This Industry Leader Discusses How To Make Black & Asian Solidarity A Powerful Force

Black and Asian solidarity dates back to Frederick Douglas's 1869 address on the composite nation, when he spoke in favor of Chinese and Japanese immigration.

Even the election of Vice President Kamala Harris, a proudly mixed-race South Asian and Black woman, has highlighted how, despite differences in culture, both communities deal with despair in very similar ways.

The spike in anti-Asian violence over the past year has spurred a range of programs aimed at fostering interracial harmony, given the dynamic of communities of color being set against one another.

While representation is important, AAPI artists' acceptance and influence are frequently underappreciated despite the fact that many have achieved success on the Billboard charts, including Bruno Mars, Tyga, Anderson Paak, H.E.R., and Saweetie.

To ensure that the world sees the AAPI community as valuable assets to the culture, Austin Thach, CEO and founder of The Forefront Group, stepped in as a community leader to host a dinner at Tao Los Angeles in partnership with Ethika to promote solidarity with prominent executives in the AAPI community as well as other BIPOC individuals to come together to support one another.

The native of Baltimore is no stranger to diversity. Thach, who is of vietnamese descent, spent most of his upbringing surrounded by Black people. Fostering relationships within the Black community came natural to him, especially after joining Alpha Phi Alpha, Inc., the oldest intercollegiate historically African American fraternity. It wasn't until Thach moved to the west coast that he understood how disconnected he had been from other individuals who looked like him — especially those in the same industry as he was —- that he discovered the degrees of separation between the Black and Asian communities.

“In an effort to make a shift, I'm using my voice to support other AAPI members in the music industry. Although I've had the good fortune to work with some of the most elite artists and business professionals, there is still more to be done to ensure that Asians are adequately represented in all fields, including music, television, and film,” expresses Thach.

Thach is on a mission to accomplish the same thing when it comes to ensuring that the AAPI community receives the respect and representation they deserve as well as bridging the gap between the Black and brown communities. The thought leader has worked with many artists to ensure they gain the visibility they need to succeed. His goal as a publicist with his own pr firm is to move the needle by using his platform, skills, and knowledge to share more stories of people in those communities.

“I believe social media plays a significant role in this. Recognizing that asians share more similarities with the Black community than differences is imperative. We must focus on breaking the patterns of harm that stem from slavery, discrimination and immigration policies. It dates back to the 19th century, when asian Americans worked as immigrant laborers in the United States. They were victims of racist brutality, which is something the black community can identify with.”

Black and brown people have historically been disproportionately targeted by society. Although there are differing opinions about the best course of action, it appears that now is a crucial time for enhancing the security of both communities. Most agree that the issue of representation continues to be one of importance.

"The music industry needs greater C-suite representation from both communities; we deserve to be in those rooms. AAPI individuals, in particular, are underrepresented, and we are frequently perceived as hard workers but not excellent leaders,” adds Thach.

When it comes to having these difficult conversations about racial injustices and especially violence, Thach believes it is critical for asian and Black solidarity to become a support system that not only addresses these jarring and difficult conversations but also serves as a stepping stone to help bring both communities closer together.

"My goal as a storyteller is to keep having these uncomfortable discussions. I believe that not enough people talk about it. Making it the norm, rather than taboo is what I strive for,” suggests Thach.