Welcome to our series sharing Unique Holidays: May 2022 Asian American Month/ This month in our Homeschool Class Charlie will be studying Asian Americans and their contribution to Society and the foods they eat for our Home Economics Cooking Class. Would you like to join us for dinner?
Asian American Month
The U.S. celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month each May. J The American ideal is to recognize the rich cultural diversity of our nation and honor the contributions of all immigrants. Through traditional and Social Media, in theaters, museums, and parks, various events are organized to draw attention to Asian American and Pacific Islander culture.
HISTORY OF ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
The rich history and heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is thousands of years old. This is integral to the shaping of the history of the United States. Formerly known as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month, the celebration was officially renamed Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2009. The month-long observance recognizes the influence and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to the Culture of the United States.
The first documented arrival of Asians in America was in 1587 when Filipinos arrived in California. Evidence suggests that the first Japanese individual to arrive in North America was a young boy in October 1587. It’s believed the young boy accompanied a Franciscan friar.
The first Chinese arrived in Hawaii in 1778. The first Koreans landed in the States in 1884. The first Samoans in the United States were documented in 1920 in Hawaii and the first Vietnamese in 1912.
In the 1970s, a former congressional staffer, Jeanie Jew, proposed the idea of celebrating Asian Pacific Americans to Representative Frank Horton. In June 1977, a United States House of Representatives resolution was introduced by Horton and Norman Y. Mineta, proclaiming the first 10 days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. A month later, a similar bill was introduced in the Senate.
President Jimmy Carter made the then-week-long celebration official when he signed a joint resolution on October 5th, 1978. In 1990, Asian-Pacific Heritage Week was extended to a month when George H.W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress, designating May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month.
HOW TO OBSERVE ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
- Embark on a cultural culinary journey in your kitchen! Begin with fresh ingredients and serve Asian or Hawaiian dishes.
- You don’t have to be an Asian American or Pacific Islander to join the fun on Social Media. Maybe you have a friend or neighbor who is one. Tag them in posts relevant to the Holiday.
- Connect with relatives and trace your Genealogy. Don’t forget to record your experiences in a memoir and create a Family Tree.
5 FACTS ABOUT ASIAN AMERICANS AND PACIFIC ISLANDERS
- Chinese immigrants came in the mid-19th Century to work on the railroads and gold mines.
- The Spirit of Aloha is a law that all Hawaiians, including tourists, must follow and respect by sharing good feelings for others.
- More than half of all Pacific Islanders live in two States. Hawaii and California.
- Hawaii has the largest Asian American population of nearly 800,000.
- 36% of Asian Americans say Religion is very important in their lives.
WHY ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IS IMPORTANT
- Asian American immigrants and Pacific Islanders contribute greatly to the U.S. Economy and now is a time to recognize how they have strengthened our communities.
- Events and activities give us a glimpse of Asian American and Pacific Islanders’ Cultures.
- Celebrations like these keep the healthy dialogue between different races alive.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
