NAAAP Stand Together: The Asian North American Experience

A NAAAP Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month event, organized by NAAAP Toronto on behalf of NAAAP National

Date: Thursday, May 6, 2021
Time: 2–3:30 PM CST
Venue: Online

What does it actually mean to identify as Asian American or Asian Canadian in 2021. According to activists and academics, these terms were originally radical labels of self-determination and an interconnected history of immigration. It was also an identity that was chosen, not one that was given. With the fast growing and diversification of a multiracial Asian community come new questions about what it means to be Asian in North America, how to belong, and which issues to advocate for.

In the wake of pandemic induced hate incidents targeted at Asians and most recently extreme gun violence against six Asian females in Atlanta, Asians are reminded of the complexities of what it means to be racialized in the US and Canada. Despite having many generations of Asian Americans and Asian Canadians having made invaluable contributions be they political, economic, scientific, arts, culture and community, Asian heritage and its pan-ethnic identity, is an ongoing work in progress that must include advancing social justice and dispelling the model minority myth. Join us for a meaningful conversation with an accomplished community panel bringing us together to build awareness, understanding and set the tone for the future.