Holding Space for Grief and Power: Discussing the Letter to Asian Diasporic Library Workers
Family Meeting, 3/27, 1p PT, 2p MT, 3p CT, 4p ET USA
Free event
Holding Space for Grief and Power: Discussing the letter to Asian Diasporic Library Workers
The recent violent hate crimes against Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is harrowing. We’re incredibly grateful to the authors of Letter to Asian Diasporic Library Workers (up//root, Feb 22) for organizing a space for grief, power, and discussion of the letter.
This family meeting will address and hold space for the anti-Asian violence of recent months, in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, and across generations of Asian diaspora in North America. In doing so, they also hope to discuss how Asian library workers can orient their political selves—not in striving toward whiteness—but in solidarity with Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color. The meeting discussion will be based on the Letter to Asian Diasporic Library Workers published in up//root, in response to the School Library Journal cover for Black History Month and morphed into a call to action.
From the organizers: “Discussion will include ways that we can better educate ourselves and our communities about systemic whiteness, recognize and accept leadership from Black people in frameworks of racial justice, address racism in our workplaces and in our profession, acknowledge the culture of anti-Blackness in our communities and organizations, and resist the idea that a neutral perspective on race is even possible. We also want to address how Asian identity is not monolithic and the complex ways in which anti-Asian rhetoric and racism impact Asians across different backgrounds.”
Members can register for the Family Meeting here.
While this space is for We Here members only, there are other ways folks can take action. Below are just a few organizations and resources to read through and support if you can. Big thanks to Press Press and Brown Art Ink for sharing most of these links.
Stop AAPI Hate
Our communities stand united against racism. Hate against Asian American Pacific Islander communities has risen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Together, we can stop it.
National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum
NAPAWF is the only organization focused on building power with AAPI women and girls to influence critical decisions that affect our lives, our families and our communities. Using a reproductive justice framework, we elevate AAPI women and girls to impact policy and drive systemic change in the United States.
Asian Mental Health Collective
Mission: It is the mission of the Asian Mental Health Collective to normalize and de-stigmatize mental health within the Asian Community.
Vision: The Asian Mental Health Collective aspires to make mental health easily available, approachable, and accessible to Asian communities worldwide.
Resources include APISAA Therapist Directory, Asian Canadian Therapist Directory, Asian Mental Health Professionals (AMHP) Facebook Group, and more.
Asian Americans Advancing Justice
Asian Americans have been part of the American story since its earliest days, and are now the U.S.'s fastest-growing racial group with the potential and power to shape our nation and the policies that affect us. Our mission is to advance civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.
Anti-Asian Violence Resources
[Here] you'll find resources that have been gathered to help individuals educate others, take action, donate, and more.
Butterly: Asian and Migrant Sex Workers Network
Butterfly on Instagram
Migrant Sex Workers' Rights are Human Rights
Asian and migrant sex workers are vulnerable and their human rights are denied because of their race, language, social, immigration and legal status. Stigma and marginalization increase their exposure to violence and exploitation and hinder their access to basic health, services, protection and justice.
Red Canary Song
Red Canary Song centers basebuilding with migrant workers through a labor rights framework and mutual aid. We believe that full decriminalization is necessary for labor organizing and anti-trafficking. #RightsNotRaids #SexWorkIsWork