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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2023

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Paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.

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Facts about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Facts about Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States. The AAPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2019, there were about 22.9 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. According to the Pew Research Center, AAPI people are a diverse and growing population that make up about 7 percent of the total U.S. population. AAPI Heritage Month 2022 will take place from Sunday, May 1 to Tuesday, May 31.

Origins of AAPI Heritage Month

The effort to officially recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions to the United States began in the late 1970s, and took over 10 years to make it a permanent month-long celebration.

In 1977, New York representative Frank Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 540, which proposed proclaiming the first 10 days of May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Hawaii Senator Daniel Inouye introduced a similar joint resolution the same year. When the resolutions did not pass, representative Horton introduced House Joint Resolution 1007 the following year, which requested the president to proclaim a week during the first 10 days of May starting in 1979, including May 7 and 10, as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.

After the House and the Senate passed the Resolution, President Jimmy Carter signed it into Public Law 95-419 on October 5, 1978. From 1980 to 1990, each president passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, Congress expanded the observance from a week to a month. May was annually designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 1992 under the George H. W. Bush administration with the passing of Public Law 102-540. Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was renamed as AAPI Heritage Month in 2009.

Why Do We Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month?

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed significantly to many facets of American culture and society, including science and medicine, literature and art, sports and recreation, government and politics, and activism and law. In 2021, Kamala Harris became the first Asian American Vice President of the United States. In film history, AAPI people, stories, and traditions have become more visible with South Korean director Bong Joon Ho’s Parasite winning the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2019 and the release of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings in 2021, debuting Marvel’s first Asian superhero.

AAPI people have a long history in the United States, despite the stereotype that they are “perpetual foreigners,” the idea that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are inherently foreign, other and not truly American. According to the Bering Land Bridge Theory, Asians first migrated to what is now known as North America over 15,000 years ago through a land bridge between Asia and North America. In the 16th century, Filipinos who were escaping forced labor and enslavement during the Spanish galleon trade immigrated to North America, eventually establishing a settlement in St. Malo, Louisiana in 1763. During the California Gold Rush of the 1850s, a wave of Asian immigrants came to the West Coast and provided labor for gold mines, factories and the transcontinental railroad. In 1882, Congress enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act, which banned Chinese immigration for 20 years.

Japanese and Koreans began immigrating to the United States by 1885 to replace Chinese labor in railroad construction, farming and fishing. However, in 1907, Japanese immigration was restricted by a “Gentlemen’s Agreement” between the United States and Japan. The civil rights movement assisted the liberalization of immigration laws. The 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act changed restrictive national origin quotas and allowed for the large numbers of Asians and Pacific Islanders to come to the United States with their families. In the mid-1970s, refugees from Southeast Asia like Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos came to the United States to flee war, violence, and hardship.

Today, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing racial group in the United States. AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the unique journey of all AAPI immigrants and citizens in the United States and their unique life experiences, traditions and cultures

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Anti-Asian Racism

Since their immigration to the United States, Asians have been met with xenophobia, racism, bias and violence. Chinese workers were abused, robbed and murdered in San Francisco in the 1850s. In 1854, the California Supreme Court ruled in People v. Hall that people of Asian descent could not testify against a white person in court, meaning that white people could avoid punishment for anti-Asian crimes.

During World War II, from 1942-1945, people of Japanese descent were incarcerated in internment camps across the nation. In 1982, Chinese American Vincent Chin was murdered by two white men in Detroit because they believed Asians were taking auto industry jobs from whites. In March 2021, a man shot and murdered six women of Asian descent at three spas in the Atlanta area.

At the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, racist and xenophobic rhetoric about the origins of the virus led to a spike in anti-Asian racism and violence, with AAPI people of all ages and cultures being verbally and physically harassed and murdered in cities across the United States. As a response to the rise in anti-Asian violence, the AAPI Equity Alliance, Chinese for Affirmative Action, and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State University launched the Stop AAPI Hate coalition on March 19, 2020. The coalition tracks and responds to violence, hate, harassment, discrimination, shunning and bullying of AAPI people.

