Increase in Asian American population observed on Long Island, amidst distributed accounts of discrimination
In a recent study conducted by the Asian American Institute for Research and Engagement, it was revealed that a majority of AAPI respondents who had difficulty communicating in English experienced higher levels of discrimination. The organisation that carried out the study was the National Institutes of Health Asian American Pacific Islander Health Scientific Interest Group (AAPI-HSIG), later renamed AANHPI-HSIG.
The study, titled "Asian American Language Accessibility Assessment: Breaking Barriers and Bridging Gaps," was conducted in partnership with the National Center for Suburban Studies at Hofstra University. The study found that a lack of language access is a significant barrier for AAPI communities in Long Island, preventing access to essential services and civic engagement.
The AAPI population on Long Island has seen a 150% increase over the last seven years, with New York now home to roughly 2 million AAPI residents. The AAPI community on Long Island is a diverse cohort of East Asian, South Asian, Southeast Asian, and Middle Eastern communities.
The study reported stories of discrimination across all surveyed AAPI groups, including doctors, lawyers, business owners, and store workers. Nearly 78% of AAPI adults in Long Island reported experiencing race-based discrimination, hate speech, and hate crimes, with only 20% of victims reporting incidents.
Over half of the respondents reported that language barriers directly impacted their ability to vote and access essential services for their families. The study also highlighted the importance of having boots on the ground that are representative of AAPI communities and speak their languages in political campaigns.
The AAPI community is the fastest growing racial group in the U.S., having nearly doubled from 2000 to 2023, with the AAPI population in the U.S. being approximately 25.8 million people, making up 7.7% of the total population.
The study also found that a majority of AAPI respondents expressed a higher likelihood of supporting candidates who provided campaign materials in their native languages. Multilingual outreach efforts can help increase civic engagement among immigrants who may have fled authoritarian regimes and have government mistrust.
High levels of AAPI voter turnout have been observed in special elections across Nassau County. However, 43% of AAPI adults in the New York City area have adjusted their daily routines out of fear of threats and attacks. 75% of the surveyed AAPI adults across various ethnicities reported an increase in discrimination.
The study interviewed respondents from various ethnic backgrounds, educational, income levels, and immigration status on Long Island. Farrah Mozawalla, CEO and founder of the Asian American Institute for Research and Engagement, is one of the authors of the study.
The findings of this study underscore the need for improved language access and representation for the AAPI community on Long Island and beyond.
