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Dear AAPI Community and Allies,

We have a duty to call attention to recent decisions by our President that we believe threaten our community. We shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that where we live - Sonoma County, the North Bay, California - is a safe bubble. The recent executive orders (which do not require Congressional approval) will have far-reaching effects.

1. People are calling out Congress

AAPIC follows several AAPI-centered civil rights groups, and Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC) is one of them. They were founded in 1979 in response to the war and US militarization in Southeast Asia - which resulted in the largest mass resettlement of refugees in US history.

On the eve of the 50th Anniversary of the resettlement of 1.25 million Southeast Asians to the United States following the end of the Vietnam War, the actions of this administration pose a threat to all of our safety and the hard-won civil rights of BIPOC people.

Quyên Đinh, SEARAC Executive Director, responds to the President Trump's March 4, 2025, address to Congress below:

“The actions of the Trump Administration over the last 43 days are unconstitutional, often illegal, outright attacks on communities of color, immigrants and refugees, women, and LGBTQIA+ communities. From cruel and unjust immigration enforcement to rollbacks of civil rights protections, this administration has weaponized its power to sow fear, division, and harm among the very people who make up the backbone of this country.

"Southeast Asian Americans have been in the United States for 50 years, and we have seen firsthand how government oppression destroys lives. The President’s rhetoric and lies are not just dangerous, they are rooted in the same nationalist ideology and language that forced our people to flee and trapped those who were left behind in reeducation camps. This administration and its policies are threats to our democracy and the values we hold dear. We refuse to stand idly by as history repeats itself.

"Congress can help prevent harm... Congress must decide whether to uphold democratic values or allow these attacks on our rights to continue unchecked. Every dollar spent to detain and deport our families is a choice to support violence. Unconscionable immigration raids and inhumane, prolonged detentions can only happen if Congress chooses to fund that violence... Silence is complicity…"

Read SEARAC's full statement dated March 5, 2025 here.

2. Ethnic Studies in education is at risk

In addition, another Executive Order will deny funding to schools who teach the diverse and complex history of the U.S. This is a direct attack on Ethnic Studies, which California has established as a graduation requirement. The federal government may not interfere with what is taught to students - this is the states’ prerogative.

AAPI students have repeatedly said that it is the only course where they are learning about their own histories, so often ignored or briefly passed over in regular history courses. Elimination of the myriad perspectives that should make up history courses in schools is to whitewash our history and eliminate the rich contributions of all who have shaped our country.

3. History repeats itself - the Alien Enemies Act

The Japanese American Citizens’ League has responded to the resurrection of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, specifically targeting foreign nationals from Venezuela who are alleged members of the Trend de Aragua criminal organization.

"The Alien Enemies Act was last used to intern 31,000 Japanese, German, and Italian nationals during WWII. As the Japanese American community knows, the scope was expanded to include United States citizens through Executive Order 9066 leading to the incarceration of over 125,000 people of Japanese ancestry…

"Not only is this an unlawful use of the Alien Enemies Act, outside the scope of wartime, but is overly broad and can be used to target individuals with no proven connection to Tren de Agua except through their Venezuelan citizenship."

Read JACL's full statement dated March 17, 2025 here.

4. Erasing heroes in the name of dismantling DEI

Per the President’s directive to remove all references to DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) or forfeit federal funding, an article on the military website that honors the 442nd Regimental Combat Team was removed, then subsequently reinstated after protests.

Other articles that honored the contributions of racial minority groups and women in the military were similarly targeted for erasure. The 442nd, a World War II unit composed mostly of second-generation Japanese Americans, remains the most decorated combat unit in U.S. history for its size and length of service.

5. Blocking Chinese citizens from receiving student visas

The Committee of 100, a nonprofit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, issued the following statement condemning H.R. 3334, the Stop CCP Visas Act, introduced by U.S. Representative Riley Moore (R-WV). The proposed Bill would block Chinese citizens from getting any of the three main types of student visas issued by the U.S. – Vocational, Exchange Visitors and Academic Student visas.

"To suggest that every Chinese student regardless of their background, intentions, or beliefs is a national security threat is not only inaccurate but also fuels xenophobia, discrimination, and hostility toward an entire group of people – including Chinese Americans here in the U.S."

Read the Committee of 100's full statement dated February, 5, 2025 here.

