How to Tangibly Support Us Asians. Today.
How to Tangibly Support Us Asians. Today.
My heart is hurting for my Korean siblings and again, all of us from the Asian diaspora who are hurting and have been hurting, many times unseen and unrecognized. Today, I’m asking for a little tenderness from you — but not through words. This is how you can extend your tenderness to me:
1. Find and patronize an Asian grocery store. You might not know of one in your area, so Google it — you might be surprised. Go into the grocery store with humility and curiosity, and buy something. We make really good candies and sweets, baked goods. Yes, it looks different. Try it. If you can’t do that, pick up a couple packs of gum.
2. Find and patronize an Asian music group. You might not know of one, so Google it — you might be surprised. My favorite is Big Rice Piano — their piano relaxation music has been huge for me in this pandemic. Purchase something off of Bandcamp. Explore K-pop on YouTube. The way we express our arts might look different. They might look similar. Either way, we are human.
3. Find and patronize an Asian restaurant. Certainly, if there are Korean restaurants in your area, that would be great. You might not know of one, so Google it — you might be surprised. Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese. If you can swing it, get one of their more expensive dishes, or over-order so you have leftovers. Tip well.
4. If you practice or have ever benefited from practicing martial arts, that comes from us. Our lineage. Share with your martial arts group the importance of speaking out on behalf of Asians, our safety, our dignity, our humanity. Do some background work — what country does your martial arts come from? Who is the current political leader of this country? Where, even, is this country on a map, what is its capitol? Learn about this country that originated the martial arts that you are benefiting from. Share it with non-Asian friends. As you learn, remember that you are learning about real people. Not stereotypes. Full human beings.
5. Along those lines, if you have ever benefited from Asian-based mindfulness practices, like Buddhist practices: That is our lineage. It is not right to simply take from a country and people their practices and then stand by silently as the real, live people are shot to death. It is not right to benefit from the gifts that our cultures have produced and to be silent when we suffer at the hands of white supremacy, perhaps your people. Share with your mindfulness groups this article. Share with your mindfulness partners the importance of speaking out for Asians. You cannot partition yourself off and take only our practices and let our people die. That is not congruent and certainly not spiritual in any sense of the word. Rather, to benefit from the best that our countries have created and walk away when we suffer: That is a form of spiritual and cultural violence and deepest appropriation.
6. Support the work of Asian Americans Advancing Justice and/or other AAPI justice groups in your area. Don’t know of any? Start with these links — you might be surprised. Support us with your economic patronage as well as with the ways you politically show up. Support us by learning not just about our ancient history but about what life is like for us today. Learn about our struggles, learn what you can do.
Speak out. Talk about the importance of what our Asian cultures have produced in your life. LOOK at a map and familiarize yourself with our countries. Purchase our songs. Eat our food. Deepen your respect, and turn that deeper respect into action for us when we are attacked. If you are interested in our history, don’t just go back thousands of years. What are common struggles of Asians and Asian Americans today? What are the barriers we face in this white supremacist world and how can you help local AAPI organizations?
Because more than the culture we produce, we are human. Care about us because we are human. Yes, our cultures are rich and deep. But if you connect with our cultures, guess what? It’s because there are similarities between us and you. That is, we are not “exotic.” We are not foreigners. Many of us have been here for generations. This is our home just as much as it is yours.
[What’s the difference between honoring our culture and appropriating it? Here’s my next article: The End of Cultural Appropriation]
A gratitude for three Black friends of mine who gave a check-in email or call yesterday. If you have Asian friends, neighbors, or colleagues, please do that. Many times, we Asians have learned not to expect care from non-Asians — that is a double pain, that our pain is erased. Whether we are vocal in our suffering or are quiet, that doesn’t mean that we don’t suffer.
These are the ways I would like you to extend tenderness. Which of the above will you try to do in the next days? THAT will help my heart, immensely. And thank you.
