By Ismary Munet
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the U.S. APAHM celebrates the culture, traditions, and history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and how they have shaped and contributed to the U.S. All throughout the country, the community holds events and activities to bring awareness and commemorate the importance of APAHM.
AsianInNY Linn Yen and Alice Chin interviewed by Asian America TV
The term Asian-Pacific covers 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).
APAHM came to be in June 1977 when Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution in order to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. In the next month, senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate, and both were passed.
On October 5, 1978, President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution to make it an annual celebration, and 12 years later President George H.W. Bush signed an extension to make it a month-long celebration.
In 1992, May was officially signed into law as Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen to memorialize May 7, 1843 as the immigration of the first Japanese to the U.S., and May 10, 1869 as the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which involved Chinese immigrants as the majority to have laid the tracks of the railroad.
The Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month website also offers information on exhibits and collections about Asian and Pacific American history available from the Library of the Congress and other partner agencies.
To learn more, readers can visit: www.asianpacificheritage.gov or to learn more about the APAHM celebration and events in New York, visit: http://www.AsianInNY.com.
Japan Day at Central Park
Some events including:
-LaGuardia Community College Asian Heritage Celebration Kick-off Event: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41772
-Celebrate Asian Pacific American Activism at Brooklyn Museum: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41929
-Asian CineVision is hosting the kickoff event for A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A/P/A: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41926
-Asia Society Celebrates: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=40343
-Indian festival of colors: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42140
-Japan Day at Central Park: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42192
-Asian Heritage Night in Queens: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41159
-NAAAP-NY Cherry Blossom Cocktail Party at Japan Society: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41684
-AsianInNY Co-Host 3rd Hello Taiwan NYC! Concert: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42159
-Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with Miss. America 2014 Nina Davuluri: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42287
-6th Annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=41150
-Passport to Taiwan Festival: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42197
-Philippine Independence Day Celebration: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42309
-Gen Dance Project by Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Festival: http://www.asianinny.com/?p=42276
If you know any more events that also celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, share with us!
Passport to Taiwan at Union Square
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