Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

Asian American and Pacific Islander Month takes place in May. It is a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad 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). Wear a teal enamel awareness ribbon pin, fabric ribbon, or teal silicone awareness wristband bracelet to recognize this important commemorative and awareness month.

A Commemorative Month

Additionally, like most commemorative months, Asian American and Pacific Islander Month originated with Congress. In 1977, Representative Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. In the same year, Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar resolution, Senate Joint Resolution 72. Neither of these resolutions passed. In June 1978, Representative. Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007. This resolution proposed that the President “proclaim a week, which is to include the seventh and tenth of the month, during the first ten days in May of 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’”

This joint resolution was passed by the House and then the Senate and signed by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978 to become Public Law 95-419 (PDF, 158kb). This law amended the original language of the bill and directed the President to issue a proclamation for the “7 day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as ‘Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.”

During the next decade, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 (PDF, 166kb) which expanded the observance to a month. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 (PDF, 285kb) which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.

Five Facts About Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

The Month of May was Specifically Chosen for Asian

The month in which we celebrate these cultures was chosen for two reasons. First, the month of May commemorates the first Asian immigration to the States. Second, May marks the transcontinental railroad completion. This is because Chinese immigrants were responsible for some of the more dangerous labor tasks associated with this project.

The Celebration’s Name Change to Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

Until 2009, this celebratory month was named Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM). President Obama decided to change the celebration’s official name to be more inclusive and observe both Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions to the United States.

Service in World War II

Did you know that several Asian American and Pacific Islander women served in World War II? Many women were trained as translators and interpreters. Other women put their lives on the line through the underground resistance in the Philippines.

First Large-Scale Immigration

During the California Gold Rush, many gold-seekers immigrated from Asia. This group endured terrible racism, which led to acts such as the Chinese Exclusion Act and Foreign Miners Tax, trying to drive Asians away.

Members of the Senate

Did you know that 2017 marked the year three Asian American women represented seats on the U.S. Senate? Until 2016 when Senator Duckworth and Senator Harris were elected, Senator Hirono was the only individual of Asian heritage to represent.

How to Observe Asian American and Pacific Islander Month

Cook a Traditional Recipe

Take out some fresh ingredients and prepare some of your favorite Asian or Islander dishes with your friends and family. Snap a photo of your favorite dish and add a hashtag on social media celebrating the day!

Join the Social Media Celebrations

Any time is an excellent time to celebrate culture, even if it is not yours. Join in celebrating your friends and family that you may know who are of Asian or Islander descent by tagging them on social media posts relevant to the day.

Travel Back to Your Roots

Have you ever wondered where your roots take you? Take this time to connect with relatives and trace your own personal roots! Don’t forget to document your findings for future generations.

And, to learn more about the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander Month, please visit the United State Senate website here.