In January 2021, the White House released a “Memorandum Condemning and Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Intolerance Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States,” acknowledging their role in furthering xenophobic sentiments and proposing ways to prevent discrimination, harassment, bullying, and hate crimes against AAPI individuals.

AAPI Heritage Month 2022 commemorates the victims of the 2021 spa shootings along with all other Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who have been lost to anti-Asian violence during the pandemic and throughout history.

AAPI Month 2022 Theme

According to the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), the theme for AAPI Heritage Month 2022 is “Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration.” The FAPAC encourages local and national governments to prioritize collaboration, development, diversity, transparency, and inclusion through leadership training of AAPI people.

Why the Date of AAPI Heritage Month is Significant

The month of May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month because it commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States on May 7, 1843. May is also a significant month because it recognizes Golden Spike Day, May 10, 1869, which marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad that was built with significant contributions from Chinese workers.

- by Minhae Shim Roth

Sources

Asian/Pacific Heritage Month, Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, May 1, 2021, U.S. Department of State.
Asian Pacific American Center, Smithsonian.
Asian Americans Then and Now - Linking Past to Present, Asia Society.
"The long, ugly history of anti-Asian racism and violence in the U.S." by Gillian Brockell, March 18, 2021, Washington Post.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 2021, U.S. Census Bureau.

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of

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This short conversation is common, even in today's world, and it reinforces that some Americans don't consider Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) children as completely American. Have you ever heard this line of questioning directed at children in your classroom or family, or have you heard it yourself? If so, it's clear why celebrating and observing Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is important.

With waves of anti-Asian racism in America filling headlines, celebration of the month has taken on more urgency than before. Asian American students deserve to feel as safe, comfortable, and included as students of any background. Celebrating AAPI Month is one way to boost inclusiveness and understanding in your classroom.

What Is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?

Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (also known as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month) is held in May each year. It's a time to celebrate and learn about the vast contributions that people of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage have made to America. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month theme this year is " Advancing Leaders Through Purpose-Driven Service."[2]

The commemoration first started in the late 1970s with joint resolutions by the U.S. Congress. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter issued a proclamation for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush expanded the celebration to a full month. The month has since been signed into law.[1]

Here are some activities, books, and resources you can use to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with children in your classroom.

Classroom Activities for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Learn About the Countries in Asia

Using a globe, compare Asia to the North American continent. Note that Asia isn't a single country, but rather it's a vast region covering continents, oceans, and islands of all climate types.

The Asia Society of Texas hosts several "home adventures." This online resource lets teachers or families virtually explore different countries in Asia. Tours include online visits to:

Fold a Crane

According to the Japanese tradition of senbazuru, anyone who folds one thousand origami cranes will be granted their wish. Get step-by-step instructions via a printout or a video here, courtesy of the Asia Society of Texas.

Origami is a favorite of students of all ages. Keep your students' hands busy with some more origami projects from origami-fun.com.

Cook With STEAM

To incorporate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month activities into your STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) plans, try cooking with STEAM. Make some tasty Asian treats while learning how math, science, and arts all roll into cooking. New cooking techniques are being added frequently, but you can start with:

How boiling works

The sweet science of sugar

Why pickling and fermentation are used so often

Use the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Website in Class

A joint site of several federal agencies, the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website is your first stop for resources and activities.

Visit the For Teachers section for links to resources at the Library of Congress, National Archives, and more for you and your class to explore. Topics include immigration, the injustices of World War II internment, history, art, and more.

Explore Asian American and Pacific Islander History in America

America wouldn't be America without Asian immigrants and people of Asian heritage. Asian American and Pacific Islander history is American history. Every aspect of life, including arts, literature, culture, science, and more, has been positively impacted.

One piece of history that played an enormous part in American history is the Transcontinental Railroad. Chinese immigrant crews set records for lengths of track completed in a single day. Workers earned a reputation as effective, quality workers and community members. Despite their legendary work, they also faced racism, legal discrimination, and unfair labor practices. Learn more at the Golden Spike National Historic Park site.

