OPINION
Page 6 n THE ASIAN REPORTER
March 2, 2020
Volume 30 Number 4
March 2, 2020
ISSN: 1094-9453
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Copyright 2020. Opinions expressed in this newspaper are
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MY TURN
n Dmae Roberts
APIs count!
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phone number on all correspondence. Thank you.
hen I was more active in public radio
nationally as an independent producer, I
distributed my own work and collected
data about the stations that broadcasted my
documentaries. The more stations that carried my
pieces, and the greater my track record, the more
likely I would garner future funding. While
promoting Crossing East, an Asian/Pacific Islander
(API) history series, I was told by station managers
and program directors that they would not run the
eight hours of programs because they didn’t have
Asian or Pacific Islander listeners. I asked, “How do
you know?”
After more investigation, I learned APIs were not
counted in Arbitron ratings (an audio broadcast
ratings system that has since been bought by
Nielson). To my knowledge, Asians are still not
counted in the Nielson audio ratings. The reason?
Our numbers are too small to be tallied. That’s just
wrong.
It’s important to be counted. Asian Americans
and Pacific Islanders, along with indigenous
communities, are often excluded and generally
whitewashed culturally. Take, for instance, the
recent Tilda Swinton fiasco.
In 2016, Swinton took on the role of a Marvel
Comic character that was originally an Asian monk
in the Dr. Strange film. In February, it was
announced that she was spearheading the tele-
vision series adaptation of the 2020 Oscar-winning
film Parasite. Instead of hiring Asian-American
actors for much-needed representation on tele-
vision, she would play the matriarch of an all-white
family. Apparently, Asian Americans still don’t
count when it comes to working on an adaptation of
an originally Asian film.
With the new coronavirus (COVID-19) scare, it
seems the only time Asian Americans are noticed is
when they cough. Yes, perhaps this is a bit of an
exaggeration, but I’ve read stories about Asian-
American students who were asked by their pro-
fessors to leave classrooms even when white stu-
dents also coughed. In addition, there are reports
that Asian Americans travelling within the U.S. are
being stopped and interrogated by airport security
even when they are not travelling internationally.
My point is that it’s important for APIs to be
counted, not for racial profiling, but for the right
reasons. It’s like being listened to. It’s a sign of
appreciation and respect. Which leads me to the
2020 U.S. Census. Whoa, wild turn there? Not
really. The U.S. Census has great importance to our
communities. Here’s why.
Data collected during the census helps guide real
W
dollars in federal assistance for the next 10 years.
This information determines the amount of funding
that neighborhoods, towns, and cities receive for
schools, hospitals, roads, and other public spending.
It also establishes the number of seats states have
in the U.S. House of Representatives, so Oregonian
voices can be heard in Washington, D.C. Nationally,
the census also governs dollars for programs such as
Medicaid,
SNAP
(Supplemental
Nutrition
Assistance
Program),
TANF
(Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families), and Head Start.
The U.S. Census is mandated by Article I, Section
2 of the U.S. Constitution. That’s right, THE
CONSTITUTION! Every person who lives in
America needs to be counted every decade,
regardless of age, ability status, sexual orientation,
race, ethnic group, gender identity, or (and more
importantly) citizenship status. Many immigrant
and refugee communities may feel suspicious and
fearful of the census because at one point the Trump
administration tried to require a citizenship
question on the form. It is not. And nobody should be
asked about their documented status. No one. All
surveys are confidential. Under federal law, census
responses cannot be shared with any other federal
agency until 72 years after the collection of the
information.
The Census Bureau is mailing and hand
delivering census packets across the country with
information about how householders can fill out the
2020 form. Some households in rural areas will be
surveyed in person.
APIs are the fastest growing demographic in the
United States and have been historically under-
counted. Locally, the Asian Pacific American Net-
work of Oregon (APANO) is working to canvas all
APIs and is especially seeking to provide services
for under-represented communities such as
Southeast Asians and Pacific Islanders. To ensure
all API demographics are recorded, APANO is
training volunteer canvassers, hiring field teams to
do outreach, and translating census materials into
multiple languages.
I hope all readers find time to fill out the
survey. There is also an option to reply over the
phone to 1-800-354-7271. To learn more about
the census, visit Oregon Counts 2020 at
<https://www.oregon2020census.gov>.
To serve as a volunteer ambassador, be hired to
work on the field team, or obtain help — especially
with translation — visit <www.apano.org> or drop
by the APANO office in person at 8188 S.E. Division
Street in Portland.
Remember, you count!
Opinions expressed in this newspaper are those of the authors and not necessarily those of this publication.