More Than Meets the Eye

Pratt & Whitney’s Asian American Leadership Forum took a different approach to its celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in 2020, as limitations on in-person gatherings encourage other forms of recognition. The Employee Resource Group adopted a theme - "More Than Meets The Eye" - and published features on arts, culture and food from different regions of Asia on an intranet site. 

The theme of “More Than Meets The Eye” is especially relevant in light of a growing – and discouraging – number of reports of anti-Asian discrimination related to the coronavirus. An online reporting center founded by the Asian Pacific Policy and Planning Council logged more than 1,100 reports of discrimination in its first two weeks.

“In some parts of the world, it seems like the racism and discrimination toward the community has spread very quickly, some might even say more quickly than the virus has spread itself. But the truth is the virus itself isn’t selective,” said Adrienna Yan, president of the Asian American Leadership Forum. “Anyone can contract the disease, no matter what you look like or how you identify. And I don’t think we as a community can fight this virus if we continue to stand divided.”

There are efforts underway – like the Connecticut-based “I am not a virus” campaign – to remind everyone that there is more to the Asian Pacific Islander Desi / American community than physical characteristics. But the trend in discrimination also renews the call for allyship.

“I look at it as a person. We all have two eyes. We have a nose. We have a mouth. That outward appearance may present itself different ways to different people, but what draws me into being an ally is getting to know what’s inside of that person,” said John Zimmerman, an executive champion for the Asian American Leadership Forum. “Why do they think they way they do? What unique thoughts and life skills can they bring to bear on whatever challenge that we’re facing as a community?”

Hear more from Adrienna Yan and John Zimmerman on this episode of Pratt Chat.