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Right now, there is a continuous increase of violent and deadly attacks against Asian American communities. There are several prominent instances of these sudden and abhorrent assaults being levied against elder Asian people, including 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee’s fatal assault in San Francisco, a 91-year-old man being violently shoved to the ground in Oakland’s Chinatown, and Noel Quintana’s brutal face slashing on a New York City subway, among many other incidents.

But, the hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) are getting exponentially worse and affecting people of all ages. In March 2021, six Asian women were murdered during a shooting rampage at three massage parlors in Atlanta. The culmination of these events have left many people even more fearful of leaving their homes, a decision that’s already difficult in the middle of a dire health crisis which heavily impacts low-income AAPI communities.

Racist rhetoric (buoyed by harmful stereotypes) surrounding COVID-19 certainly plays a role in this uptick of violence in the past year. The former POTUS calling the coronavirus the “Chinese virus” and “Kung Flu,” along with others pointing the blame of its worldwide ramifications towards Chinese people, has led to 3,795 reported discrimination incidents since March 2020; however, the United States bears a long and disdainful history of anti-Asian racism extending back to the 1800s (and likely prior) with Asian immigrants being the subjects of xenophobic “yellow peril” reports about their “uncleanliness” and “uncivilized nature.”

Over the years, harmful depictions of Asian people in media led to oppressive legislature (like the Chinese Exclusion Act) and racist language about their skin color and other phenotypical features became pervasive. Asian Americans have been in this dangerous, white supremacist fueled cycle from being seen as the “model minority” to help build America to a “foreign threat” whenever the US is in some sort of collective strife, with the most current being the coronavirus pandemic. Additionally, reporting about the Atlanta shooting suspect’s alleged “sex addiction” further emphasizes the dehumanization and sexual fetishization of Asian women, whether their profession is tangentially tied to sex work or not.

The recent string of attacks have caused Daniel Dae Kim, Lewis Tan, Lulu Wang, Jeremy Lin, and other prominent Asian public figures to speak out about the targeted violence against their communities. The wake of the Atlanta shooting is sparking a wave of protests, social media conversations, and calls to action across America with people condemning verbal, physical, and social hatred towards Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Community organizations whose missions are to support, protect, and empower AAPI communities are also continuing to combat against the social and systemic barriers that threat their lives and security.

It is certainly a layered and complex situation that leaves many people wondering what they can do to help. There is no one specific and all-encompassing answer nor action to that question. Some have the ability and capacity to lend their support in a hands-on manner via volunteering, protesting, and community action.

Others are able to utilize their financial and social resources and donate towards and amplify organizations/individuals doing the vital work to uplift AAPI and provide others with a historical framework about their communities. Any of these actions must come with the understanding that allies are responsible for self-education, amplifying the work and voices of Asian people, and providing support without centering themselves.

The below list is a collection of organizations that can help you get directly involved, donate resources, or both in an effort to stand against Asian hate and push for positive change. Any further suggestions are welcome as this list is certainly not exhaustive.

Urgent Fundraisers

The Asian American Resource Foundation, Inc. has created a GoFundMe page to serve the immediate needs of the Atlanta shooting victims’ families. The families of Delaina Yaun, who lost her life in the Atlanta shooting, and Elcias Hernandez Ortiz, who was critically wounded during the same incident, have their own separate GoFundMe pages for funeral and recovery costs. (At the time of this post, information about all the victims is still pending.)

In addition, GoFundMe also has a Support the AAPI Community Relief Fund utilizing #StopAsianHate to provide funds to a list charities and grassroots organizations. You can also donate to the official GoFundMe for the families of Vicha Rantanapakdee and Noel Quintana to aid their continued need for support as well as the Asian American Advocacy Fund (additional details below.)

Organizations

Asian American Advocacy Fund

Founded: 2020
Based in: Norcross, GA

This grassroots 501(c)4 social welfare organization aims to advocate for the human rights of Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians in Georgia. The fund’s policies include immigrant and racial justice platforms, fair districting and voting rights, and health and economic opportunities, among others. More information about donating and taking action can be found here.

Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta

Founded: 2010
Based in: Atlanta, GA

According to its website, Asian Americans Advancing Justice-Atlanta’s is “the first and only nonprofit legal advocacy organization dedicated to protecting the civil rights of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) in Georgia and the Southeast.” The organization focuses on policy advocacy, organizing & civic engagement, impact litigation, and legal services.  Find out more about their work, how to donate, and ways to volunteer.

Asian Mental Health Collective

Founded: 2019
Based in: Nationwide

This non-profit organization advocates for accessible mental health resources for Asian communities across the globe. The collective provides videos, information, and a database of Asian therapists for those in need. You can head to their website for additional details about their projects and how to donate.

Red Canary Song

Founded: 2017
Based In: Nationwide

Red Canary Song is a grassroots collective of Asian and migrant sex workers. The group provides grants, programming led by sex workers, educational content, and works with other resources to push for the decriminalization of sex work. Donations towards their efforts can be found on their website.

Stop AAPI Hate

Founded: 2020
Based In: San Francisco, CA

This reporting center began tracking incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States as a response to COVID-19 xenophobia. Stop AAPI Hate is a vocal and leading aggregator of hate incidents and also provides multilingual resources for those impacted by discrimination and violence. Donate directly to their ongoing effort here.

Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council 

Founded: 1975
Based in: Various Locations

A3PCON is a coalition of community based organization that advocate for the rights of Asian and Pacific Island Americans in the greater Los Angeles area. The council promotes collaboration and collective planning/action among its members. You can find incident report forms and other vital information, including how to help, directly on its webpage. 

National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum

Founded: 1996
Based in: Los Angeles, CA

The organization’s history page states it 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.” NAPAWF focuses on a reproductive rights and health framework that extends to the overall well being of Asian American and Pacific Islander women and girls. Donate to their efforts and sign their ongoing petitions.

Heart of Dinner 

Founded: 2015
Based in: New York City, NY and surrounding areas

Heart of Dinner is a volunteer-run community effort that provides weekly meals to elderly Asian people. The food comes directly from Asian restaurant partners and Asian sponsor farms. You can lend a hand or provide financial support to founders (and life partners) Yin Chang and Moonlynn Tsai’s goal of providing 250,000 meals to senior communities.

DRUM (Desis Rising Up and Moving) 

Founded: 2000
Based in: New York City, NY

DRUM supports low-wage South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrant workers and youth in New York City. Its organizing model is based on outreach programs, leadership development, policy reform, alliances with diverse communities, and building democratic spaces for marginalized people to help shape public policy. Read DRUM’s informative blog, donate, and learn more about its many programs. 

Khmer Girls in Action

Founded: 1997
Based in: Long Beach, CA

Khmer Girls in Action helps to empower Southeast Asian girls and women by guiding them towards social justice organization. The organization aims for a progressive and sustainable Long Beach community that works for gender, racial and economic justice with Asian girls leading and benefitting from those initiatives. You can donate, volunteer, or shop the website to support.

Welcome to Chinatown

Founded: 2020
Based in: New York City, NY

This grassroots initiative supports Chinatown businesses and amplifies community voices in an effort to preserve NYC’s Chinatown neighborhood. The organization often highlights local businesses and supports residents while remaining respectful of their cultural practices. Shop the website and donate to aid their mission.

Oakland Chinatown Chamber Foundation 

Founded: 1985
Based in: Oakland, CA

The Oakland Chamber of Commerce advocates for business and families in Oakland’s Chinatown district. Find out more about the neighborhood and how you can support here.

Release MN8

Founded: 2016
Based in: Minnesota

Release MN8 is working to end Southeast Asian detention and deportation in America. The organization began in August 2016 as a response to eight Minnesotan Cambodian Americans, collectively known as the MN, being detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Explore how you can get involved and make a difference.

Raksha

Founded: 1995
Based in: Atlanta, GA

This Georgia non-profit aims to promote stronger and healthier South Asian community through confidential support services, education, and advocacy. Raksha works towards healing, empowerment, and justice for survivors of violence. You can donate to specific causes and find out more about its work.

The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO) 

Founded: 2012
Based in: San Francisco, CA

As its homepage states, AAPCHO promotes advocacy, collaboration, and leadership to improve the health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. There are many ways to engage with this organization, including trainings and donations.

The post How to Support Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities appeared first on Nerdist.

