Celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. It is a month-long celebration recognizing the contributions and achievements of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the U.S.
Asian Pacific Islanders (API) covers all Asian continents, including South, Southeast, and East Asia and the Pacific islands of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.
Why Commemorate AAPI Heritage in May
May was chosen for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month because it referenced two critical dates for Asians in America.
- May 7, 1843: The first Japanese immigrants came to the United States.
- May 10, 1869: The first transcontinental railroad in the United States was completed, with significant contributions from Chinese workers.
Why We Recognize API Heritage
Asians and Pacific Islanders have greatly contributed to different components of American culture and society, including literature, art, science, medicine, government, activism, law, sports, and recreation.
According to the Bering Land Bridge Theory, AAPI people have a long history in the U.S. Asians first migrated to North America more than 15,000 years ago through a land bridge between North America and Asia. In 1763, Filipinos escaped forced labor and enslavement during the Spanish galleon trade and immigrated to North America to establish a settlement in Louisiana. In the 1850s, during the California Gold Rush, Asian immigrants provided labor for the transcontinental railroad, gold mines, and factories.
Today, Asian/Pacific Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States. As of 2019, there were nearly 23 million Asian or Pacific Islander people in the United States.
API Heritage Month Theme
According to the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), a nonprofit organization that supports the interests of API Americans, “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration” is this year’s theme, an extension of the Advancing Leaders series, which began last year and runs through 2024.
Local and national governments are encouraged to prioritize inclusion, collaboration, diversity, transparency, and development through leadership training for Asian/Pacific Americans.
How Local Businesses Celebrated API Heritage Month
API Heritage Month celebrates the journey of all API people in the U.S and their unique cultures, traditions, and life experiences. During API Heritage month, people across the country pay tribute to the diverse cultures of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders with cultural festivals, performances, and educational activities. Here in Sacramento, several community organizations celebrate with various events.
- Sacramento held its first-ever AAPI Night Market at the Capitol Mall on Friday, May 13. The Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce hosted the festivity to celebrate AAPI’s rich cultures. There were over 30 food and drink vendors, several local merchants, and live performances.
- The first-ever Pakistan Cultural Festival took place in the Greater Sacramento region on Saturday, May 14. Attendees had a chance to learn about the culture through art, dance, street food, and a Sufi concert.
- The Hmong Youth and Parents United held a Summer Night Market on Saturday, May 14. The nonprofit will continue to host night markets on the second Saturday of each month until August. There will be food and entertainment.
- After a two-year hiatus, the Sacramento Asian Pacific Film Festival is back in full swing. The film festival took place on Saturday, May 21, and Sunday, May 22, and was available virtually and in person.
- The Polynesian Club, Nā Keiki O’ Hawai’i, hosts its 22nd annual Lū’au on Saturday, May 28. This will be the club’s first Lū’au since the pandemic and will feature hula and Tahitian dances, raffles, and games.
Watch YouTube Video: Understanding the History of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The news clip from CBS News provides a better understanding of the history of API Heritage Month.
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Image from Pixabay by Sasin Tipchai
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