Find Important Asian American and Pacific Islander Historical Sites Near You

The National Parks Service maintains historical sites all across America. It has collected some of the most notable Asian American and Pacific Islander historic locations on this website. Wherever you are, you can virtually explore these important locales. And odds are good that there's one close to you for an in-person field trip or visit.

One example is the Walnut Grove Historic District. For Chinese and Japanese immigrants, this spot in northern California offered a haven and sense of community. This National Parks Service site has a lesson plan that has students to explore obstacles, contributions, and daily lives of early Asian American immigrants.

Additionally, Chinatown and Little Italy Historic District in New York City was home to many Chinese immigrants, eventually becoming an important part of Chinese culture and American history.

Explore the site for many more locations to visit, whether online or in person.

10 Books to Read for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

Here are some books for your class to read during Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month-and all year round.

1. Young readers will enjoy The Snow Lion, a traditional Chinese tale. This is free from Waterford.org.

2. A Fish for Jimmy, by Katie Yamasaki, is about two brothers in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. One brother seeks to find fresh fish for his brother to keep his spirits up.

3. In The Name Jar, by Yangsook Choi, Unhei is worried that American kids at her new school won't be able to pronounce her Korean name. She decides to pick an Americanized name out of a jar until her classmates discover the special meaning of Unhei's name and learn to pronounce it.

4. The Caldecott Medal-winning Yeh-Shen: A Cinderella Story from China, by Ai-Ling Louie, tells a Cinderella tale based in ancient China as Yeh-Shen finds her wish to attend the annual spring festival is granted.

5. is a beautiful picture book from 2015 Hans Christian Andersen Award-winner Cao Wenxuan. It beautifully tells the story of a single feather's journey.

6. !, by Linda Sue Park, touches on a universal theme: a child's favorite dish. This rhyming book for elementary age children follows a young child help her mother make Bee-bim bop.

7. For elementary age children, Henry's First-Moon Birthday, by Lenore Look, looks at a big celebration that's planned for little Henry's one-month birthday, his "First-Moon Birthday."

8. Where's Halmoni?, by Julie Kim, is a fun early grade story inspired by Korean folktales. Two children search for their missing grandmother in this fun and visually beautiful book.

9. , by Nidhi Chanani, is a middle grade graphic novel about Priyanka, a teenage Indian-American girl who loves to draw and has many unanswered questions about her family's ancestral homeland.

10. Lakas and the Makibaka Hotel, by Anthony Robles, is a grade school level story that tells the story of Lakas as he and his friends rally to save their home. This colorful story is told in both English and Tagalog.

Sources:

1. Library of Congress. "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month." https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/asian.php

2. Federal Asian Pacific American Council. "AAPI Resource Center." https://www.fapac.org/AAPI-Resources

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Celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Your Classroom - Waterford.org

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This short conversation is common, even in today's world, and it reinforces that some Americans don't consider Asian American or Pacific Islander (AAPI) children as completely American. Have you ever heard this line of questioning directed at children in your classroom or family, or have you heard it yourself?

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Education World offers five lessons to introduce students to Asian American history and culture. Included: Lessons in which students create a book of biographies of Asian Americans, dramatize stories from Asian cultures, and much more.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asians and Pacific Islanders make up the fastest growing racial group in the United States, numbering more than 10 million people, or nearly 4 percent of the total population. The diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander American population includes members of more than 30 ethnic groups who speak more than 300 languages and dialects.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to honor the contributions, heritage, and traditions of Asians and Pacific Islanders. One of the reasons May was chosen for this celebration was to pay tribute to the first Japanese immigrants, who came to the United States in May 1843.

People across the country honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with community festivals, government gatherings, and educational activities for students. Start your celebration of this observance with a selection of lessons from Education World. Read the brief descriptions below for each lesson. Click any headline for a complete teaching resource.

Bonus Lesson Ideas!

