Learn Your Role: Stop AAPI Hate at Work

Since the start of the Pandemic, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate has surged. According to StopAAPIHate, a center dedicated to tracking and responding to incidents of violence, bullying, harassment, and discrimination against the AAPI communities, over 2,800 firsthand accounts of anti-AAPI hate from 47 states and Washington, D.C occurred last year.

The racist and divisive language used by the previous Presidential Administration attempted to falsely link COVID-19 to Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This language further exacerbated the violence and discrimination targeting AAPI communities. Tragically, this brand of racism is not new for AAPI communities living in the United States.

DEI leaders like you must do all we can to raise awareness and encourage our colleagues to take meaningful actions to respond to this rise in anti-AAPI violence. If you’re looking for ways to raise awareness, build allyship skills, and stand united against hate, please consider taking these five everyday actions:

1.      Inform yourself about what anti-AAPI hatred looks like and why it is occurring.

2.      Share these safety tips to demonstrate your support for your AAPI colleagues.

3.      Encourage your leadership team to issue a statement denouncing anti-AAPI racism.

4.      Support AAPI-owned businesses through your supplier diversity efforts.

5.      Make a donation to help with the response to this surge in AAPI racism and xenophobia.

Next week, our Belonging Membership Community will explore additional actions we can take to support our AAPI colleagues and local communities with DEI thought leader, Lillian Tsai. If you'd like to be a part of this discussion, or future conversations that will help advance your DEI goals, consider joining the Community here.

Thanks for growing the #BelongingMovement!