Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month commenced on May 1, making 2022 its 30th annual celebration in the United States. Our country's diversity and cultural legacy have been enhanced by its AAPI residents for hundreds of years, and this month honors their contributions.
According to the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders already make up 7 percent of the total U.S. population, and are also the nation's fastest growing racial group.
However, it should be noted that those under the umbrella of 'AAPI' constitute a hugely diverse multifaceted assortment of individuals. The U.S. Census Bureau considers someone of Asian descent if they have origins in the Far East, Southeast Asia, or even the Indian subcontinent, and considers someone Pacific Islander if they descend from such places as Native Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Guam, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea.
So, how did this special month come into being? It all traces back to one brave Asian American woman! Jeanie Jew, then working on Capitol Hill, approached New York Congressman Frank Horton about the idea in the mid-70s . . . and he introduced a bill calling for the month's special designation more than 15 years later.
According to historical records, Ms. Jew expressed concern to Rep. Horton about the absence of recognition given to AAPI contributors during the 1976 U.S. Bicentennial celebrations. What began initially as a commemorative week eventually expanded over the course of a decade into a whole month in 1992, following a similar trajectory as other ethnic heritage months.
Ultimately, May was selected as the appropriate month to honor AAPI contributions for two symbolic reasons: one was to remember the first known Japanese immigrant to the U.S. in May 1843, and the other was to celebrate the May 1869 completion of the transcontinental railroad, on which up to 20,000 Chinese workers labored.
These two events in U.S. history speak to the prejudice, racism, and xenophobia AAPI individuals have faced throughout our nation's existence, from the Chinese Exclusion Act in the 1880s, to the internment of Japanese Americans in camps during World War II, to the 150% increase in attacks on Asian Americans in 2020 during COVID.
Partially in response to ongoing racially-motivated violence, the theme for AAPI Heritage Month 2022 is Advancing Leaders Through Collaboration, which "encourages local and national governments to prioritize collaboration, development, diversity, transparency, and inclusion through leadership training of AAPI people", according to the Federal Asian Pacific American Council.
If you'd like to learn more about AAPI individuals who have contributed to our nation and the world at large, as well as the variety of global cultures they represent, we invite you to dive into all the free resources your Anne Arundel County Public Library has to offer.
Enjoy our curated list of related events below, as well as our book lists for adults, teens and young adults, and kids!
Events This Month
- Cultural Arts Tour of the Polynesian Triangle – Saturday, May 7 at 1 PM at Glen Burnie Library - Join us as we celebrate Pacific Islander heritage and journey to the South Pacific to experience traditional songs and dances of Tahiti, Hawaii, and New Zealand! Meki’s Tamure Polynesian Arts Group, Inc. will present an exciting and interactive program to introduce audiences to Pacific geography, greetings, live music, drumming, and a chance to learn a simple Hawaiian hula dance! This program will be held outdoors.
- Anime & Manga Club for Adults! – Tuesday, May 10 from 6-8 PM at Glen Burnie Library - Get ready to share your faves, what you are currently watching/reading, artwork, cosplay, etc. You get the idea, all things anime and manga ^w<
- Teen Movie Night – Wendy Wu: Homecoming Warrior – Thursday, May 12 at 6 PM at Deale Library -- Join us for a Teen Movie Night! Bring your favorite snack, blanket and/or camp chair & get comfy for this indoor event! You're in for a great movie!
- Afternoon Book Club – Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad – Tuesday, May 17 from 2-4 PM at Busch Annapolis Library
- In-Person Anime & Manga Club! – Tuesday, May 17 from 6-8 PM at Glen Burnie Library -- Share in the love of Japanese animation and comics! Come join your fellow Otaku and enjoy anime watching, manga discussions, games, creating, and more! Light snacks provided and cosplay is always welcome!
- Pokémon Go Pokéstop & Gym Tour – Wednesday, May 18 at 4 PM at Brooklyn Park Library -- Walk with library staff and search for elusive Pokémon in the Pokémon Go game - offered monthly! Visit several Pokéstops and PokéGyms in Brooklyn Park. Pokémon Go App required to play Pokémon Go game.
- Sumo Mice & Power Rice: Tales and Games From Japan – Friday, May 20 at 10:30 AM on Zoom -- Parents’ Choice Award-winning storyteller Motoko enchants children of every age with folktales from Japan, combined with songs, movement, humor and an origami. Materials needed for the origami craft: few pieces of square paper 6”-8”
- Celebrate Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month – Saturday, May 21 from 2-4 PM at Busch Annapolis Library -- Watch the movie, Moana, on our three screens theatre while creating multiple crafts to celebrate and explore Asian/Pacific Heritage Month. Hear a story, sing songs and play traditional games!
- Mountain Road Manga Mafia and Anime Club -- Thursday, May 26 from 5-7 PM at Mountain Road Library -- Join your fellow Otaku for this monthly meetup to geek out together over our favorite manga and anime! Bring your drawings, fanfics, or cosplays to show off and share your fandom with us!
- Otaku Unite! Teen Anime & Manga Club -- Tuesday, June 7 from 6-8 PM on Zoom -- Share in the love of Japanese animation and comics - online! Join your fellow Otaku and enjoy discussing your favorite anime and/or manga with others. Artwork sharing and cosplay is always welcome!