Stop Asian American Pacific Islander Hate Benefit Album

There is an alarming increase in Anti-Asian/Pacific Islander violence here in the United States due to the racist point of view about the origins of Covid-19. Most of the victims are elderly Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. They have been pushed to the ground, kicked in the head, and beaten to a pulp. Quite a number of them have died and some were left scarred for life.

While this is sort of prejudice against AAPI people have been around since the exclusion act in the late 19th century, it is more exposed today due to the prevalence of social media. As our brothers in the Black Lives Matter movement put it: “Racism has always been here. Now it’s just being filmed.”

As artists, we are doing our best to raise awareness to this problem by:

• Joining protest actions whenever we can.

• Using social media to spread information about the violence and AAPI history.

• Raising funds and donating to AAPI rights organizations.

As part of this cause, I am producing a benefit compilation album with the help of my artist friends in the scene. The plan is to release the album at the end of May, which is AAPI month. We have officially partnered with http://www.stopaapihate.org which will be the sole beneficiary of all the proceeds from compilation album.

The vision is a 15-track album, with a mix of songs, spoken word, and instrumental music. I am asking AAPI friends in journalism, literature, or academia to provide materials for the liner notes. Likewise, I am reaching out to visual artists to contribute art for the CD cover/liner art and perhaps a limited run vinyl version later this year.

Life is only possible in the here and now. And right here, right now, there is racism that kills and wounds. It is our duty as artists to put a spotlight on this in the best way we can.

If you want to participate in this project, please do not hesitate to reach out to me.

Thank you!

#stopaapihate #stopasianhate #stopasianamericanpacificislanderhate