AAPI Heritage Month begins May 1

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. During this month, we pay tribute to the contributions and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans on the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. 

We also want to recognize that while the last few years have been particularly difficult for our communities, we have made significant achievements as well. The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed into law, numerous states and local jurisdictions mandated Asian American history into school curriculums, numerous states heavily invested into local AAPI-serving organizations – and most notably, AAPIs turned out in historic numbers in 2020 and played a pivotal role in deciding who controlled Congress and the White House. AAPIs have the momentum to create impact, and we are especially excited about what lies ahead.

This NPR story explains why May is the chosen month — namely, that May 7, 1843 marked the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the US and May 10, 1869 marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad built by many Chinese workers.

This US Census site includes a feature story and links to demographic data about the Asian American population. (AAPI Data has more statistical profiles and survey reports.)

This post will be updated with more suggestions on how to celebrate AAPI Heritage month. Feel free to drop ideas in the comments.

MHC