Founders Letter
Thanksgiving 2018, In Gratitude
Seizing A Seminal Moment
Welcome to ADECIBEL and thank you for finding us.
ADECIBEL Media is a digital media and communications company on a mission to promote Asian Americans—front and center.
Here, we aim to move beyond and transcend outdated and flat depictions of Asian Americans. We intend to unearth and amplify modern stories of our community that reflect who we are—smart, layered and talented Americans.
“We intend to unearth and amplify modern stories of our community that reflect who we are."
The past few years have proven to be an extraordinary time for Asian Americans in the mass media and identity rhetoric couldn’t be more relevant.
By the year 2050, minorities will be the majority in America. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 54 percent of the nation will be multiracial.
Moreover, according to a 2018 Nielsen report, Asian Americans currently represent 7 percent of the total U.S. population, numbering at around 21.8 million. And, by 2040, it is projected that 1 out of 10 Americans will be Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI).
It is no wonder that as the fastest-growing ethnic group in the United States—growing 72 percent from 2000 to 2015—diversity-driven content like this year’s breakout rom-com, “Crazy Rich Asians," was a phenomenal success.
To date, the Jon M. Chu-directed movie has become the highest-grossing studio-produced romantic comedy to hit the U.S. box office in 10 years, earning $173 million domestically as of this writing.
Audience reaction and box-office ticket sales to “Crazy Rich Asians," unequivocally demonstrates that the Asian American community is starving for—and America is ready to consume—content that reflects positive, accurate, layered and nuanced depictions of the Asian American community.
“America is ready to consume content that reflects positive, accurate, layered and nuanced depictions of the Asian American community."
Case in point, last month on “Saturday Night Live,” actor and rap star Awkwafina commanded attention from the Studio 6H stage in New York City. There she stood—not only as the second-ever, Asian American female to host the show in 18 years—but as herself, a rising Hollywood star. Period.
Remarkably absent from her opening monologue were any allusions of stereotypical Asian taunts and jokes. Above all else, Awkwafina was hosting SNL on her own terms and she was unapologetically herself—not anybody else’s antiquated stereotypes.
A New Ambition
We invite you to take a journey with us—to unearth stories about Asian Americans in new and untold ways. We endeavor to tell engaging and authentic stories about our people and community that are: simply interesting first. And, in turn, project that into full frame.
With Thanksgiving approaching and as we boldly march forward, we want to express our gratitude to those Asian American voices and advocates that came before us, pioneering the way for our stories to be heard and told.
It is because of our predecessors and their sacrifice that today’s Asian Americans are privileged to be in the initial stages of affecting profound social, political and economic transformation onto the fabric of this nation.
Now is the time to define ourselves as we are and as we perceive things—not how others perceive us. It is time for us to tell our stories, to exercise and speak our truth. It is time for us to be courageous and triumph.
We believe that this is only the beginning and the best is yet to come.
All our gratitude,
A|DECIBEL Media, LLC. is a digital media and communications company on a mission to promote Asian Americans—front and center. Founded in 2018, A|DECIBEL Media is dedicated to creating authentic and aspirational digital content that celebrates and promotes the talents and successes of today’s Asian Americans. A|DECIBEL Media is based in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and is a limited liability company.
Photo by Brenner Vasquez, 8 Media Group.