Five Ways to Start an Asian Pacific Heritage Month Conversation
Tips for Celebrating Diversity in May and Beyond
May is a time to think about the Asian American/Pacific Islander population in your midst. It could be a time to learn more about the colorful and distinct cultures that make up this group. You will find a remarkable heritage that can be told in many different languages and dialects. This is part two of our diversity newsletter, with some tips from ProGroup.

When you see an Asian face, realize that this person is a unique individual with a personal story just waiting to be told. So, in May, make an extra effort to hear people's stories. Here are several tips to start the conversation:
  1. Build connections by asking about history and heritage in a respectful manner. Rather than "What are you?" begin with, "Tell me about your family, your background," etc. This will open the door to letting you in as far as the individual feels comfortable.
  2. Don't assume that one member of a group can speak for the entire group. Each person is unique even within his or her group. I remember a Chinese woman who told me that because she is outspoken, her co-workers told her that she didn't fit the stereotype. The recent event at Virginia Tech put Korean Americans on edge as their ethnicity was continually referenced in news reports.
  3. Challenge your assumptions and stereotypes related to a certain group. Jane Hyun, in her book Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling, talks about the stereotype many hold that Asian Americans are good at math or technology but not good management material.
  4. Learn about different Asian cultures through movies, books and websites. Again, the recent news reports of the Virginia Tech event highlighted the tradition about Asian names. Some stations knew that the surname comes first in Korean traditions, and some ignored that fact.
  5. Try to use correct terminology. Choose Asian American if you don't know specifics. But first remember a person's most important identifier is his or her name. Make an effort to learn to pronounce and spell Asian names correctly. It's disrespectful to individuals and their tradition to shorten or give an American name to someone just to make it easier on you.
Copyright © 2008 ProGroup, Inc. All rights reserved.