On March 16th, eight people were shot and killed in Atlanta, Georgia. Soon Chung Park, Hyun Jung Grant, Suncha Kim, Yong Ae Yue, Delaina Ashley Yaun, Paul Andre Michels, Xiaojie Tan and Daoyou Feng all had their lives cut short due to the actions of one hateful individual.
While there are many layers to this crime, make no mistake that this was indeed a hate crime. This act of violence was one in a long history of racism, sexism, and xenophobia of Asian people; and it is an act that our company and the members of our community condemn to the fullest extent.
As a company, we pride ourselves on being open, accepting, and diverse; but this hate crime has yet again reminded us that we (as a company and as individuals) must always strive to improve, educate, and show our support for those in the Asian community and especially Asian women and girls. We invite you to join us in finding an appropriate way to show support. During times like these, it is important to spread knowledge as well as compassion.
To spread knowledge, seek out the stories and history of our Asian communities: 13 Best Asian American Children/YA Books and stories about women and girls: https://www.amightygirl.com/.
It is important for people who belong to those groups to find themselves represented in stories, and also for people who aren’t in those groups to understand and respect people who are different from themselves.
To spread compassion, consider joining us in donating to and assisting in working toward a better and safer place for the Asian community and the women in these communities: https://www.imreadymovement.org/.
Thank you for joining us in our quest to pursue respect, understanding, and equity. Every discussion, donation, and thoughtful act goes a long way in creating a better future for everyone.
The Heromakers and Storytellers at The Story School