Why We Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May

The first day of May marks the beginning of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. The holiday celebrates the historical and cultural contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander people—an umbrella group which includes those with heritage or ancestry from East, Southeast, South, Central, and West Asia and the Pacific Islands.

There is plenty to celebrate this year, including uniquely AAPI stories made by Asian American and Pacific Islander creators, such as the 2022 multiverse film Everything Everywhere All at Once and the 2019 South Korean thriller Parasite, which both made Oscar history by winning Best Picture and other Academy Awards. We should also recognize the recent historic accomplishments of AAPI cultural figures like Michelle Yeoh, the first Asian woman ever to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, and Ke Huy Quan, who became the first Asian man since 1985 to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

AAPI members in government and politics have also made significant progress despite barriers, such as representative Ted Lieu of California, who became the first Asian American to be elected vice chair of the House Democratic Caucus in 2022, and Kamala Harris, who was the first woman and person of Asian descent to be elected as Vice President of the United States in 2016. These political accomplishments are especially impressive given that AAPI people currently comprise less than 1% of all elected leaders in government, making them the least likely to hold elected office — despite being the fastest growing demographic group in the United States.

Given the historic and cultural barriers that AAPI people face on a daily basis, including overt acts of anti-Asian violence and harassment, along with microaggressions and systemic bias that bar them from progressing in their careers or goals, it is important to use AAPI Heritage Month to invest in expanding our knowledge of the unique contributions and challenges of this community. AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity to celebrate AAPI people, study the historic barriers and violence they face in the United States and commit to further understanding, inclusion, and partnership with the AAPI community.

Why is AAPI Month in May?

May was chosen as annual AAPI Heritage Month in the late 1970s by Congress because of two significant historical events for the AAPI community in the United States. May 7, 1843 is the date that marks the first Japanese immigrant to the United States — a 14-year-old fisherman named Manjiro who arrived by a whaling ship and is sometimes called “The U.S.’s first ambassador to Japan.” The other major milestone in May is the completion of the construction of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was built primarily with the labor of Chinese immigrants.

What is the history of AAPI Heritage Month?

In 1977, members of the United States Congress proposed dedicating several days in the beginning of May to celebrate the heritage and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. President Jimmy Carter signed it into law in October 1978, and “proclaimed the 7-day period beginning on May 4, 1979 as 'Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.’”

In 1992, under President George H.W. Bush, Congress passed an amendment that expanded the week into Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. The month was officially renamed Asian American and Pacific islander Heritage Month, or AAPI Heritage Month, in 2019.

How can I celebrate AAPI Heritage Month?

Remember that AAPI Heritage Month is not just for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — it's a celebration that every American can partake in. In fact, AAPI Heritage Month is an opportunity for allies to learn more about AAPI people, culture and accomplishments, and to highlight AAPI voices and leadership.

Specific historic and cultural barriers—such as the model minority myth, the perpetual foreigner stereotype and the pressure to assimilate—can make it challenging for AAPI members to speak out against violence or racism, making it critical to create partnerships and allies in other communities. While AAPI people are considered people of color (POC) and included in the BIPOC (Black Indigenous People of Color) dialogues, Asian and Pacific Islander people have unique experiences and challenges that need to be differentiated.

You can strengthen your allyship this AAPI Heritage month by educating yourself on challenges particular to the AAPI community. You can also partake in the joy and celebration of AAPI voices, minds and hands by reading and watching pop culture by Asian American and Pacific Islander creators or about AAPI characters and communities, eating Asian food and buying from local and international AAPI businesses.

As an ally, one of the most important ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in May and year-round is speaking out when it matters, whether that is to condemn and criticize casual racism and discrimination you witness in your social circles or workplace and making a concerted effort to elevate AAPI voices and achievements to make a difference.

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