AAPIC works for empowerment of the AAPI community in the North Bay, all immigrants, and communities of color: We work locally and pay attention globally.

Sincerely,

Laurie Fong

President, AAPIC North Bay
laurie@aapicnorthbay.org

Source: Committee of 100

What is the Committee of 100

Committee of 100 is the leading organization for Chinese Americans in civic engagement, public policy, arts, culture, and philanthropy. Learn more about this nonprofit, non-partisan membership organization of prominent Chinese Americans in business, government, academia, science, technology, and the arts here.

Support Committee of 100 and subscribe to their newsletter: https://www.committee100.org/newsletter/

Research on the State of Ethnic Studies in the US

Committee of 100’s public policy research project identifies and classifies state-level (and the District of Columbia) statutes, bills, and academic standards of K-12 curriculum pertaining to the study of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, as well as other non-white racial and ethnic groups.

As of October 3, 2024:

• 12 states have statutes that require AAPI studies curriculum
• 4 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require AAPI studies curriculum
• 15 states have academic standards that require AAPI studies
• 22 states have statutes that require ethnic studies curriculum
• 3 states are considering recently introduced bills that would require ethnic studies curriculum
• 33 states have academic standards that require ethnic studies
• 8 states have no statutes, recently introduced bills, or academic standards that require or make optional AAPI studies or ethnic studies curriculum

Materials & Info

• View the updated state by state static maps here (October 2024)
• Read the updated press statement and data here (October 2024)
• Download the original research report and findings here (August 2023)
• Watch the discussion on the importance of AAPI history in K-12 curriculum here (July 2023)

Background & Methodology

Committee of 100 researchers analyzed the laws, regulations, bills, and publicly available curriculum standards of all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia to determine which states have existing K-12 AAPI or ethnic studies curriculum requirements or legislative action that would enact such requirements. Committee of 100 cross-referenced state legislature websites, state statutes, keyword Google searches, and LegiScan to assess the existence and status of legislation and statutes, as well as state department of education websites and publicly available curriculum standards issued by state regulators and boards of education to determine the prevalence of AAPI and ethnic studies academic standards.

This research was originally conducted in 2022, updated in 2023, and is currently updated as of October 3, 2024. All definitions and methodologies identified here follow those laid out in the 2023 report. For more information about the methodology and definitions used here, please refer to the methods section on pages three and four of the 2023 report.

In the interactive map below, users may select and filter among statutes, academic standards, and pending bills to meet their needs using the dropdown menus.  Each dropdown menu allows users to select among AAPI studies and/or ethnic studies (explained in the glossary below).  States displayed in red meet the selected criteria.  For instance, if “AAPI studies (required)” is selected under the statutes dropdown, and “AAPI studies” is selected under the academic standards dropdown, states displayed in red are those that have statutes and academic standards in place that require AAPI studies curriculum.  Click on any state to show information related to the existing statutes, standards, and pending bills in that state.

K-12 AAPI Studies and Ethnic Studies Interactive Map

Go to this webpage, scroll down, and search for Statues, Academic Standards, and Pending Bills on the map of the 50-state map of the United States. The following map image shows the states where Ethnic Studies is required. Go to the interactive map webpage for full details. 

From the Committee of 100 newsletter on 9/25/24

Joint research by Committee of 100 and NORC shows the U.S. – China relationship, along with political and media rhetoric impacts how Chinese Americans are treated by strangers, acquaintances and coworkers

New York, NY (September 25, 2024) — Committee of 100, a non-profit membership organization of prominent Chinese Americans, and NORC at the University of Chicago, one of the largest independent social research organizations in the United States, today unveiled its ‘State of Chinese Americans’ study, a survey focused on areas of mental health, political preferences, discrimination, and diversity of the Chinese American population.

In the survey, two-thirds of Chinese Americans (68%) stated they face at least one form of discrimination in an average month, with a large percentage of the Chinese American community stating they continue to struggle with mental health. 43% of those surveyed say they felt depressed and 39% reporting having felt worthless. 61% say that the language and rhetoric used by the U.S. news media when reporting on U.S. – China relations negatively affects how strangers treat them; and about a quarter of the respondents say their relationship with acquaintances (26%) and coworkers (25%) has also been negatively impacted by the relationship.  On the U.S. – China relationship overall, nearly ninety percent (89%) of Chinese Americans view the current U.S. China relationship as negative.
 
