Company Profile
Asian Americans For Equality
Company Overview
Mission Statement:
To advance the rights of Asian Americans and all
those in need through advocacy in access in
civil rights, immigrant assistance, social
services, affordable housing, and economic
development; to empower our communities through
research and publishing that embody our issues
and concerns; and to foster understanding and
unity among diverse communities through building
coalitions and forming collaborations.
Company History
Starting: Striving for Equal Rights and Access
The Asian American community in New York City
first fought back with a major campaign for
equal opportunities in 1974, when the builder of
a federally funded project known as Confucius
Plaza refused to hire Chinese applicants,
claiming that they were too weak for
construction work. Angered by this racial
stereotype and wanting to fight injustice, a
coalition of community residents, students and
professionals founded a volunteer organization,
which eventually became known as Asian Americans
for Equality (AAFE). The group's original
purpose was to coordinate pickets,
demonstrations and marches to demand the right
to employment in the construction industry.
Because of these actions, the builder was
pressured to change its policies and hire 27
minority workers, among them many Asian
Americans.
This victory was a milestone in AAFE's struggle
for workers' rights in Chinatown. Inspired by
the success of its first advocacy campaign, the
group began to mount protests against illegal
raids on sweatshops, the intimidation of garment
workers and the harassment of undocumented
immigrants. This early experience gave the
community a sense of power to bring about
change, and solidified AAFE's role as an
outspoken advocate for the rights of minorities
throughout New York City.