Comprehensive analysis reveals critical insights to empower policymakers and communities in addressing hate and discrimination through data-informed perspectives
NATIONWIDE—AAPI Data today released its latest report, Making Sense of Anti-AANHPI Hate: A Synthesis of Evidence from 2020-2024, providing critical insights drawn from a comprehensive analysis of data on anti-AAPI hate incidents and discrimination from surveys and polls to community and government databases.
This report builds on AAPI Data’s comprehensive digital guide on hate and discrimination data released last year, underscoring the organization’s commitment to fostering deeper understanding of the complexities of anti-AANHPI hate through data-informed insights and evidence-based perspectives.
“Tracking incidents of hate and discrimination through data has been a top priority within our communities, particularly coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in nativist sentiment,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, executive director and founder at AAPI Data. “With an abundance of data to sift through, there is a critical need to synthesize this research and help make sense of it all. This report offers important insights for our collective understanding of anti-AANHPI hate so that we may be better equipped to collaborate and address this important issue using accurate data and actionable insights.”
Key findings from the report include:
- Existing data do not tell the full story of anti-Asian and NHPI hate experiences in the U.S. due to various challenges in data terminology, questions framing and issues of underreporting
- Estimates vary by the method of data collection. Evidence shows that tracking and collection methods vary in the extent to which they capture the full range of hate incidents
- Definitions matter. Data on prevalence and risk differ across varying definitions of hate incidents and hate crimes
- Hate incidents persist. An in-depth review of multiple sources between 2020-2024 reveal a notable increase in hate crime reporting in 2021, and that AAPIs continue to report frequent encounters with hate.
“This report represents a pivotal step in understanding the complex and multifaceted nature of anti-AANHPI hate,” said Connie Tan, PhD, Senior Research Analyst at AAPI Data. “By synthesizing and analyzing data at the community level to the federal government, we aim to improve public understanding of this critical issue in our communities and foster greater evidence-based and data-informed perspectives.”
This latest report builds on and adds to the work of other AANHPI-led organizations addressing hate and discrimination at a national level. “We are continually expanding and evolving our understanding of the full spectrum of hate and discrimination faced by our communities,” said Stephanie Chan, PhD, Director of Data & Research, Stop AAPI Hate. “As Stop AAPI Hate continues to build comprehensive research and tools on anti-AAPI hate, reports like this one that weave together data-informed insights align powerfully with our critical work to develop comprehensive solutions to address hate.”
The insights and recommendations offered in the report serve as a vital resource for policymakers, researchers, community leaders, and partners working to address anti-AANHPI hate through data-informed and evidence-based perspectives. A few initial reactions from leaders and decision-makers working on this issue are provided below.
“As Chair of the California Legislative AAPI Caucus, we have put a high priority on stopping all acts of racial discrimination and hate against all communities in our society,” said Assemblymember Mike Fong (D-Alhambra). “Research and data on anti-Asian and NHPI hate not only tells the stories of victims, but also provides us with a better understanding on how we can work together to prevent acts of hate and to protect people from harm.”
“This is a timely report and the need for inclusive, data-driven solutions is more urgent than ever,” said Khydeeja Alam, Executive Director, California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs. “Racism is deeply embedded in U.S. history and culture, and addressing hate requires comprehensive data collection and effective documentation of these interventions to pave the way for evidence-based policies.”
“One of my most important political roles has been to defend our community against the rise of anti-Asian hate and violence,” said Texas State Representative Gene Wu (D-Houston). “But this effort is made more difficult because we don’t have a coherent understanding of our own community and the degree to which anti-Asian hate affects it. We should heed the advice of this report and find better ways to understand the AANHPI community. Our ability to defend ourselves and build a better path forward depends on it.”
View the full report here. Access the accompanying digital guide on hate and discrimination data here.