The theme of the 30th annual Asian Pacific American Awareness Conference is “Where is Asian America?” During the era of the Civil Rights movements, Asian Pacific American activists stood alongside other communities of color in the fight for equality social justice. From the Third World Liberation Front in Northern California to the United Farm Workers movement in Central California, APIs have always been present to support and show solidarity for achieving social, political, and economic equality of all communities of color.
But today, 50 years later, the presence of API activists in social justice movements has decreased, even though many of our communities are still institutionally oppressed. Where were APIs when Trayvon Martin and Michael Brown were unjustly killed? Where were APIs during times of war and violation of human rights in other countries? Why did so many Asian Americans oppose affirmative action when communities of color will all benefit from it? This conference will question and discuss the meaning of API activism and solidarity in today’s social justice movements. |