After you've completed this week's lessons, ask your students to try these activities:
* Make a chart of English words derived from Asian languages; for example, honcho (Japanese), ketchup (Malay), and tattoo (Tahitian).
* Research information about the history of the abacus and complete math problems using an abacus.
* Study Asian forms of poetry; for example, haiku, sijo and renga; then create your own poems!
* Create PowerPoint presentations about Asian and Pacific Island countries.
* Create a mural of notable Asian Americans, present and past.

Asian American Profiles
Students create a book of short biographies about prominent Asian Americans. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Act It Out: Dramatizing Stories from Asian American Cultures
Students read and act out folktales, fairy tales, or myths from various Asian American cultures. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Fun With Origami!
Students complete hands-on activities that teach about origami, an Asian paper-folding art form. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

A Taste of Asia: Banana Pancakes and Other Recipes
Students follow recipes to prepare foods that are common in some Asian American cultures. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Asian American Time Lines
Students create time lines about various aspects of Asian American history. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Angel Island This site gives detailed information about Angel Island, the immigration station off the coast of California that processed thousands of Asians who came to the United States in the early 1900s.

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month | Education World

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May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Education World offers five lessons to introduce students to Asian American history and culture. Included: Lessons in which students create a book of biographies of Asian Americans, dramatize stories from Asian cultures, and much more. According to the U.S.

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Education World offers five lessons to introduce students to Asian American history and culture. Included: Lessons in which students create a book of biographies of Asian Americans, dramatize stories from Asian cultures, and much more.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Asians and Pacific Islanders make up the fastest growing racial group in the United States, numbering more than 10 million people, or nearly 4 percent of the total population. The diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander American population includes members of more than 30 ethnic groups who speak more than 300 languages and dialects.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to honor the contributions, heritage, and traditions of Asians and Pacific Islanders. One of the reasons May was chosen for this celebration was to pay tribute to the first Japanese immigrants, who came to the United States in May 1843.

People across the country honor Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with community festivals, government gatherings, and educational activities for students. Start your celebration of this observance with a selection of lessons from Education World. Read the brief descriptions below for each lesson. Click any headline for a complete teaching resource.

Bonus Lesson Ideas!

After you've completed this week's lessons, ask your students to try these activities:
* Make a chart of English words derived from Asian languages; for example, honcho (Japanese), ketchup (Malay), and tattoo (Tahitian).
* Research information about the history of the abacus and complete math problems using an abacus.
* Study Asian forms of poetry; for example, haiku, sijo and renga; then create your own poems!
* Create PowerPoint presentations about Asian and Pacific Island countries.
* Create a mural of notable Asian Americans, present and past.

Asian American Profiles
Students create a book of short biographies about prominent Asian Americans. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Act It Out: Dramatizing Stories from Asian American Cultures
Students read and act out folktales, fairy tales, or myths from various Asian American cultures. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Fun With Origami!
Students complete hands-on activities that teach about origami, an Asian paper-folding art form. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

A Taste of Asia: Banana Pancakes and Other Recipes
Students follow recipes to prepare foods that are common in some Asian American cultures. (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Asian American Time Lines
Students create time lines about various aspects of Asian American history. (Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12)

Angel Island This site gives detailed information about Angel Island, the immigration station off the coast of California that processed thousands of Asians who came to the United States in the early 1900s.

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Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month | Education World

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May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Education World offers five lessons to introduce students to Asian American history and culture. Included: Lessons in which students create a book of biographies of Asian Americans, dramatize stories from Asian cultures, and much more. According to the U.S.

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AAPI Heritage: Documenting Journeys

Join the Share My Lesson community in celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success. With our wealth of prek-12 digital resources, you and your students can explore the remarkable contributions that AAPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, government and more. In addition to recognizing the vast achievements of the AAPI community, work with your students and community to understand diverse perspectives and the difficult struggles that AAPI Americans have grappled with throughout the history of the United States. In this tailored collection, you'll find resources, activities and lesson plans that cover subjects like:

AAPI Month: Digging Deeper

Did you know? The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, during the beginning of the California Gold Rush. It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks that connected the frontier to the rest of the country were . Many years after the initial waves of immigration, the official celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a shorter, 10-day celebration in 1977 ; however, President George H.W. Bush expanded it to a month-long commemoration in 1992.
#3 Collection of 2021

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Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage

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Join the Share My Lesson community in celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success. With our wealth of prek-12 digital resources, you and your students can explore the remarkable contributions that AAPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, government and more.