With a lack of data specifically on Chinese Americans, the Committee of 100 and NORC study was conducted to help address the insufficient data necessary to inform and address ongoing discrimination, stereotypes, and misperceptions about Chinese Americans, and the many gaps in knowledge that remain about Chinese Americans’ political attitudes and behaviors.

“Understanding the mental health, discrimination and political perspectives of Chinese Americans is essential to create inclusive and informed policies,” said Cindy Tsai, Interim President, Committee of 100. “These insights not only enrich political dialogue but also foster a more equitable society. Partnering with NORC at the University of Chicago, Dr. Nathan Chan and Dr. Vivien Leung on this project has been exciting, and we hope the data will help shape policy decisions that help improve the lives of Chinese Americans nationwide.”

Read more…

From the Committee of 100 Newsletter dated 8/1/24.

New York, NY (August 1, 2024) — Committee of 100, a non-profit organization of prominent Chinese Americans, today announced an update to its national database research which tracks harmful alien land laws legislation. Committee of 100 has been outspoken in denouncing the legislation in Florida, Texas and additional states that would limit the ability of non-U.S. citizens to purchase land in their state.

To track the surge of 2024 legislation prohibiting property ownership by Chinese citizens (including permanent US residents) across the U.S., Committee of 100 has updated its database which identifies and explains such legislation considered, and in some cases passed, by Congress and state governments.

The webpage features an interactive map of the United States that visually demonstrates the data. The data can be filtered by the provisions included in the legislation, including the types of entities prohibited from owning property (e.g. Chinese citizens, businesses headquartered in China) and the types of properties prohibited from ownership  (e.g. residential, commercial, agricultural property).

Read more…

The Committee of 100 database is free to use and can be found here.

On August 22, 2024, JACL (Japanese American Citizens League) published a press release about the adoption of R-1, a resolution addressing the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and opposing domestic hate crimes and bias against Palestinian, Arab, and Jewish Americans.

The following is their press release:

Last month at its 54th National Convention, the JACL National Council adopted R-1, a resolution addressing the humanitarian crisis in Palestine and opposing domestic hate crimes and bias against Palestinian, Arab, and Jewish Americans. The resolution outlines several actions that JACL National and JACL chapters partake in. These include the release of several statements, of which this is one, announcing the adoption of the resolution. 

In accordance with the resolution, we call for the United States government to continue to work with our allies in the region to pressure the Israeli government and Hamas to release all hostages, negotiate a ceasefire, and establish an enduring peace agreement. We denounce and call for an end of the U.S. government’s funding of the Israeli military where it is in violation of international humanitarian laws or the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and call for the increase and assurance of the free flow of humanitarian aid to the residents of Gaza. JACL condemns all forms of hate and bias that occur in the United States, especially those targeting Muslim, Arab, and Jewish Americans. The related documents and additional information will be sent to President Biden, Vice President Harris, Secretary of State Blinken, and Congressional leadership.

During WWII the Japanese American community was falsely associated and accused of being in collaboration with the hostile actions of the Japanese government. We are acutely aware of the challenges faced by members of the Jewish and Palestinian communities here in the United States today who face similar stigma today due to what is happening in the Middle East. Earlier this month, many Japanese Americans joined in services to commemorate the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, joining in a call for peace, and in solidarity with the country of our ancestry in a way we could not 80 years ago. In this spirit of calling for world peace, we recognize the desire for Jewish Americans and Palestinian Americans for their affiliated places and people of ancestry to live in peace and with the right of self-determination for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

The adopted resolution can full can be found on the JACL National website HERE.

AAPIC President Laurie Fong and Vice President Grace Cheung-Schulman attended this conference at the Oakland Asian Cultural Center in downtown Oakland. It was a wonderful event, very well attended, and informative, and gave us a lot of good ideas for what AAPIC needs to do for our AAPI Community.

To start off the conference in an uplifting mood, you should watch a hilarious opening performance by Kristina Wong! Click here!

This is the organizer Asian Pacific Fund’s report on the event on Thu, June 6, 2024. Reprinted with permission.

