In case you missed it, TV personality Jeannie Mai Jenkins cohosted the White House Forum on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders last week.
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During the introduction, White House liaison Philip Kim asked members of the audience to use two hashtags on their social media posts: #VisibleTogether and #AANHPIHM (Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month).
This sparked immediate backlash across social media. Many Pacific Islanders expressed frustration and disappointment at being "casually erased" — yet again — during the heritage month meant to celebrate both Asians and PIs.
"Hosting yesterday’s White House forum for #AANHPIHM was a pure honor– we celebrated diversity, inclusivity and visibility of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities," she wrote.
"The theme for the day was 'Visible Together,' and it was an invaluable learning experience for me. While hosting I suggested an easier hashtag inadvertently excluding Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders, which was never my intention. Apologies to those I hurt," she continued.
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"I'm grateful for the conversations with friends and colleagues to better understand the history and struggles of our communities. Incredibly thankful to continue learning & growing," she concluded.
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As you might imagine, there were all sorts of reactions in the comments. A few Pacific Islanders seemed to accept her apology:
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