Ted Lasso is a show that feels so intimate, it can be easy to think that the production side of things is as unassuming as the main character, but that is very much not the case.

Executive producer Bill Lawrnece (Scrubs, Cougar Town) and members of the editorial team did a panel discussion at SXSW Tuesday about how the show’s editing helps tell the story, land the jokes, and stick the emotional landing.

The most surprising reveal was the explanation of just massive the visual effects work is on the series.

Ted Lasso is the story of an American football coach who gets recruited to coach a Premier League English football (aka soccer) team, despite knowing literally nothing about the sport. When he and Assistant Coach Beard (Brendan Hunt) first show up at the fictional Nelson Road Stadium, they are very quickly yelled at and whisked off the field by kit man Nate (Nick Mohammed).

Nate’s freak-out wasn’t an overreaction. The English take their grass fields very seriously, to the point where the series used Selhurst Park, an actual Premier League field in London, as their filming location, but they were not allowed to step, let alone play, on the field.

That means that every scene featuring AFC Richmond practicing or competing was done outside of Selhurst, on a CGI field.

“Crystal Palace [the team that plays at Selhurst Park] was awesome, and they’re like, ‘Yes, you can shoot here!’ And that’s what we were planning to do,” Lawrence says. “And then we got there and this is a Premier League soccer team and their stadium is pristine.”

“We did shoot Jason and Brendan arriving there,” he says, “but then they’re like ‘Oh, you can’t ever put an actor on that field, nor can you ever, ever put cameras on that field that would touch the grass.”

So they filmed at the stadium but absolutely none of the actual game play was shot there. If you’re not a VFX expert, though, you probably never noticed.

“Look, as long as nobody realized–if they thought we were at Selhurst, then we did alright,” says supervising producer Kip Kroeger. “That was the idea. If you guessed we had about ten visual effects shots per episode, then we’re doing alright.”

In reality, there are so many more than ten. The team built the CGI stadium and made “little cartoons” of the actual games that they made before filming in London–sort of an extremely intense, in-depth moving storyboard. As editor A.J. Catoline says, that process “was like a chance for us as editors to be involved in the directing process.” It also allows all of the actors to look like legitimate Premier League athletes.

Earlier this year, Barnstorm Visual Effects released a video showing just how incredible the VFX work on the show is, turning that CGI field into a totally convincing home for Richmond (via Digg):

(image: Apple TV+)
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The concept of working hard to achieve your dreams is as American as apple pie. Every day, people get up at the crack of dawn only to return deep into the night with little to show for it. Ludi showcases that this American ideal has shaped people arriving into the country as well as those born here. However, is that a good thing? The drama, produced by Bantufy, follows Ludi as she battles with those around her and even herself to earn the rarely obtained American Dream. 

Directed by Edson Jean, the film begins with Ludi (Shein Mompremier) playing a cassette tape back home from her family in Haiti. The clear exhaustion hangs on her body like a weighted blanket as she tries to be a source of stability for them. She wants to go above and beyond in order to provide, sending more money than necessary and even gifts back to her home. However, she is sacrificing herself in order for those other than herself to thrive. The audio sent between Ludi and her family plays a major role in being utilized as a segue between scenes as well as background into who Ludi truly is. 

As imagery of citizens and homes of Miami’s Little Haiti community move across the screen in a blurry haze, Ludi tells stories about how she will be able to come home soon and see her family — knowing this will not happen. She describes her days as tiring but never going into too much detail about how she is doing in order not to panic them. It is obvious that despite her holding back, she feels like she is running as fast as she can towards her goals but not moving from her present position. Black women often have to work twice as hard to accomplish half of what their white counterparts have. For Ludi, a woman of color and an immigrant, the current standards of American society do not provide the privileges promised before arriving. 

While Ludi works hard at her nursing home position in order to provide for her family, her workaholic personality still shows. She takes overtime from all of her other employees, but is never seen as an enemy due to her inner joy and eagerness to do what she sees as the “American way.” Along with her extreme hard-working attitude, those from Little Haiti see her turning into a true American — this is not a compliment. In one of the standout scenes of the film, Ludi’s co-worker offers to pray for her to find another source of income. Ludi closes her eyes and begins to listen to the prayer that starts with referencing her overall being and then morphs into how she is turning into a typical American. She doesn’t remember the last time she went to church, she is chasing money instead of a husband, and she does not want kids. She is seen as the antithesis of Haiti’s standards for women. Nevertheless, Ludi likes who she is and feels that hard work surpasses all of those life goals for the other Haitian women around her.

