Real Talk: Asian American Motorcyclists Stand Tall Against Anti-AAPI Hate

Across the U.S., motorcyclists are finding their own ways to speak out about anti-Asian hate crimes. Photo by Rahoul Ghose.

On March 31st, 2021, fifty motorcyclists logged into Clubhouse - a burgeoning social media app - for an important discussion that is rarely addressed in the context of two wheels. The topic was Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) in Motorcycling, and the discussion shed new light onto the AAPI experience within the U.S. powersports industry.

The idea originated from two prominent Asian American figures in the motorcycling industry: Joonil Park, Senior Brand Manager at REV’IT!, and David Chang, Founder of Cafe Racers of Instagram (CROIG). The two had been discussing the recent increase in violence against AAPI individuals in the wake of the pandemic. Seeing the lack of response from the industry at large, the two felt that a vital first step should be to start a conversation about what was happening in our country. 

Joonil Park, Senior Brand Manager at REV’IT! USA, is the originator and co-host of the AAPI in Motorcycling Clubhouse discussions. Photo by Rahoul Ghose.

Co-host David Chang is the man behind Cafe Racers of Instagram. With over 1.1M followers, this page is among most renown motorcycle Instagram feeds today. Photo provided by David Chang.

“A big impetus for the talk was the targeted hate violence we were seeing,” said Park. “There was yet another high-profile attack in NYC leading right up to the event.” Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has seen a 150% increase in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans. In New York City, where Park lives, the city has seen a staggering 1900% rise in Asian American hate crimes, with even more incidents mis-classified as violence other than hate crimes. In doing his own research prior to the talk, Park learned about the ‘Five D’s of Bystander Intervention,’ or tactics that individuals can employ if they happen to witness a hate crime. “One topic I wanted to make sure was touched on were guidelines on how to best be an ‘Upstander’ instead of just being a helpless bystander,” explained Park.

In addition to educating the broader audience, this Clubhouse talk also served as a point of connection for panelists to share common experiences. “It’s a way for AAPI in the motorcycling community to recognize each other,” Joonil explained. “It’s a place to share thoughts and experiences for a group that maybe didn’t have their own space.”

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. has seen a 150% increase in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans. Protests and rallies have been held around the country, calling for an end to violence against Asian Americans. Photo provided by Allan Aguas.

The first panel included 20 speakers, including the Motorcycle Industry Council’s Andria Yu, Triumph North America’s Tony Medoza, Canadian motorcycle photographer Dan Lim, Pratt Institute Professor Lawrence Au, professional film & television stuntman Adam Wood, and Diane Mae Tan, who is a US Marine, a social media influencer, and member of the Litas San Diego. 

Andria Yu, Director of Communications for the Motorcycle Industry Council, will be a returning panelist on the second panel. Photo provided by Andria Yu.

Lawrence Au is a Professor of Transportation & Motorcycle Design at Pratt University. A long-time friend of Park’s, Au was a panelist on the first AAPI in Motorcycling panel. Photo by Ryan Handt.

Some panelists, like Park, were immigrants who naturalized as U.S. citizens. Meanwhile, others came from families that have been in the country for generations. While many grew up maintaining their cultural heritage and traditions, others had vastly different experiences. One panelist discussed his experience as being “white-presenting,” while another spoke of growing up as an Asian adoptee in a white family. All panelists were riders, and the conversation shifted from personal stories to how the industry can better represent and support the AAPI riding community. “I wanted to give everyone a chance to speak their mind on whatever it was important to them,” said Park, “to talk about being an Asian American, motorcyclist or not.” 

Park, himself, has been riding for more than 20 years. He has worked in many areas of the motorcycling industry, including having been an MSF instructor and training site manager. When asked about his own experience as an Asian American motorcyclist, Park explained: “Being AAPI wasn’t something I always acknowledged much in my professional life. Or even something I identified with strongly growing up in New York City. The last year or so of AAPI targeted hate crimes really pushed my personal identity and position to the forefront. Among other things, these talks are my identity therapy.”

Park confesses he did not have too many expectations for the first discussion beyond “fostering more AAPI-related discussion in the community, and making sure they knew there were other strong-willed and smart people that felt like they did...that looked like they did.” However, the second discussion will be more targeted. As Park explained: “[The second talk] will have a much smaller panel, with speakers representing more focused areas of the US motorcycle industry: media, non-profit, OEMs, and accessory brands. I want to still keep the discussion casual, but one thing that was glazed over in the first talk due to time constraints were actionable steps we can take as a community to help AAPI be recognized, and be represented in motorcycling as a whole.”

These Clubhouse talks are not the only efforts to combat rising anti-Asian hate crimes. This past weekend, San Francisco motorcyclists hosted REV: Riders Against Violence ride and rally, dedicated to raising awareness and supporting the AAPI motorcycling community. Photo provided by Allan Aguas.

When asked what he hopes to come from this discussion series, Park stated, “I feel strongly that it’s important to lift up those that may not have gotten as much recognition in the past. It’s a way for Asian Americans within the riding community to fire up a spotlight and acknowledge each other in an industry where we might otherwise be overlooked. To lift each other up and say: ‘What’s up? We’re here too.’ Whether they’re AAPI, or regardless of gender or background, it’s those people and their perspective I want to hear. I think others feel the same.”

The next AAPI in Motorcycling Clubhouse discussion is happening on April 28, 2021:

What: AAPI in Motorcycling Panel #2: https://www.joinclubhouse.com/join/engines-for-change/vtQFZlw8/MEz54XJk
When: April 28th, 9pm ET
Where: Clubhouse (Engines for Change) - DM us if you need an invite

Talk #2 Panelists:
Cohost - Joonil Park (Sr. Brand Manager, REV’IT! Sport USA)
Cohost - David Chang (Founder, @caferacersofinstagram)
Panelist - Andria Yu (Communications Director, Motorcycle Industry Council)
Panelist - Tony Mendoza (Regional Sales Manager, Triumph Motorcycles North America)
Panelist - Greg Tada (Designer, Piaggio Design Center)
Panelist - Derrick Lau (Social Media Manager, Icon Motosports)
Panelist - Joanne Donn (Revzilla/gearchic.com)
Panelist - Allan Aguas (Organizer, Riders Ending Violence)