Dallas Asian American Historical Society

Equity Statement

As historians, we know U.S. history is filled with examples of systemic racism and oppression that dehumanize people. Discrimination against people of Asian descent began as early as the 1800s, with the arrival of the first Chinese immigrants, and continues today.

According to StopAAPIHate.org, a total of 10,905 hate incidents against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) persons were reported to Stop AAPI Hate between March 19, 2020 to December 31, 2021.

At the Dallas Asian American Historical Society, we condemn racism, xenophobia, misogyny, and racial and gendered violence. We also acknowledge that transformation and sustainable change require dismantling systems of oppression through a comprehensive and multi-racial approach.

We prioritize community-based responses and education/awareness to protect against anti-Asian hate incidents rather than relying on increased policing or law enforcement intervention that would perpetuate violence and trauma against fellow Black and Brown communities.

We believe cross-cultural community education and a fuller understanding of our history will promote empathy and racial healing. We strive to collaborate with others who are working to change the narrative and amplify historically-excluded voices.

The Asian diaspora was largely facilitated by imperialism, colonialism, and militarization. We are no strangers to economic exploitation, incarceration, and forced migration. We have been scapegoated and pitted against others to benefit White Supremacy.

But our history is also filled with examples of coalition and movement building. In 2013, the Association for Asian American Studies set a precedent as the first academic association to adopt a resolution supporting “the protected rights of students and scholars everywhere to engage in research and public speaking about Israel-Palestine.”

We formed this organization in response to rising anti-Asian hate crimes that were fueled by dehumanizing narratives. We are committed to antiracism and anti-imperialism. And, most importantly: an obligation to ensure underrepresented stories are told, preserved, and uplifted. The silencing of voices and destruction of cultural memory are antithetical to our narrative change work.

We stand unequivocally with Palestinians against the genocidal actions led by the Israeli State and funded by the United States government. Additionally, we call for an end to Islamophobic, anti-Muslim rhetoric targeting Arab and West Asian Americans. As Yuri Kochiyama once said, “We must strive for unity amongst all oppressed communities.”