Dear Asian Pacific Fund Community,

Thank you for joining us for our 2024 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Summit on Reclaiming and Redefining Mental Health. With nearly 180 registrants from community organizations, corporations, government, philanthropy, and media present, we highlighted the importance and power of AANHPIs advocating for mental health resources and culturally competent services. 


The 5th Annual Summit was a unique mental health gathering, catering to a diverse community with varying opinions. It was a platform that some found unconventional, while others saw it as exactly what they were seeking. As a community foundation, our role is to bring together people with diverse perspectives, introduce new viewpoints, and create a safe space for “big family conversations.”

A significant moment occurred during the final panel session, featuring four remarkable youths discussing mental health successes and challenges. During the Q&A, an attendee, a parent of a transgender child, asked, “How do I support them and let them know that I love them?” The youth panelists offered empathetic and loving responses. I was moved to tears, touched by the parent’s courage and love for their child. I wondered if this attendee would feel safe asking such a question among well over a hundred strangers elsewhere. “This,” I thought, “is why we do this work—creating safe spaces where our communities can be seen, heard, supported, and loved. This is what impact looks like.”

This impact would not be possible without our partners, speakers, and sponsors, and we are grateful to our nonprofit affiliate, the Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and its staff for providing us with the perfect venue for these discussions. Special thanks go to all our speakers: Kristina Wong, Amy Lam, Ph.D., Connie Wun, Ph.D., Kevin Niuatoa, MDiv, ThM, Anni Chung, Tone Va’i, Yuan Wang, Amulya Mandava, Ph.D., Daria Cisper, Kim Luna, Aly Pascual, and Dan Pascual, for sharing their knowledge, insights, and tireless dedication.

We extend our gratitude to our official media sponsor, NBC Bay Area, and our partners, Robert Handa and Jay dela Cruz, for helping to promote awareness of AANHPI mental health and our Summit. Thank you to Chuck Siu, Amy Siu, and the Samoan Community Development Center for leading us in the arts and cultural practices. A special thank you goes to our outstanding volunteers from Kaiser Permanente and Enterprise for supporting our staff throughout the day. Our appreciation also goes out to Thai Rice Spoon and Verbena Catering for providing exceptional catering services.

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate, share our stories, and work towards a brighter future for our community’s mental health. Your presence, bravery, and support are a testament to our collective strength and unity. Together, we will drive change.

With gratitude,

Photos at the Summit. View the full photo album here.

Insightful Resources

Throughout the Summit, our speakers and panelists highlighted several insightful resources and readings. We encourage our community to explore these valuable materials:

• 2024 AANHPI Summit Slide Deck
• “Up to Us” Transgender API Needs Assessment
• Lavender Phoenix’s 2023 Year-In-Review
• Queer Possibilities: Intergenerational Solidarity
• Kapasa Community-Led Needs Assessment
• Senior Street Smarts Videos from KCCEB (Available in English, Korean, Mandarin, & Cantonese)
• Kona Report
• Asian and Pacific Islander Mental Health Services Utilization in Alameda County: Community Reports Analysis 
• Article: Advocating for Language Equity: A Community-Public Health Partnership 

Read the original newsletter from Asian Pacific Fund about the Summit.

Dear Community,

As we contemplated our response to the suspension of SSU’s President, Dr. Ming-Tung “Mike” Lee, we also thought about what we wanted to say about the Israeli/Hamas conflict. As an organization that values all ethnic groups and strives to recognize those who are most at risk, we offer this collective thinking on the current, horrific, and urgent conflict.

Sincerely,

Laurie Fong
President, AAPIC North Bay
Laurie@aapicnorthbay.org

---

An Open Letter On the Israeli/Hamas Conflict

AAPIC, the Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of North Bay, mourns the loss of lives in the on-going conflict between the Israeli government and Hamas. We condemn the actions of Hamas against Israeli citizens and of the Israeli government’s violence against Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. These are crimes against humanity: we advocate for the release of all hostages on both sides and a humanitarian ceasefire.

AAPIC knows the history of the Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people—our histories of oppression, exclusion, resettlement, internment, violence, and genocide are well-remembered. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinians and Israeli people who are currently enduring unfathomable violence and fear.

As an organization, AAPIC recognizes the value of every individual and stands behind the deep humanity of heritage and all cultures. We cannot be silent during this crisis.

