In Response: Stop Asian Hate

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Something any actor can attest to is that this industry waits for no one. Our courageous actors are all too familiar with the unspoken requirement of a brave face. No matter what goes on in their own spheres – a sick child, a stressful work day, a school final, heartbreak, anxiety – we know you are forced to collect yourselves to perfect that audition, to shine in that callback, to charm in the vocal booth, to grace audiences with the ability to escape thru your performance when you yourself may be in need of escape. It is a thankless aspect to your jobs. For the record, we know this. And we see you.

 COVID-19 has been challenging for everyone, but the extent of the emotional and physical suffering endured by our Asian American and Pacific Islander communities is pervasive, horrific, and unacceptable. The AAPI communities have been shouting into the void for the past year, and after the recent domestic terror attack in Atlanta, we cannot let these horrific patterns of racism and violence be brushed under the rug. The COVID-19 virus is non-discriminatory – like all illnesses, it chooses its victims with no reservation; all of us are in this boat. And yet malice, blame, and violence has been directed at the AAPI community for reasons which will never be justifiable. Racism is also a virus.

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The Stop AAPI Hate National Report, which has documented this violence from 3/19/2020 thru 2/28/2021, reveals more than 3,300 cases of racially-motivated hate crimes against Asian Americans. 68% of these incidents have targeted Asian women. Roughly 503 of these reported incidents took place in 2021 alone. That’s 503 reported hate crimes in the span of 59 days. How many more have gone unreported, unacknowledged?


This is atrocious. Nauseating. Infuriating. Disgraceful.

TO EVERY AAPI ACTOR ON OUR ROSTER AND BEYOND: WE STAND WITH YOU. You deserve respect, safety, visibility, and all of the allegiance we have to give.

We know this industry wants you to keep a brave face. But we want you to know that we do not ask this of you. If you need to grieve, to sleep, to stay home, to be with family, to disconnect, to reconnect, to march, to create – we support all of your efforts to maintain your emotional and mental health within the confines of your country who isn’t protecting you like it should. If we can make you feel safe in even the smallest way, we will move mountains to do so.

To our Non-AAPI actors and beyond: we humbly encourage you to keep your eyes and ears open and do what you can to protect and support those around you who need it most.  

With love and hope for a better world,
Shirley Hamilton Talent

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Author: lara freeman-erbin

Author: lara freeman-erbin