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AAPI Heritage: Documenting Journeys

Join the Share My Lesson community in celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success. With our wealth of prek-12 digital resources, you and your students can explore the remarkable contributions that AAPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, government and more. In addition to recognizing the vast achievements of the AAPI community, work with your students and community to understand diverse perspectives and the difficult struggles that AAPI Americans have grappled with throughout the history of the United States. In this tailored collection, you'll find resources, activities and lesson plans that cover subjects like:

AAPI Month: Digging Deeper

Did you know? The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, during the beginning of the California Gold Rush. It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks that connected the frontier to the rest of the country were . Many years after the initial waves of immigration, the official celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a shorter, 10-day celebration in 1977 ; however, President George H.W. Bush expanded it to a month-long commemoration in 1992.
#3 Collection of 2021

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Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Join the Share My Lesson community in celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success. With our wealth of prek-12 digital resources, you and your students can explore the remarkable contributions that AAPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, government and more.

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Search | Everything | Smithsonian Learning Lab

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Teaching Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage | NEA

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May Is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Teaching Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage | NEA

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May Is Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

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Celebrated in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and honors the contributions , achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) who ha ve shaped the culture and history of the United States. In light of the recent increase of violence and discrimination against AAPI communities, the annual celebration takes on even more importance.

AAPI Heritage Month began in 1978 as a weeklong celebration and in 1992 May was permanently designated as the commemorative month. The month of May was chosen to memorialize the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to honor the completion of the tran scontinental railroad - built by as many as 20,000 Chinese workers - on May 10, 1869 .

The Asian Art Museum is dedicated year-round to uplifting the voices and experiences of the AAPI community and providing a platform for visibility, representation, and cross-cultural connection. Each May, we are honored to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month with programming that celebrates AAPI histories and cultures, builds empathy and understanding, and fights xenophobia, prejudice, and discrimination. We believe that engaging with Asian art and cultures in their many forms has the ability to educate, spark creativity, foster dialogue, connect people, and, ultimately, create change.

See below for ways to honor AAPI Heritage Month, from talks, performances, and cooking demonstrations to art activities for the whole family and lesson plans for parents and teachers. You'll also find information on ways to support the AAPI community and stop anti-Asian hate.

The museum celebrates cultures from across Asia all year long. Learn more about our other Cultural Celebrations.

Click the links below to register for these events:

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Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Asian Art Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrated in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and honors the contributions , achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) who ha ve shaped the culture and history of the United States. In light of the recent increase of violence and discrimination against AAPI communities, the annual celebration takes on even more importance.

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Celebrated in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and honors the contributions , achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) who ha ve shaped the culture and history of the United States. In light of the recent increase of violence and discrimination against AAPI communities, the annual celebration takes on even more importance.

AAPI Heritage Month began in 1978 as a weeklong celebration and in 1992 May was permanently designated as the commemorative month. The month of May was chosen to memorialize the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. on May 7, 1843, and to honor the completion of the tran scontinental railroad - built by as many as 20,000 Chinese workers - on May 10, 1869 .

The Asian Art Museum is dedicated year-round to uplifting the voices and experiences of the AAPI community and providing a platform for visibility, representation, and cross-cultural connection. Each May, we are honored to commemorate AAPI Heritage Month with programming that celebrates AAPI histories and cultures, builds empathy and understanding, and fights xenophobia, prejudice, and discrimination. We believe that engaging with Asian art and cultures in their many forms has the ability to educate, spark creativity, foster dialogue, connect people, and, ultimately, create change.

See below for ways to honor AAPI Heritage Month, from talks, performances, and cooking demonstrations to art activities for the whole family and lesson plans for parents and teachers. You'll also find information on ways to support the AAPI community and stop anti-Asian hate.