No matter how much someone wants to work, at some point there must be rest. Without it, any work you do will be unfruitful or even worse be chock full of errors. Ludi never stopped to consider herself, even if it meant her body ached or her eyes were heavy from exhaustion. She continued to work because she felt that not only was it something that she had to do for her family, but it was something she was called to do by God. Despite her motivations, everyone hits a wall and realizes that there must be self-care incorporated. Ludi learns this lesson from an unlikely source, her patient George (Alan Myles Heyman). 

George to Ludi is everything she hates about Americans — rude, hard-headed and unwilling to accept help. However, the irony in their situation is that aspects of George are reflected in Ludi herself. They are both hard-headed, unwilling to accept help, and can attack when someone threatens their way of life. Ludi essentially puts up a fight with herself in the form of an older man and realizes how toxic living this way truly is. In a fit of rage, Ludi screams that she is suffocating from working so hard for little to nothing in return. After Ludi sends packages to her family, there is nothing left for her. She sacrifices herself in order to give a better life for her family. However, she does not work to create a better life for herself and herself alone. 

In one of the last audio messages in the film, Ludi, while telling her family she cannot come home, again states, “Once this country has its hands on you, it never lets you go.” She is correct. America has a way of taking the most ordinary person and making them the superstar they always wanted to be or someone who they never wanted to become. It holds out a promise on a contract stating that you can have it all if you work hard and do what Americans do. The fine print, however, makes it very clear that who it favors are those whiter in complexion with money already in their lives. Nevertheless, there are those who broke the rules and succeeded. For Ludi, the rule she needed to break first was simple — working herself to the bone was not going to cut it anymore. Through self-care and being kind to herself, the American Dream that Ludi always wanted now includes her, too.

The film Ludi premiered at the SXSW Festival Tuesday March 16th.

Writer: Vita Ayala / Artist: Bernard Chang / Marvel

We open up with a powerful full page of action featuring youngins that look eerily similar to a few mutants you may have heard of! Beatrice Bartholomew aka Buddy seems to be the commander, which tracks with the Cyclops inspired visor on her head. Marvel Guy has the makings of a Rogue and Juggernaut offspring. The little teleporting cowboy with the tail is giving off clear Nightcrawler vibes and… HOL UP! Is that a new young black girl magic character in the corner looking like Gambit and Storm had a love affair?! Vita Ayala and Bernard Chang really set the tone right there.

We find out the black girl’s name is Gimmick, Scott’s maybe offspring’s name is Cyclops-Lass….and I don’t know if I can’t even handle all that. Marvel Guy already got name dropped and the tag team flyers are Cherub and Daycrawler. Looking back, this opening page was perfectly done. Each character gets a 1 liner that encompasses who they are.  The writing following that page should have kept that hype going but the weak ass, old mutant jokes were a bore. Luckily, there was some good artwork in those opening pages to keep my attention.

Now I gotta say, after the “first team mission” portion of this book, Ayala does an amazing job of being a magician with the pen an giving us the answers that are obviously kicking around in everyone’s head, while never revealing all of her cards. We find out why these kids are fighting crime out in the streets, if Krakoa still home to all mutants. We also learn how long it’s been since Krakoa first welcomed mutants to its shores and more. We get a little insight into thoughts of our OG X-Men, which was a treat.

I wanted to love Bernard Chang’s artwork but too many close up shots fell flat in the first half of the book. There were some standout panels that proved the opening page wasn’t a fluke and nearly every scene of the kids in school was beautifully done. A bit disappointing that the mundane artwork is crispier than the action.

While I didn’t love the hero vs. villain smack talk in the beginning of this book, Ayala finished really strong. The cliffhanger you’re hit with forces you to happily backtrack and think about everything you just read in a completely new way and that is impressive writing, no matter which way you slice it. 

7 “Never Meet Your Heroes” out of 10

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