Good morning, and welcome to The Yappie’s AAPI politics briefing — your guide to the policy news and activism affecting Asian Americans + Pacific Islanders. Send tips and feedback to [email protected] and support our work by making a donation.
— Edited by Shawna Chen
In Focus
NEW DATA POINTS ON THE STATE OF ANTI-ASIAN HATE: 34% of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders report experiencing racism this year, per a new poll from AAPI Data and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Hate incidents ranged from verbal slurs to cyberbullying, Associated Press’ Terry Tang and Linley Sanders write.
- Roughly 2 in 10 respondents say they faced verbal harassment or abuse in the past year, while 22% said they were called a racial or ethnic slur.
- About 1 in 3 say they often or sometimes encounter discrimination when applying for jobs due to their race or ethnicity.
- Around 1 in 10 report that they were targets of physical assaults or intimidation.
Findings from the poll, the first in a new monthly series, stand in stark contrast to recent FBI data that showed a 33% decrease in reported anti-Asian hate crimes from 2021 to 2022.
- Advocates say it’s a reminder that FBI hate crimes statistics are only one piece of the puzzle when it comes to documenting hate—and that the crisis targeting AAPIs is far from over.
- An analysis of poll results also showed an increased vulnerability to anxiety among AAPI communities.
Another topline to consider: 61% of potential voters in battleground states believe that politicians’ use of anti-China rhetoric played a role in the escalation of anti-Asian violence, per a recent National AAPI Power Fund survey reported by The Hill’s Cheyanne M. Daniels.
- “It’s important that candidates and organizations know that anti-China rhetoric doesn’t foster any short-term or long-term gains,” said Joshua Ulibarri, partner at the political strategy firm Lake Research Partners.
AAPI Nation
Here's what else is happening across America…
🌏 Some Pacific Island nations are doubling down on concerns over Japan’s release of potentially radioactive wastewater into the ocean, a reflection of divisions within the Pacific Islands Forum. Other topics discussed at the regional summit last week include the Treaty of Rarotonga and climate change strategies, Kyodo News reports.
📉 Vietnamese American shrimpers in Texas are facing challenges due to the decline of the U.S.’s shrimp industry, which has forced them to adapt once again, New York Times’ Amy Qin writes.
- Thousands of Vietnamese refugees settled along the Gulf Coast after the Vietnam War and established fishing communities while overcoming war trauma, language barriers, and prejudice from local residents.
🚨 Police in Plano, Texas have arrested five people in connection to a string of burglaries that allegedly targeted the Asian American community, NBC Asian America’s Kimmy Yam writes. Authorities say the suspects approached their homes dressed as delivery workers after ensuring the residences were empty and may have targeted Asian Americans because of their tendency to store valuables in their homes.
🎖️ Pacific Islander veterans were honored at a special dinner hosted in Sandy, Utah last week, Fox 13’s Scott McCane reports. The event was organized by marine veteran Michael Tan and his group “Behind the Lavalava,” which emphasizes unity and shared experiences across cultures.
🎭 The annual Unforgettable Gala, America’s oldest awards ceremony honoring Asian and Pacific Islander names in entertainment, will be available to audiences on cable and streaming platforms for the first time ever via ChimeTV. Journalist Lisa Ling and filmmaker Destin Daniel Cretton are honorary co-chairs of this year’s event, which is slated for December.
⚾️ Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll, 23, became the first Asian American to receive the coveted MLB Rookie of the Year award in a unanimous vote by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America, NBC Asian America’s Kimmy Yam writes.
📺 Among prominent 2022 films and TV shows on streaming platforms with at least one Asian cast member, only 6% showcased an Asian character in a leading role, according to a new analysis by the Norman Lear Center and Gold House.
- The study revealed a pattern of “proximity to whiteness,” NBC Asian America’s Emi Tuyetnhi Tran notes. 42% of Asian characters had light skin tones, 68% of Asian characters never had a conversation with another Asian character, and more than half of Asian women characters had a white love interest.
🥰 Enjoying The Yappie? Make a donation, forward this briefing to a friend, or subscribe here. You can also follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
The Yappie is your must-read briefing on AAPI power, politics, and influence, fiscally sponsored by the Asian American Journalists Association. Make a donation, subscribe, and follow us on Twitter (@theyappie). Send tips and feedback to [email protected].