This unrestrained conflict is affecting our local communities, even far from the fields of war. Antisemitic and Islamophobic rhetoric and acts of hate are increasing, reminiscent of the surge in anti-Asian hate and violence witnessed during the pandemic.

We call on President Biden and Congress to reach bi-partisan agreements to direct diplomacy and the immense resources of the United States to de-escalate armed conflict in the region, not fund it.

We call for the end of the killing of innocent civilians, and importantly, innocent children.

We call on our national, state, and local elected officials to support a permanent ceasefire to end the violence in Gaza and the West Bank and to support impartial humanitarian aid.

We call for a solution that will allow for the self-determination of Palestinians, and to protect and safeguard the Israeli and Palestinian people.

We must put human beings first, not power. We recognize that there are other conflicts in the world where innocents are being displaced and killed. The need to save lives is urgent. It is our shared humanity that is at greatest risk.

The Board of Directors of AAPIC recently sent out an open letter of support for Dr. Ming-Tung “Mike” Lee who was put on administrative leave by the California State University Chancellor Dr. Garcia after he entered into an agreement with the student protestors on the Sonoma State Univerisity campus averting violence as the school year ended. The following is our open letter.

Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition of North Bay
Santa Rosa, California

May 25, 2024

The Asian American Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPIC) of North Bay celebrates Dr. Ming-Tung “Mike” Lee’s extraordinary career and leadership in the California State University (CSU) system, where he dedicated over 30 years to uplifting students from all backgrounds and held significant faculty, administrative, and financial positions. Dr. Lee has received numerous honors and awards for advancing BIPOC leadership. AAPIC applauds the incredible contributions Dr. Lee has made to enhancing higher education, promoting mental health in the AAPI community, and raising political awareness of Asian Americans in the State of California.

Coming out of retirement, Dr. Lee served as Sonoma State University (SSU) Interim President in 2022 and then was appointed President in May the following year. During this short tenure, he was recognized for his willingness to interface and engage with faculty and students directly in a welcoming open-door policy.

We were privileged to have Dr. Lee as our keynote speaker at our AAPIC community gathering in January 2024 where he exuded joy with being a part of our North Bay community. He expressed a commitment to elevating the voices of those who have been historically marginalized, including the AAPI community.

In his true collaborative nature, Dr. Lee engaged in conversations with students, administrators, and faculty at SSU regarding the war in Gaza. We laud Dr. Lee for protecting student protestors against violence and incarceration as seen at other universities, standing up for fundamental human rights, and maintaining deep kindness and integrity in the face of division.

We condemn the rash punitive actions taken by CSU Chancellor Mildred Garcia placing Dr. Lee on administrative leave for insubordination. This shortsighted decision led to Dr. Lee choosing to return to retirement. His departure is a huge loss for SSU, the CSU system, and the larger North Bay community. We condemn the tactics used to shame and silence Dr. Lee from taking a stance against the senseless killing of innocent people – the same tactics historically used on the AAPI community to mute dissent.

We agree with this sentiment from Dr. Lee’s message to the SSU community:

“Student activism, protest, and dissent in service of social and political change are key democratic principles that allow us to imagine a more perfect union — not only for ourselves, but also for others. None of us should be on the sidelines when human beings are subject to mass killing and destruction. I have said this before and it merits repeating: There is no political, religious, or cultural principle that merits the murder of the innocent, and the one battle we should all be engaged in is the fight for inclusion, respect, and freedom for all people, regardless of their background or identity.”

We are immensely saddened by Dr. Lee’s departure and firmly stand in solidarity with his call for a cease-fire so that a process for permanent, peaceful resolution can be established.

Sincerely,

AAPIC Board of Directors

President, Laurie Fong
Vice President, Grace Cheung-Schulman
Secretary, David Chen
Treasurer, Judy Chen
Board Member, Elizabeth Escalante
Board Member, Savenaca Gasaiwai
Board Member, Henry Huang
Board Member, Katherine Nguyen
Board Member, Claudia Sisomphou
Board Member, Brian Tajii
Board Member, Nancy Weber
Board Member, Barry Wu

“Our Communities. Our Leaders. Our Legacy.”

