Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Celebrating 35 Years!
Photo by Emma Guliani from Pexels.
Abbie Dong
This May, America celebrates the 35th Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month! Americans nationwide take this time to recognize AAPI culture, history, and traditions through various activities like supporting AAPI businesses, parades, and much more.
AAPI
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are a diverse group, spanning over various different cultures and countries. Asia alone is made up of roughly 50 countries while the Pacific Islands consist of over 20,000 islands, including the 137 islands of Hawaii! The U.S Census reported around 6.7% of the population as Asian American or Pacific Islander (note: this does not include mixed people); in other words, around 22 million people in America identify as AAPI.
WHY CELEBRATE?
Heritage months like AAPI month are significant because they acknowledge marginalized groups that have contributed greatly to America while facing prejudice and discrimination. Throughout history, the AAPI community has helped America for the better.
In fact, the first continental railway and the prosperity it brought wouldn’t have been possible without Chinese immigrants, who took on undesirable and dangerous jobs as construction workers. Despite dealing with inequalities like unequal pay (compared to their white counterparts), the railway was completed on May 10, 1869 thanks to thousands of Chinese workers.
HISTORY
Beginning as a week in May in the late seventies, the effort to turn AAPI Heritage Week into a month took over 10 years. Only one of the four resolutions introduced to Congress passed. Frank Horton, a New York Representative, introduced the fourth joint resolution, which was approved by Congress. His resolution advocated for an AAPI Heritage Week and emphasized two dates the week should encompass: May 7, the first arrival of Japanese immigrants in the U.S, and May 10, the completion of the first continental railway. After being passed by Congress and proclaimed by President Carter, the first AAPI Heritage Week began on May 4, 1978. For the next 10 years (1979-1989), Presidents Carter and Bush continued to proclaim AAPI Heritage Week.
In 1990, Congress passed Public Law No. 101-283 that changed the observation of AAPI Heritage Week to a month. In response, President Bush issued proclamation No. 6130 on May 7, marking the first AAPI month. A year later, Congress passed Public Law No. 102-42, leading to President Bush proclaiming May as AAPI month in 1991 and 1992. Finally, in 1992, Public Law No. 102-450 designated every May as AAPI Heritage Month with the following presidents after Bush proclaiming it each year.
CRITICISMS
When celebrating AAPI Heritage Month, it’s important to recognize the criticisms of the term AAPI. AAPI is meant to be inclusive, but some may argue it’s not. When using the term, people tend to focus on East-Asians and disregard Pacific Islanders and Non-East Asians, despite how diverse AAPI is. In many cases, the Pacific Islander aspect of AAPI is left out, with many people calling it Asian Heritage Month. A survey conducted in 2016 reported 42% of White Americans did not consider Indian (South-Asian) Americans as Asian American. However, the same survey found only 5% of White Americans believed Chinese (East-Asian) Americans were not Asian American. There’s almost a 40% increase of White Americans who don’t think of Indian Americans as Asian Americans compared to Chinese Americans. This further reinforces the need to highlight all AAPI groups as AAPI, not just East Asians.
OVERVIEW
It’s the perfect opportunity to explore new ways to support AAPI through literature, food, local events, and so much more! In fact, May 18th through 24th is Asian Restaurant Week, so why not grab a bite at your favorite AAPI restaurant? Notice the efforts AAPI have made to make life better and easier, not just in May, but year-round.
Sources:
U.S. Senate: Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
About Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Frank Horton (New York politician) - Wikipedia
Why Asian Pacific American Heritage is celebrated in May : NPR
Hall of Honor Inductee: The Chinese Railroad Workers | U.S. Department of Labor
Chinese Railroad Workers in North America Project
What is AAPI Heritage Month, and Why Do We Celebrate? - The Solutions Project
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_transcontinental_railroad#Construction
2016 Post-Election National Asian American Survey
STAT. 2251 Public Law 102-450 102d Congress An Act
