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Celebrate the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on May 1st! This month-long celebration honors the many contributions and achievements that the AAPI community has made to our country. It is a time to recognize their struggles, celebrate their successes, and embrace their culture. From music to art to food, AAPI Heritage Month celebrates all forms of creativity and encourages us to continue learning about this vibrant culture. So let's take this opportunity to honor AAPI heritage and show our support for an inclusive America!
<div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1977</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Congressional Bills Introduced</div><div class='timeline-text'>Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced resolutions to Congress to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1978</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>President's Proclamation of Heritage Week</div><div class='timeline-text'>President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1990</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Increased to a Month-Long Celebration</div><div class='timeline-text'>George H.W. Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend the Asian-American Heritage week into a month.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1992</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Perennial Celebration Enacted</div><div class='timeline-text'>A law permanently designating May of each year as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month was enacted.</div></div></div><div class='timeline-item'><div class='timeline-left'><div class='timeline-date-text'>1997-1999</div></div><div class='timeline-center'></div><div class='timeline-right'><div class='timeline-text timeline-text-title'>Further Recognition and Naming</div><div class='timeline-text'>Due to growing demand, the official observance name was updated in successive years to Asian/Pacific Islander American Heritage Month then eventually to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.</div></div></div>
<div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>1</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Watch a movie</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Take some time to watch a movie that celebrates the culture of Asian American and Pacific Islanders, like Crazy Rich Asians or The Joy Luck Club.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>2</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Attend a cultural event</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Look up cultural festivals in your area or online and attend one. Many cities host events where you can learn more about Asian American and Pacific Islander culture.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>3</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Read a book</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Read books written by authors from the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities or books about the culture. A great place to start is Julie Otsuka's novel, When The Emperor Was Divine.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>4</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Explore a museum</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Visit an Asian American or Pacific Islander museum to learn more about the history and culture. There are several museums located around the U.S.</p></div></div><div id='' class='facts-item'><div id='' class='facts-header'><h3 id='' class='facts-number'>5</h3></div><div id='' class='facts-text-wrapper'><h3 id='' class='facts-title'>Volunteer</h3><p id='' class='facts-text'>Find local organizations that focus on helping the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, and volunteer your time and energy to help out.</p></div></div>
<div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>A</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Recognizes the Diverse Communities</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Asian American Heritage month is important because it recognizes and celebrates the many diverse communities in the US which are made up of people from East, South and Southeast Asia. It's a chance to learn more about their rich cultures and histories, as well as exploring shared experiences such as immigration, discrimination and resilience.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>B</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Promotes Diversity & Inclusion</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>By celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) heritage, we can promote diversity& inclusion in our society. Many AAPI communities have faced racism and other forms of oppression, so it is essentialto recognize these communities for their contributions to society and work towards creating an environment where everyone feels safe and respected.</p></div></div><div id='' class='whywelove-item'><div id='' class='whywelove-letter-cont'><div class='whywelove-letter'>C</div></div><div id='why-we-love-main-cont'><h3 id='' class='whywelove-title'>It Inspires us to be Proud of our Culture</h3><p id='' class='whywelove-text'>Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month inspires us to be proud of our culture. As members of the AAPI community,we can celebrate by attending cultural festivals, learning new recipes inspired by traditional dishes from Southeast Asian countries or simply reflecting on our own unique cultural identity.</p></div></div>
<div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>1</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>The AAPI Community Contributes Significantly to U.S. Populace</h3><p class='facts-content'>As early as 2020, Asian-Americans comprised nearly 6% of the United States population, numbering approximately 21 million people.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>2</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders Served in U.S. Military</h3><p class='facts-content'>Even when faced with prejudice and discrimination, many Asian Americans, including Japanese-Americans, enlisted and served in U.S. military during World War II.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>3</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>AAPI Heritage Month Festival Celebrates Pan-Asian Culture</h3><p class='facts-content'>AAPI Heritage Month festival includes a wide array of Asian cultures and traditions, including Indian Rangoli floor art, Chinese dragon dance, Hawaiian Hula dance, Japanese Taiko drumming, and much more.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>4</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Noteworthy AAPI Athletes Have Made Their Mark</h3><p class='facts-content'>Several Asian American & Pacific Islander athletes have made significant contributions to sports; examples include Kristi Yamaguchi, an Olympic gold medalist in figure skating, and Apolo Ohno, a speed skating champion.</p></div></div><div class='facts-item'><div class='facts-number-wrapper'><p class='facts-number'>5</p></div><div class='facts-core-content'><h3 class='facts-title'>Sophisticated Ancient Asian and Pacific Islander Civilizations</h3><p class='facts-content'>Ancient Asian civilization offered many innovations still in use today. The Pacific Islander community also exhibits a rich history, including navigation skills that helped populate islands across the vast Pacific Ocean.</p></div></div>
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is celebrated on May 1 every year. In 2024 it will fall on a Wednesday.
2023
May 1
Monday
2024
May 1
Wednesday
2025
May 1
Thursday
2026
May 1
Friday
2027
May 1
Saturday
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