The museum celebrates cultures from across Asia all year long. Learn more about our other Cultural Celebrations.

Click the links below to register for these events:

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Celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Asian Art Museum

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Celebrated in May, Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and honors the contributions , achievements, and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans (AAPI) who ha ve shaped the culture and history of the United States. In light of the recent increase of violence and discrimination against AAPI communities, the annual celebration takes on even more importance.

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The only pan-Asian art and history museum in the United States focusing on the histories, stories, art, and culture of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander people. Now offering Tours and three floors of community-based exhibits

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Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated during May, offering a timely reminder of why and how educators should be honoring AAPI history and identity all year long. These resources debunk the model minority myth, explain the Hawaiian concept of aloha, challenge the erasure of Sikh Americans and more.

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Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander Identities

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Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated during May, offering a timely reminder of why and how educators should be honoring AAPI history and identity all year long. These resources debunk the model minority myth, explain the Hawaiian concept of aloha, challenge the erasure of Sikh Americans and more.

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Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Resources

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Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a celebration of the culture, traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in the United States. Use these resources to teach and commemorate this heritage in school, communities and at home.

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Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month Resources

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Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a celebration of the culture, traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in the United States. Use these resources to teach and commemorate this heritage in school, communities and at home.

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Paj Ntaub, a young Hmong girl, moves into a new home with her family. As the seasons change, so too does her world as she encounters both birth and death. As this curious girl explores life inside her house and beyond, she collects bits of the natural world. But who are her treasures for? A heartfelt story that weaves together threads of family life, community and culture, the natural world, and the power of stories.

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Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One's Family Experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp

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Fish for Jimmy: Inspired by One's Family Experience in a Japanese American Internment Camp

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For two brothers in a Japanese American family, everything changed when Japan bombed Pearl Harbor and the United States went to war. With the family forced to leave their home and go to an internment camp, Jimmy loses his appetite. Older brother Taro takes matters into his own hands and, night after night, sneaks out of the camp to catch fresh fish for Jimmy to help make him strong again.

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Mia Yang has a lot of secrets. She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her parents, who are immigrants, clean the rooms, Mia manages the front desk.  Her parents hide people who are immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Yangs will be doomed. Mia wants to be a writer. But her Mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language. It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness and hard work to get through this year.

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Juna and her best friend, Hector, have many adventures together and they love to collect things in empty kimchi jars. Then one day, Hector unexpectedly moves away without having a chance to say good-bye. Juna is heartbroken and left to wonder who will go on adventures with her. Determined to find Hector, Juna turns to her special kimchi jar for help each night. She plunges into the depths of the ocean, swings on vines through the jungle, and flies through the night sky in search of her friend. Juna finds that adventure and new friends can be found in the most unexpected places.

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Meena and River have a lot in common: fathers forced to work away from home to make ends meet, grandmothers who mean the world to them, and faithful dogs. But Meena is an Indian immigrant girl living in New York City’s Chinatown, while River is Kentucky coal miner’s son. As Meena’s family studies for citizenship exams and River’s town faces devastating mountaintop removal, this unlikely pair become pen pals, and when their camaraderie deepens, they discover common ground in their different experiences.

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As the book opens, Pacy and her family celebrate the Year of the Rat. The year brings big changes: Pacy must deal with the possibility of her best friend Melody, moving away, find the courage to forge on with her dream of becoming a writer and illustrator, deal with the bias directed toward a new student from China, and learn to face some of her own flaws in the process. Along the way, Pacy encounters prejudice, struggles with acceptance and finds the beauty in change.

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Sejal, Mommy, and Pati travel together to the southern tip of India. Along the way, they share meals, visit markets, and catch up with old friends.
For Pati, the trip retraces spaces she knows well. For Mommy, it’s a return to the place she grew up. For Sejal, it’s a discovery of new sights and sounds. The family finds their way to Kanyakumari, where three oceans meet, and delight in making it to the end of the earth together.
This own voices picture book celebrates the beauty of India and the enduring love of family.

