Ways to Support AANHPIs Beyond May
Written by: Olyvia Chac
API Support Beyond May
May is a time for celebrating, honoring, and reflecting on the history of Asian Americans and their achievements in the U.S. – in short, Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander Month (AANHPI). Your social feeds, morning inbox emails, and even targeted retail ads for AANHPI are reminders that it’s our moment to take in extra joy this month.
You might be celebrating by supporting local or small API-owned businesses like Om Som or Chunks, hosting a Dim Sum brunch/evening karaoke night, or most resonant to our industry: your agency or agency’s Asian-identifying Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) are hosting a series of events throughout May.
But what about when this month is over? How can you continue the work to advocate for yourself, your peers, and the importance of hearing API voices? How can we break away from people making us invisible again until next May rolls around?
Yes, those are some very loaded questions for a weekday. And if we, and you, want to advocate for API voices and create safe spaces for others to thrive, here are a few ways to keep pushing forward beyond May.
Keep Making Your Presence & Voice Visible
May is over, but where do your bosses think you’re going? You’re still an employee at your agency and not planning on leaving anytime soon – you’re not invisible again. So, take this opportunity to continue pushing topics to advocate on API issues and champion fellow API coworkers.
Create space and visibility by contributing to larger agency conversations to help empower others to join in. Spotlight amazing work made by your fellow teammates or elevate passion projects. You can even show your support physically (or virtually) by sitting in on meetings/client presentations. More specifically, consider the following:
Write a blog for your agency as a guest contributor and share your stories of challenges and wins as an API in advertising.
Host ongoing workshops and education sessions with your ERGs.
Mentor, coach, or lend your voice to encourage others to speak up and advocate for themselves.
Use your position or role to make space for others who may not get to speak, present, or lead the conversation.
Advocacy with Intention: State Your Boundaries & Make Them Known
Despite knowing that there are so many talented and creative API folks in the industry, at times, you might be the only Asian person in the room, maybe the only one on your account, or even in some cases, the only one in the whole entire agency.
And you know where I’m going with this: you might get pigeonholed into being the spokesperson for all Asian issues. Being the appointed “Token Asian” isn’t exclusively a junior or mid-level problem either. Creative Directors, even Chief Creative Officers, can be dragged into speaking on behalf of the village.
Problems will always be endless. To ensure your sanity and safety, set up your boundaries. Reach out to your creative directors, managers, bosses, and advocates at your agency and let them know what you’re comfortable with. Make it clear what you’re able to contribute to the conversation or what conversations you wish to not be a part of.
You might not know how (or have all the answers) to solve a problem, so make that known when discussing your boundaries. Feeling like you have to be the point person for all Asian issues is not an additional responsibility that’s a part of your job description.
Forming Allyship in Community & Numbers: Get the Buy-In from Everyone
Allyship, at its core, is about being in solidarity and showing support for marginalized or underrepresented communities. It requires the buy-in and active participation of all individuals within a space, regardless of their personal identities or background. It’s not something built with tunnel vision or prioritizing one community over another but a shared, communal responsibility.
In relevance to a workplace setting, allyship can be formed in a variety of ways and starts by looking at different communities within the agency. Its purpose is to create a safe space for people to gather and show support in times of need. Active allyship can occur in a few ways like when:
ERGs host cross-collaboration events and invite agency folks to participate in conversations and learn from each other.
Executive leadership or directors sponsor/fund unconscious bias training or anti-racist workshops year-round.
An agency sends employees to continuing education courses, professional development conferences, or networking experiences like the AIA Breaking Barriers Summit.
Allyship is an ongoing journey that requires constant learning and growth. Hence, year-round and beyond May, this work needs to be prioritized to create a safe space. Start where you can within your agency, one event or conversation at a time.
Exist Authentically: Eat Shrimp Chips & Put Up That Photo of Your K-Pop Bias
Your days of yearning for Lunchables, Capri Suns, and Lisa Frank stationary to fit in are over. Spell it with me: O-V-E-R. Compromising your taste and personality to be a “cool kid” is no longer acceptable – exist authentically.
So eat your shrimp chips! Food holds a significant value in our culture and, even more so, our familiar love language of acts of service. Being able to enjoy the comfort of our home and the food our loved ones make for us should be unconditional. So, when it’s lunchtime, microwave that home-cooked meal in your old butter container and push aside your fear of judgment or someone commenting on the smells. If anything, they should be complimenting you on that amazing aroma.
Now let’s talk about your work area. Your office or desk space is your space – fill it with things that complete you without feeling like you have to hide your Asianness or ways of daily living. Don’t like regular gum or mints? Stock your drawer with Hi-Chews or Pocky sticks instead. You’re a K-pop stan and love BTS? Put all seven members or your bias on your desk. Immodium or Pepto-Bismol don’t work for you? Stash a pile of Po Chai Pills in your bottom drawer. Your mom probably still chases you out of the house to make sure you have extra in your bag.
Whether it’s with food, medicine, or Jimin, things that bring you comfort and make you feel complete should be tolerated. And if those around you are curious about the foods or trinkets on your desk, take it as a moment to educate them.
As Breaking Barriers Summit speaker, Denny Tu would say: “do whatever you need to nourish yourself – eat dim sum!”. And fulfill your soul by decorating your desk with idol photo cards.
Continue Sharing Perspectives: You’re More Content Worthy Than You Think
You’re the sum of your experiences. Continue sharing your perspectives– how you grew up with an at-home bowl cut, the embarrassing or worst-first-date stories, that one lunch box moment –anything you’re open to sharing. It’s cliche to say, but it still holds true in our industry: you never know where a good idea can come from; it could be from anywhere.
A feeling, past not-so-good experiences, a wild thought you labeled as “dumb”, or ideas you haven’t created yet could be the next viral thing. And sometimes, the biggest ideas, the ones that scare you, might help or inspire others to achieve their aspirations – just like Asians in Advertising.
May is Just the Beginning
To take us home, May is our month to spotlight the success and achievements of those who came before us as well as the future generations of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders. We’re so much more than just one month, the model minority and monolith stereotype. We deserve to be supported and celebrated daily, year-long, and always.
It's also important to recognize that advocacy work and being an advocate is a continuous journey. It requires consistent effort and commitment to fostering community and allyship. Don't let the momentum fade after this month. Keep the momentum going. Stay informed about current issues affecting the API community and actively seek opportunities to contribute and create a difference. Make those around you see the value in investing in rallying for the API community.
“Go be your ancestors’ biggest dream.” -Chris Lin
