A proud heritage trumps our tough history.
What is AAPI Month?
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, better known as AAPI Month, is an annual event that celebrates the cultures and legacies of Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicities. AAPI Month appreciates central, western, eastern, and southern Asian cultures, as well as those of the Pacific Islands (Hawaiian, Papua New Guinean, Fijian, Polynesian, Samoan, etc). The total number of this group of people in the US is estimated to be around 24 million individuals, which is 6.2% of the US population. To celebrate these individuals, AAPI Month runs throughout the month of May. There is a symbolic reason that explains why May was chosen: On May 7, 1843, the first Asian immigrants (Japanese fishermen) successfully moved to the United States. May 10, 1869 is another important date, which commemorates the last spike on the transcontinental railroad and the Chinese workers that worked on it. Recognizing AAPI Month is a key part in remembering those who contributed to the diverse society we inhabit today.
History
The founding of celebrating Asian heritage was in 1977, at the time of the Carter administration. During the 95th Congress, House representatives Frank Horton and Norman Mineta requested that May 1 to May 10 be the designated time for Asian and Pacific American cultural appreciation. Around the same time, senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga proposed a similar notion. After being accepted later on, the first observance of this event was in 1979; however, it was only in 1992, with George H. W. Bush as president, that the whole month of May was dedicated to the celebration of Asian/Pacific American heritage, which has now been known as AAPI Month for almost 15 years.
Ways to Celebrate
Many forms of celebration have been created in honor of the event. There are museums (e.g. the National Museum of American History, the Museum of Chinese in America, and the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art), historical sites/memorials (e.g. Chinatown in Washington, D.C. or in New York, Huilua Fishpond, Rohwer Relocation Center Memorial), and informative documentaries (e.g. PBS) that are dedicated to AAPI celebration. Appreciation of AAPI cultures and their influences on our lives can be expressed in any form, from supporting local Asian-owned businesses to visiting a meaningful historical site to reading a book written by an AAPI author. The way someone observes AAPI Month can be personal to them; observance can be any way of showing appreciation for Asian cultures.
Importance & Legacy
AAPI history in America has had its ups and downs. In some areas, there is still stigma related to these cultures. Having a time dedicated to celebrating the diverse and special cultures that AAPI Month recognizes counters the stigma, as it is an opportunity for people to inform themselves of and show respect to those of AAPI descent. AAPI Month is also important in that it makes sure our society truly appreciates Asian heritages and how they have affected the world we live in today. It unifies us by honoring the cultural pasts that we have, honoring the present-day AAPI contributions occurring, and honoring the future we are beginning to build with our heritages.
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