Asian American Pacific Islander History

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success.

• The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, during the beginning of the California Gold Rush. 

• It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks that connected the frontier to the rest of the country were Chinese immigrants. 

• Many years after the initial waves of immigration, the official celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a shorter, 10-day celebration in 1977; however, President George H.W. Bush expanded it to a month-long commemoration in 1992.

• This group represents fifty-plus ethnic groups and the fastest growing population in the United States - See U.S. Census information.

Information above from Sharemylesson.com.

Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC)

FAPAC is proud to select the theme for the observance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May 2023 is Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.  Read full press release

Education Resources: "To know a people, know their stories"

• PBS Asian Americans Docuseries

• Public Broadcasting Service AAPI Specials

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: Selected Exhibits, Collections, National Archives

• Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center: A museum without walls

• 38 YA Books to Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

• Books with Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Characters, Common Sense Media

Interested in learning more about the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?

• The County of Santa Clara has a wealth of resources: books, videos, podcasts, courses, Bay Area destinations!
• Check out the Smithsonian’s resources and engage with music, history and culture spanning centuries.

• Explore the journeys of America's Japanese and Chinese immigrants during the 19th century in this exhibit from the University of California.

• Asian Pacific Heritage.gov - exhibits and collections:  Many collections: art, audio, video, etc.

• “We Are Not A Stereotype: Breaking Down Asian American Pacific Bias”: a video series including “The Bamboo Ceiling,” “The Model Minority Myth,” and more.

• 31 YA Books to Celebrate Each Day of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month

TKA Staff Speak Up About Their AAPI Heritage

"What would you like to share to encourage and empower students who have a similar background to you?

• "God has blessed you with a rich history in His kingdom, and ethnically. Fully embracing who God has created you to be is quite the blessing. Others may try to tell you who you are, or what they think you are, or unfortunately even try to hold that against you. But you are a child of God, created in His image. My Filipino heritage has brought me a lot of joy, and I have so much fun sharing it with my wife and daughter. May you feel blessed to live freely in Christ! "
   

• "God created you in His image (Genesis 1:27), and it was not by chance that you look the way you do, act the way you do, or have certain giftings. That was all designed by God for a specific purpose. You might not always like or appreciate how God made you, but I truly believe that we are all reflections of Him, and that is beautiful. Sometimes we, as flawed humans, can tear each other down, but we have to remember that we should not define our self-worth or beauty by human standards. Just as quickly as we can tear someone down, we can build someone up." 
   

• "No matter your cultural heritage, whether it's Asian or anything else, and those values that would define who you are, it does not define your identity and character. Success by the world's or your Asian culture's standards will never satisfy and will never grant you peace. You will only feel a resounding regret trying to achieve something that isn't achievable. However, finding and living your identity in Jesus Christ encompasses and even surpasses those cultural values. We have been made in the likeness of God, and no one can say that you are not because they are as well. Seek to do what is righteous in God's eyes, live your life serving others humbly, and love Jesus Christ no matter the cost. 'He has told you, mortal, one, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?'" Micah 6:8 
   

• I grew up not knowing that I looked differently than others. All of my friends were white, and I just thought that all students spoke another language at home. My first memory of racist comments happened on the playground in kindergarten. Micro-aggressions or even blatant comments happened the most during high school. I did not fit into the Asian stereotypes that my classmates constructed. Throughout most of my life, I tried to show that, even though I am of Asian descent, I am not really Asian through who I hang out with and how I did not fit the Asian stereotypes. In college, I did not even know there was a Vietnamese Student Association. I did know there was a Nigerian Student Association because all of my friends were part of that club. It wasn't until one day when I ran upstairs to speak to my parents in Vietnamese because I was too embarrassed to speak to them in front of my friends (one of the things I was made fun of in high school), that one of my friends said that I have more pride for my friends' cultural backgrounds than my own. That was a turning point because I realized how true that was. I would proudly make soul food or Mexican dishes, but I could barely eat pho without being embarrassed. Since then, I've been more conscious of my actions and thoughts and also the people I surround myself with so that I am around those who encourage me to be proud of who I am. " 

Additional Resources

• AsianPacificAmericanHeritage.gov

• Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies

• Chinese American World War II Veterans Project

• Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus

• Library of Congress AAPI Collections

• Library of Congress Asian Pacific Americans: Going for Broke

• Library of Congress Law Library - Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

• National Archives AAPI Heritage Month

• National Association of Asian American Professionals

• PBS Asian Americans Docuseries

• Public Broadcasting Service AAPI Specials

• White House Initiative on AAPIs

Agency Specific Resources

• Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute Special Observances

• Department of Commerce AAPI Initiative

• Department of Education Asian Pacific Heritage

• Department of Energy Special Emphasis Observances

• Department of Health and Human Services AAPI Heritage Month

• Department of Veterans Affairs AAPI Employment Program

• Library of Congress AAPI Collections

• National Institutes of Health AAPI Heritage Month

• National Park Service AAPI Heritage Month

• U.S. Census Bureau AAPI Heritage Month

• U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Asian American

• U.S. Navy Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders