our time to “get woke”

@naasurvey @karthickr @aapidata


Our Time to “Get Woke”

The Power of Civic Engagement and Coalition Building

Karthick Ramakrishnan

Associate Dean, UC Riverside


What is AAPI Data?


Main TakeawaysGrowing Importance of Asian

Americans

But, there is a big gap in leadership and civic

engagement

Integrated Voter Engagement Means…

OrganizingCoalition Building


Growing Importance of Asian Americans


Rapid Population Growth2000 to 2010 2010 to 2015

43%

43%

36%

11%

1%

Asian

Latino

NHPI

Black

White

18%

12%

4%

5%

0%

Asian

Latino

NHPI

Black

White


Sharp Changes in Migration Flows

o First in legal permanent residents (2004)

o First in foreign born inflows (2007)

o Rapid growth in Asian unauthorized since 2000

o Dominance in H1B visa categoryo Silicon Valley, but also universities, medicine


Growing Share of Foreign BornSource: Pew Research Center

511

1923 23

2629

32 34

36 38

14

25

36

4448 47

4340

37

3431

1965 1975 1985 1995 2005 2015 2025 2035 2045 2055 2065

Asian Latino


Important Part of Immigrant Vote

National California

Share of Registered Voters Who Are Foreign Born

25%

33%

30%

11%

1%

White

Latino

Asian

Black

All other

20%

33%

44%

2% 1%

Source: 2016 Current Population Survey


Purchasing Power

113

274

599

1100

1990

2000

2010

2020

in millions


Wealth Generation

Asian Am

Latino0

20

40

60

80

100

120

1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 2007 2010 2013

Net worth relative to Whites

Source: St. Louis Federal Reserve


Business Formation

1,103,587

49,636

1,549,559

78,086

1,917,902

104,621

Total

Over $1 million

2002

2007

2012

Source: U.S. Census Brueau


So What’s The Problem?


Problem #1:Model Minority Myth

o People assume that our community doesn’t need help or support

o Data disaggregation is vitalo Without data, we cannot make our case


Protest in Rhode Island


Lessons on Data Disaggregation

o We have to continually engage and educateo Internallyo Externally

o We have to fighto We need learn from others


Lessons on Data Disaggregation

Judge Mike Kwan (UT): “Truth is the greatest casualty of the current times. Don't like the facts? Just call them fake and ignore them. Don't like the messenger? Call them stupid liars.

The simple truth that every community advocate who has ever sought funding for the community knows is that DATA = DOLLARS.

If you cannot demonstrate through data that a particular group is in need of assistance, they won't get any.”


Problem #2: Low Civic Engagement

Consequences

o Our economic contributions not recognized

o Perpetual foreigner

o Leadership and talent hit “bamboo ceiling”


Making Economic Contributions

Transcontinental railroad depended on Chinese immigrants


Written Out of History


U.S. Immigration Law was Built on Asian Exclusion

o 1862 - Anti-Coolie Act (CA tax)

o 1875 - Page Act (Asia)

o 1879 - California Constitution revision (Article 19)

o 1882 - Chinese Exclusion Act

o 1907 - Gentleman’s Agreement (Japan)

o 1913 - Alien Land Law (CA, more states later)

o 1917 - Asiatic Barred Zone

o 1935 - Filipino Repatriation Act

o 1942 - Exec Order 9066 (Japanese Am internment)


Vincent Chin(Detroit, 1982)

Srinivas Kuchibhotla(Kansas, 2017)

Economic Anxiety + Scapegoating= Anti-Asian Violence

Anti-Chinese riots(Denver, 1880)


White Supremacy Hurts Us Directly

“When two-thirds or three-quarters of the CEOs in Silicon Valley are from South Asia or from Asia, I think . . .

A country is more than an economy. We’re a civic society.”


Hate Crimes Early 2017


Family Visas Under Attack


Low Participation Means Less Influence,

Less Respect


The AAPI community is the fastest-growing minority in America, but it’s still -- (applause) -- well, that's good to cheer about, but it's still significantly underrepresented at the ballot box.

In 2012, just 56 percent of eligible AAPI voters were registered to vote.


