3 ways to be a better ally to your AAPI coworkers and the greater community

[Pledge 1]

Over the last year we’ve seen an alarming rise in xenophobic and racist hate crimes against Asian Americans. Yelp stands in solidarity and is committed to supporting the AAPI community. Specifically, how we address anti-Asian hate, support Asian-owned businesses, and work to be progressive allies.

TEACH YOURSELF ABOUT THE HISTORY OF PROPAGANDA AND HATE

To begin combating irrational, fear-based bigotry, start with education. Learning the historical basis for Asian hate is an essential first step.

An op-ed published in 1854 by Horace Greeley spurred the creation of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. His xenophobic, racist hate was foisted onto any Asian immigrant coming to the U.S. regardless of their actual ethnicity, and persisted through WWII and Japanese Internment, to the murder of Vincent Chin, and recently, the murder of six Asian women in Atlanta.

But, even “positive” Asian stereotypes—like the model minority myth—are just as dangerous. Our team created an allyship guide explaining the history Asian communities in the U.S.

Additionally, we recommend these works by AAPI writers:

• Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong
• The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
• Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans by  Ronald Takaki
• Asian American Dreams by Helen Zia
• Immigrant Acts by Lisa Lowe

RECOGNIZE THAT ASIAN REPRESENTATION AT ALL LEVELS OF ORGANIZATIONS IS IMPORTANT

The success of Crazy Rich Asians proved that diversity in Hollywood was economically viable. So, what changed? According to Andrew Chow, “Over the past decade, Asian Americans have become showrunners, studio executives, lead agents, and producers; they have formed tight-knit groups to champion one another.”

This framework has been used in politics via the founding of Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) alongside Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC).

While we’ve seen an increase in representation in Washington, it does not extend to the corporate C-suite. In an article for the Harvard Business Review, authors stated that Asian American white-collar professionals are the least likely group to be promoted into management because they’re seen as an extremely successful demographic, and not underrepresented.

SUPPORT AAPI-OWNED BUSINESSES AND AAPI-SERVING ORGANIZATIONS

According to Yelp’s Economic Impact Report on diverse businesses, the rate of searches on Yelp for Asian-owned businesses in the U.S. increased by 3,404% in February 2021 compared to the previous year.

To make it easier to find Asian-owned businesses, Yelp collaborated with Gold House, to introduce a new way for businesses to self-identify.

Additionally, the following AAPI-serving organizations are fighting to elevate experiences and stop Asian hate.

• Asian Americans Advancing Justice
• Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund
• Asian Pacific Environmental Network
• Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum
• Chinese for Affirmative Action
• National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum
• National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance
• Stop AAPI Hate

In addition to education and advocacy, donations to AAPI-serving organizations, companies can reflect on product features that provide consumers with ways to support, and pathways to encourage representation of AAPI people at all levels of leadership.