[Newsletter reprinted with permission of APAICS (Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies)]

President Joe Biden’s Keynote Speech

On Tuesday evening, President Joseph R. Biden gave the keynote address at the APAICS 30th Annual Gala at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center on May 14, 2024, to celebrate and recognize the accomplishments of the Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AA & NH/PI) community during AA & NH/PI Heritage Month.

Founded by the late former Secretary Norman Y. Mineta in 1994, APAICS is the leading organization dedicated to promoting AA & NH/PI participation and representation at all levels of the political process. The gala, titled “Our Communities. Our Leaders. Our Legacy.” gathered 1,350 attendees, the highest-attended in organizational history, from across the country to celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary and the rich contributions of the AA & NH/PI community. It is the largest gathering of AA & NH/PI elected officials and government appointees at the federal, state, and local levels.

The event, emceed by evening news anchor Eun Yang, featured special remarks from House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries; honorary gala co-chairs Congressman Ted Lieu and Congresswoman Jill Tokuda; and Congresswoman Grace Meng. The evening’s honorees include CAPAC Chair and APAICS Board Member Congresswoman Judy Chu with the Norman Y. Mineta Lifetime Achievement Award; former U.S. Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta with the Pioneer Award; screenwriter and producer of Crazy, Rich, Asians Adele Lim with the Vision Award; and Papa Ola Lōkahi with Community Leadership Achievement.

“All of you represent a simple truth that there is no singular Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander identity. The diversity of your cultures and the breadth of your achievements have shaped and strengthened the fabric of our country,” said President Biden. “You represent how we are a nation of immigrants, a nation of Dreamers, a nation of freedom. That’s the America we share. That’s the America we know.”

“We are a gorgeous nation of people from all across the world and central to it is this community. Central to our future is this community,” said Leader Jeffries. “Together, I am confident that our future can be brighter than our past.”

“There was a time when we were invisible in the halls of Congress. As a result, there was no one to speak up for us when one of the most discriminatory acts in our nation’s history was passed, the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, and when Japanese Americans were incarcerated during World War II,” said CAPAC Chair Chu. “This is why it is so significant for me to see the immense growth of our power. Today, we have 21 AANHPI Members of Congress and 76 CAPAC Members, a historic high. And we have used our seat at the table to push for the rights and needs of our communities.”

“I have seen firsthand depend on coalitions we build,” said former U.S. Associate Attorney General Gupta. “Coalition is something inherent to the AANHPI communities. We ourselves represent so many different cultures, languages, religions, and ethnicities.”

“We are no longer the exception. But we will not stop until that shiny beacon of Hollywood is a representation of all of us, not just some of us,” said screenwriter, director, and producer Adele Lim.

“Equity isn’t a word. Equity is a practice. Equity must be practiced,” said Sheri Daniels, executive director of Papa Ola Lōkahi. “So tonight I challenge us all to practice equity intentionally.”

“We are a community of communities, and we are so much stronger and better for it. When one of us is at the table, we will uplift our sisters and brothers who are still fighting for representation until we are all seen and heard,” said Madalene Xuan-Trang Mielke, president & CEO of APAICS. “The success of APAICS is not singular, but takes all of us.”

View the full video recording of the President’s remarks HERE.

You May have noticed in e-newsletters and social media posts that events are put on this month – May – in honor of AAPI Heritage Month. But do you know what it is and how this designation came about? Be sure to check out our Events Page listing of AAPI events in the area.

What is AAPI, APIA, or APA?

When we think of AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), APIA (Asian Pacific Islander American), or APA (Asian Pacific American), we usually think of the 51 countries and territories in Asia, the most populous continent in the world. But AAPI, APIA, or APA covers much more.

According to the U.S. government webpage about the Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, the term Asian/Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent AND the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji, and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, and Easter Island). So we also have the acronym of AANHPI, which stands for Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander.

Each of the Asian and Pacific Islander countries has a distinct language and dialect, culture, customs, and food. This is what we are celebrating – our uniqueness, our differences, and our commonality.

So why May?

The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.

How did the Asian/Pacific Heritage Month come about?

Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977, Representative Frank Horton of New York introduced a resolution to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the next 15 years, several resolutions were passed. And finally, in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 to designate May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

Where can I find out more about the Asian/Pacific Heritage Month?

Read more in the digital and physical holdings available in the Library of Congress at this Web portal, which is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. The contents of this site highlight only a small portion of the physical and digital holdings of the participating partners.