a select number of cases. If you or a loved one is a victim of racism in Atlanta, Georgia, contact us today for immediate help.