AAPI Month: How Can You Celebrate?

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It’s May! Among many other things, that means Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. There are approximately 24 MILLION people in the United States that identify as AAPI. If you’re unfamiliar with its details – that’s ok! Check out this great Mountaineer article from the past narrating its history: http://www.mlmountaineer.org/celebrating-asian-pacific-american-heritage-month/

Here’s a brief summary: America has an infamous history of racism against AAPI. In 1882, the Chinese Exclusion Act was enacted, banning Chinese immigration to the US. During WWII, Japanese-Americans were forced into internment camps, enduring harsh conditions and an ultimate loss of their freedoms. As an informal apology, President George H.W. Bush signed a bill to make May Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1990. Now you might be wondering – why May? Well, the Japanese first immigrated to the US on May 7, 1843 and the Transcontinental Railroad, built mostly by Chinese immigrants and laborers, was finished on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day), thus making it only right to celebrate their heritage throughout this month.

The theme for AAPI month this year, 2023, is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” The Federal Asian Pacific American Council chose this theme to stimulate success in AAPI civil servants’ careers. A prominent example of an Asian-American who has served in the federal government is Hiram Fong, the first of Chinese descent to be elected into Congress and the first Asian-Pacific Islander to be elected into the Senate, where he served Hawaii for nearly two decades. Kamala Harris, elected as vice-president in 2020, was the first Asian-American to serve in that position.