AAPI Heritage Month Statement & Resources

Attacks against members of our community are attacks on our mission.

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We look forward to celebrating AAPI history, culture and contributions with you but, first, we must own up to a mistake.

You have heard us speak up against racial violence before, even read our remarks reaffirming our commitment to racial equity and economic inclusion. We did not, however, respond to the wave of violence against AAPI community members here and across the country.

We failed in our responsibility and we are deeply sorry. Especially as a white lead organization, it is incumbent on us to speak up boldly for community members who are impacted. These hate crimes have directly affected many people including our staff, partners, and clients. Attacks against members of our community are attacks on our mission, and on all of us.

Acknowledgements like this do not undo the trauma or historical indifference. In our role as a community organization with a powerful platform we must do more to uplift everyone in our community.

We’re recommitted to shining a light on the many ways that Alameda County is stronger, richer and more resilient because of the deep roots the AAPI community has here.

We invite you to explore the links below gathered by our staff for opportunities to learn, support and engage.

Resources

Get Support:

Compassion Oakland – Compassion in Oakland was formed in response to the surge of anti-Asian attacks — particularly in California’s Bay Area. You can request a chaperone to accompany you or volunteer to help.
Local Health, Legal and Social Resources – Via Compassion Oakland

Learn:

AAPI Heritage Month Booklist – ACCFB staff always have their nose in a book. Check out our book recommendations for AAPI Heritage Month.
Bystander Intervention Training – Hollaback! – Hollaback! offers 3 free bystander intervention trainings to stop Asian-American and xenophobic harassment.
Exposing Injustice: Incarceration of Japanese Americans – Oakland Museum of California. –
Dorothea Lange photographed the forced removal and imprisonment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Many of her images were censored and remained unseen for decades.
When Mexicans and Filipinos joined together – United Farm Workers – Andy Imutan was a vice president of the United Farm Workers, formed by the merger of the largely Filipino AWOC and the mostly Latino NFWA. In this article, he tells his story of how he got involved in the movement.
How Asian-American Farmers Shape What America Eats – Eater – A young generation of Asian-American farmers is reclaiming Asian vegetables – and in the process, their own culinary heritage.
The Page Law – The Chinese Exclusion Act – Chinese American Museum – The Chinese Exclusion Act, passed in 1875 and finally repealed in 1943, and the subsequent legislation were the first and only of its kind to discriminate based on ethnic background.
Stop Asian Hate: Virtual Anti-Asian Racism Events – Eventbrite – Learn how you can stop Asian hate by attending one of these curated events, and join us in standing in solidarity with the AAPI community.
Stand Against Hatred – Asian Americans Advocating Justice – This website’s mission is to document hate and to educate about the environment of hate around the country.
What you can do to fight violence and racism against Asian Americans – PBS News Hour – Asian American community leaders shared advice with the PBS NewsHour about ways Americans can help.
“We Need to Talk About Anti-Asian Hate” – The Try Guys – Please note, the themes of the video are heavy and can be triggering. They also delve a bit into interracial racism, an often overlooked and painful topic.