On April 2020, the Bayanihan Foundation joins with the Asian Americans and Pacific Islander in Philanthropy (AAPIP) in an open letter to end bias and discrimination among Asian Americans during this Covid19 pandemic: https://bit.ly/2YgEHQn The Bayanihan Foundation joins with hundreds of other foundations, giving circles, philanthropy serving organizations, and individuals in philanthropy in denouncing the anti-Asian climate alongside COVID-19,
In March 2020, the drumbeat has been getting louder and louder in blaming China, Asians, and Asian Americans in general for the Covid19 pandemic. By April 2020, the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council reported over 1,500 incidents of hate crimes and assaults against Asians in the US: https://bit.ly/2YgFz7B
Xenophobia is ravaging Asian communities in the U.S. alongside the physical impacts of COVID-19. While Covid-19 may be novel, the racism accompanying it is far from new. Scapegoating of Asian Americans is fueled by fear and racism simmering just below the surface. When it comes from our country’s top leaders, whether direct or implied, it signals an official stamp of acceptance and puts Asian Americans in harm’s way, including children.
There are more than 21 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S., comprising the fastest growing racial group, and they too are impacted, especially health care workers and others that provide essential services who are risking
their lives to save others. And philanthropy is not immune. Our staff and colleagues are also impacted by microaggressions, externally or even within our own work environment when minimized or ignored.
Through every crisis, philanthropy responds. Giving circles, Asian American community foundations and other mutual aid solutions are stepping up to support the community, both to address COVID-19 as well as the unique harms to Asian Americans. Asian and Asian-American philanthropists are also stepping up to be part of the larger COVID-19 solution, donating personal protection equipment for American healthcare workers. Even Filipino Chinese in the Philippines are giving and helping their fellow Filipinos: https://bit.ly/2Yexnop
The cure to viral racism is within our hands. Don’t forward hateful speech and racist posts in your social media. Speak out when you see racism and prejudice against any individual or community. Let’s think expansively about our future together and support a path to finding our full humanity based on trusted relationships and not on hate. In this pandemic, we are one people with a shared destiny. Let’s close this chapter on these harmful stereotypes along with ending the Covid19 virus. Our collective health is strengthened by our shared humanity.
(Major excerpts of this post came from the Asian Americans & Pacific Islander in Philanthropy open letter against hate).
