Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month)! We are fortunate that nearly every month we are given an opportunity to learn more about each other and be reminded of the diverse richness our country’s melting pot gives us. This month we are celebrating the great accomplishments and contributions of Americans of Asian and Pacific Island decent. The term AAPI covers cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast, the Indian subcontinent, and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
Through the past efforts of New York Representative, Frank Horton, a proclamation was set in the late 1970’s to celebrate the histories and cultures of Asians during the first 10 days of May. This was later set into law by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. However, in 1992 under the George H. W. Bush administration, the entire month of May was annually designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and in 2009, renamed to AAPI Heritage Month. The reason why the month of May was chosen was to commemorate when the first group of Japanese people came to the U.S., as well as when the transcontinental railroad was completed, much of which was built on the backs of Chinese workers.
This year’s theme, selected by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, is “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration”. “When you have diversity at the leadership table, the magnitude of what you can accomplish is enormous,” Fahmida Chhipa, FAPAC’s vice president. I encourage you all to click on the links below to learn more about the history, richness and diversity of these various Asian cultures we are celebrating this month.
Why Asian Pacific American Heritage is celebrated in May : NPR
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – Origins, Themes & Populations – HISTORY
Asian History and Culture (thoughtco.com)
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