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Driving through Ohio in an old Pontiac, a young girl's parents stop suddenly when they spot watercress growing wild in a ditch by the side of the road. Grabbing an old paper bag and some rusty scissors, the whole family wades into the muck to collect as much of the muddy, snail covered watercress as they can. At first, she's embarrassed. Why can't her family get food from the grocery store? But when her mother shares a story of her family's time in China, the girl learns to appreciate the fresh food they foraged. Together, they make a new memory of watercress.

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They’re called parachutes: teenagers dropped off to live in private homes and study in the United States while their wealthy parents remain in Asia. Claire Wang never thought she’d be one of them, until her parents pluck her from her privileged life in Shanghai and enroll her at a high school in California.

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Anjali and her friends are excited to get matching personalized license plates for their bikes. But Anjali can't find her name. To make matters worse, she gets bullied for her "different" name, and is so upset she demands to change it. When her parents refuse and she is forced to take matters into her own hands, she winds up learning to celebrate who she is and carry her name with pride and power. A timeless story about appreciating what makes us special and honoring our differences.

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Hannah’s Korean name literally means “Gold Dress,” so why doesn’t she want to be seen wearing her gold hanbok dress? Ten-year-old Hannah is facing a big performance for her school’s talent show. The trouble is, she’s ashamed of her dress, the dance, even the music--they’re too different, too Korean! What if everyone makes fun of her? Will Hannah be brave enough to perform, or will she run off stage like she did at rehearsal? First, she must learn about the gold dress she’s wearing and its mysterious connection to her name and her family’s past in Korea: starting with a desperate escape from war and a secret wish hidden for decades in an envelope. Can Hannah make that wish finally come true?

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Danbi is thrilled to start her new school in the U.S. But a bit nervous too, for when she walks into the classroom, everything goes quiet. Everyone stares. Danbi wants to join in the dances and the games, but she doesn't know the rules and just can't get anything right. Luckily, she isn't one to give up. With a spark of imagination, she makes up a new game and leads her classmates on a parade to remember!

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A young girl who is an immigrant joins her aunt and uncle in a new country that is unfamiliar to her. She struggles with loneliness, with a fierce longing for the culture and familiarity of home, until one day, her aunt takes her on a walk. As the duo strolls through their city park, the girl's aunt begins to tell her an old myth, and a story within the story begins. The message was clear: Like sugar in milk, our presence in your country will sweeten your lives. The king embraced the refugee, welcoming him and his people.

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Binny wakes up happy but nervous. It is her day to share about Diwali, the Festival of Lights!  She is excited to talk to her class about her favorite holiday. But she struggles to find the words. Taking a deep breath, she tells her classmates about the fireworks that burst like stars in the night sky, leaving streaks of gold and red and green. She shares with them delicious pedas and jalebis. And she shows them clay lamps, called diyas, which look so pretty all the children ooh and aah. Includes detailed information about the Hindu festival of lights in the back.

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Fauja Singh was born determined. He was also born with legs that wouldn't allow him to play cricket with his friends or carry him to school miles from his village in Punjab. But that didn't stop him. Working on his family's farm, Fauja grew stronger to meet his own full potential. He never stopped striving. At the age of 81, after a lifetime of making his body, mind, and heart stronger, Fauja decided to run his first marathon. He went on to break records all around the world and became the first person over 100 to complete the grueling long-distance race.

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Lila is excited for her cousins, Takeo and Rosie, to visit. They're going to ride bikes, paint and camp together! But when the cousins arrive, everything's wrong: Rosie and Takeo are better painters than Lila, have skateboards instead of bikes, and don't want to camp outside. Lila is terribly disappointed until the cousins make her a surprise: a big banner for their "best cousin" Lila!

