by Rev. Norman L. Williams, D.Min.
PSWR Regional Moderator
May is Asian American/Pacific Islander Heritage Month – a celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. A rather broad term, Asian/Pacific encompasses 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).
Like most commemorative months, Asian/Pacific Heritage Month originated with Congress. In 1977 Reps. Frank Horton of New York introduced House Joint Resolution 540 to proclaim the first ten days in May as Pacific/Asian American Heritage Week. During the next decades, presidents passed annual proclamations for Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week until 1990 when Congress passed Public Law 101-283 (PDF, 166kb) which expanded the observance to a month for 1990. Then in 1992, Congress passed Public Law 102-450 (PDF, 285kb) which annually designated May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Month. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have a rich heritage thousands of years old and have both shaped the history of the United States and our Church and its partners. Today an estimated two million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are serving on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis as healthcare providers, first responders, and essential workers. But recent news coverage has reported increasing acts of violence and physical injury against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. In addition racial slurs, bullying, and harassment cause depression, traumatization, and instill fear in our communities.
John F. Kennedy once said, “Our attitude towards immigration reflects our faith in the American ideal.” This May our Nation and Church have the opportunity to celebrate Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month through traditional and social media events drawing attention to their rich culture and contributions to our communities.
WAYS YOU CAN CELEBRATE ASIAN AMERICAN/PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH
(adapted from National Convocation Black Heritage Month Memo)
1. Support Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) businesses
2. Visit an AAPI Museum in your local area
3. Donate to an AAPI organization
4. Host an AAPI film marathon
5. Trace your family history – how can we know others if we do not know ourselves?
6. Spend time with an AAPI elder in your community
7. Read a book by an AAPI author
8. Sign-up to mentor/befriend an AAPI child/family in your community
9. Attend or host an AAPI culture event in your community
10. Support AAPI creative (artist, poet, local musician, etc.)
11. Study the AAPI Diaspora
12. Explore AAPI Music
13. Call out racism and prejudice in your community
14. Sign-up to receive news from a AAPI Organization
15. Engage in healthy conversations about AAPI History on Social Media
16. Decorate your home/church w/ AAPI Art
17. Read a biography of an influential AAPI figure
18. Share w/ the PSWR how you plan to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month
19. Make sure you are registered to vote