In response to the alarming escalation of prejudicial words and actions against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community, Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH) hosted two important events earlier this year. The Moving Forward: Challenging Racism conference was held during the weekend of February 26 to 27, 2022, and the Speaking Up! Confronting Hate Speech exhibition, which complemented the conference, was on view for six months. 

Free to the public, the conference, which was chaired by Peter Chang, MD, PhD and Nancy Li-Tarim, was attended by Houstonians from a wide range of ages, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Utilizing the knowledge of experts from across the United States, the two-day event examined the long history of Asian America and considered the way to move forward as a unified society that denounces racism, reminds us there is one race: human, and promotes and nurtures equality.

The exhibition examined and emphasized the power of words and the ways in which they can lead to catastrophic events. Using historical and current examples, the exhibition explored the correlation between hate speech and the commission of atrocities. At the same time, it proposed strategies to confront the phenomenon. The three key questions posed by the exhibition were: Is there a connection between hate speech, hate crimes, and atrocities? How does hate speech divide societies politically? How does hate speech contribute to polarization among people? After opening and being on display in Houston, the exhibit began its journey to other cities in the United States, South Africa, and Australia.

Recognizing the importance and timeliness of the conference and the exhibition, CKW LUXE is proud to have been a sponsor of both.