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Priyanka Das has so many unanswered questions: Why did her mother abandon her home in India years ago? What was it like there? And most importantly, who is her father, and why did her mom leave him behind? But Pri’s mom avoids these questions―the topic of India is permanently closed. For Pri, her mother's homeland can only exist in her imagination. That is, until she find a mysterious pashmina tucked away in a forgotten suitcase. When she wraps herself in it, she is transported to a place more vivid and colorful than any guidebook or Bollywood film. But is this the real India? And what is that shadow lurking in the background? To learn the truth, Pri must travel farther than she’s ever dared and find the family she never knew.

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In early-1900s Japan, Misuzu Kaneko grows from precocious bookworm to instantly-beloved children’s poet. But her life ends prematurely, and Misuzu’s work is forgotten. Decades later her poems are rediscovered—just in time to touch a new generation devastated by the tsunami of 2011. This picture book features Misuzu’s life story plus a trove of her poetry in English and the original Japanese.

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It's 1969, and the Apollo 11 mission is getting ready to go to the moon. But for half-black, half-Japanese Mimi, moving to a predominantly white Vermont town makes her feel out of place. Suddenly, Mimi's appearance is all anyone notices. She struggles to fit in with her classmates, even as she fights for her right to stand out by entering science competitions and joining Shop Class instead of Home Ec. And even though teachers and neighbors balk at her mixed-race family and her refusals to conform, Mimi’s dreams of becoming an astronaut never fade—no matter how many times she’s told no.

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This graphic novel revolves around three characters. Jin Wang starts at a new school where he's the only Chinese-American student; he wants to be an “all-American boy” because he's in love with an all-American girl. Danny is an all-American boy—great at basketball, popular with girls but his obnoxious cousin's annual visit is such a disaster that it ruins Danny's reputation at school, leaving him with no choice but to transfer somewhere he can start all over again. The Monkey King has lived for thousands of years and mastered the arts of kung fu and the heavenly disciplines. He's ready to join the ranks of the immortal gods in heaven. But there's no place in heaven for a monkey. Each of these characters cannot help himself alone, but how can they possibly help each other? They're going to have to find a way―if they want fix the disasters their lives have become.

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These eight short stories explore the generational gap between Chinese immigrants and their “Americanized” children. The children look wonderingly at their immigrant parents’ efforts to assimilate while the older generation struggles to understand their children’s’ life styles and choices. The book illustrates the quintessential American story of immigration, assimilation and the tensions with other communities that occur as a result.

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In 1949 four Chinese women, recent immigrants to San Francisco, begin meeting to eat dim sum, play mahjong, and talk. United in shared unspeakable loss and hope, they call themselves the Joy Luck Club. Rather than sink into tragedy, they choose to gather to raise their spirits and money. Forty years later the stories and history continue. The narrative voice moves among seven characters, including the mothers and their daughters.

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Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families followed this ancient tradition. But Ailin loves to run away from her governess and play games with her male cousins. Knowing she will never run again once her feet are bound, Ailin rebels and refuses to follow this torturous tradition. As a result, however, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement and as she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family is no longer willing to support her.

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This book tells the story of a Japanese American family's story of internment in a Utah enemy alien camp during World War II. In 1942, the two children and their mother are forced to leave their Berkeley home and spend three years in a dusty, barren desert camp. Their father was previously taken from their home one night by the FBI and was being held in New Mexico. After the war, the family returns to Berkeley to their now vandalized home. They struggle to adjust to post-war life and the hostility they continue to face.

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Hà has only ever known Saigon: the thrills of its markets, the joy of its traditions and the warmth of her friends close by. But now the Vietnam War has reached her home. Hà and her family are forced to flee as Saigon falls, and they board a ship headed toward hope—toward America. Inspired by the author's childhood experience of fleeing Vietnam and immigrating to Alabama, this coming-of-age debut novel is told in verse.

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When a Japanese-American boy and his family are interned in a camp during WWII, they decide to combat their depression by building a baseball field. During a game the boy channels his humiliation—both from being a prisoner and from being a bad player—to anger, giving him the strength to hit a game-winning home run.

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A twelve-year-old girl who knows little about her Chinese heritage is sent to live with her grandmother in San Francisco's Chinatown.