As May approaches, some of you are thinking, "Oh shit, Asian Pacific Islander Heritage month is coming up and my [company, org, school] should do something about it especially with all the Asian hate crimes going on." If you plan to reach out to us, please, my god, offer pay. 1/6

"We would love if you can come to talk to us" -- talking is LABOR. We are obviously offering skills and a service, so pay us. After a year of the pandemic and so much discussion on pay and racial equity, don't ask us to do this for free. That is shitty AF. 2/6

Also, if you have an Asian American resource group or student group within your company/school/org, reach out to them and ask them what they want. Since, you know, they work for you, or attend your school. 3/6

PAY. PAY. PAY. PAY. Offer pay. If you're a tiny, TINY non-profit (like less than $10K operating), then maybe? But seriously offer pay. Be honest about the pay. And pay equitable. 4/6

Some funny stories? I was asked by Harvard to speak without pay or travel covered. LOL. I was asked to do a screening and talk for American Express for free. (I am also an American Express cardholder so that hurt even more.) Let's learn from the past. PAY. 5/6

So you didn't want to read this entire thread, but you want to do something for API heritage month and you're asking an API person to speak/perform/share their work, life, and experiences with your company, school, or org? PAY. OFFER PAY. PAY US EQUITABLE. Have a nice Friday. 6/6