Participation is Key To

Building PowerFighting Racism

Being Seen As American


We’ve Got a LOT of Work to Do


Racial Gaps in Voting

65

59

49

48

48

White

Black

Asian Am

Latino

Pacific Islander

2016 Election



How Do We Get to Parity?

24%

49%

27%

Registration is 2x the Effect

Citizenship

Registration

Turnout



Not Just Voting


Contacting Public Officials26%

18%

18%

17%

9%

7%

White

Pac Islander

Black

Overall

Asian American

Latino

19%

13%

9%

9%

8%

6%

5%

4%

Japanese

Indian

Chinese

Filipino

Vietnamese

Korean

Hmong

Cambodian

Source: 2016 National Asian Am Survey


Campaign Donations33%

27%

26%

21%

13%

9%

White

Black

Pac Islander

Overall

Asian Am

Latino

22%

16%

14%

12%

9%

9%

7%

5%

Indian

Filipino

Japanese

Vietnamese

Cambodian

Chinese

Korean

Hmong



Consumer Activism31%

25%

24%

22%

16%

13%

White

Black

Overall

Pacific Islander

Asian Am

Latino

28%

18%

16%

15%

13%

11%

3%

3%

Vietnamese

Indian

Cambodian

Filipino

Japanese

Korean

Chinese

Hmong



Attending Public Meetings35%

30%

26%

24%

24%

14%

Pacific Islander

Black

White

Overall

Latino

Asian Am

30%

27%

16%

16%

15%

14%

11%

7%

Cambodian

Indian

Japanese

Vietnamese

Hmong

Filipino

Korean

Chinese



Protest Activity14%

14%

12%

12%

11%

8%

Black

Latino

Overall

White

Pac Islander

Asian Am

18%

12%

11%

8%

8%

6%

6%

3%

Vietnamese

Cambodian

Hmong

Indian

Chinese

Filipino

Japanese

Korean


@naasurvey @karthickr @aapidata#unequalvoices @AP_California @ucrspp


#AAPIAction


How Do We Improve Coalition Possibilities?


Part of It is Tacticalo  Get on radar screens o  State Voices o  Strategic investment in state tables, issue-specific

tables

o  Voting is important, but need to go beyond voting o  Campaign contributions o  Attending public hearings o  Volunteering, public service


Many Areas of Convergence

o  Presidential voting (exit polls)

o  Universal health care (NAAS 2008, 2012)

o  Preserving social safety net (Pew, NAAS 2012)

o  Support higher taxation (NAAS 2012)

o  Support pathway to citizenship (NAAS 2012*)

o  Support affirmative action (NAAS12, Field14, APIAVote/AAJC14)


Growth of Eligible VotersNevada, 14%

Washington, 11%

New Jersey, 10%

Virginia, 7%Maryland, 7%

Oregon, 6%

Minnesota, 5%

2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020

Shar

e of

Elig

ible

Vote

rs


Focus on our civic responsibility

o AAPIs get 1% of philanthropy dollars

o But, we need to step in giving, too

Asian Americans 32% of pop in SF and SM counties28% of those with incomes > $100,000

2.7% of major donors; about 1% of giving


Focus on our civic responsibilityo We need to step up in giving, too

o Charitable giving (56% for AA vs. 70% for whites)o Outreach by mainstream philanthropy would helpo But we need to motivate, hold ourselves accountable

o Culture and valueso How do parents define success?o Discussion of politics in household

o Youtho Learn from groups that are well organized


Redefine Asian Success


Success MeansRecognition, Influence

Political Participation

Civic Participation

Philanthropy

Success of our community AND larger society depends on it


Civic Engagement PioneersWong Kim Ark, 1898

Established birthright citizenship

Congressman Saund, 1956First AAPI elected to Congress


Heroes from all communities

Kawaipuna PrejeanFred Korematsu

Grace Lee Boggs

Larry ItliongBhagat SinghThind


The Power of Coalitions


Democracy is not a spectator sport


Ultimately, our job is not just to fight for our own rights, but to fight for the rights of all people, everywhere…

And that means we have to be well-informed, we have to engage with our government, and we have to vote -- not just when it’s time to elect a president, every single election. School boards matter. County offices matter. State attorneys races matter. State legislative races matter.


Thank You!

[email protected]

www.karthick.com

our time to “get woke”

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