Initially proposed to be a 10 day commemoration in 1977, the month of May is now a time designed to recognize Americans of Asian and Pacific Islander heritage and their history and contributions to American culture.
“Especially in diverse communities like ours, AAPI month is important to a lot of people who have moved away from their countries and come to America,” sophomore Jenna Kim said. “It’s also important as it allows Asian and Pacific Islander communities to gather and share their culture and traditions.”
The month encompasses the date of the completion of the Transatlantic Railroad on May 10, which was largely due to the labor of Chinese immigrants in 1869, and the arrival of the first Japanese immigrant in 1843. However, AAPI month recognizes people from South, East, Southeast, and Pacific Islander communities.
“I strongly believe that sharing and celebrating Asian cultures is super important as it brings many people together despite their differences, especially given the fact that there is such a vast variety of Asian cultures in our community,” junior Mary Katherine Sacil said. “It’s the reason I am able to connect with others of Filipino descent, and the reason I am also able to learn about and partake in other Asian cultures.”
According to a study by Savanta Research, the majority of Americans are unaware of AAPI history and cultural contributions.
“I do think that AAPI month has somewhat of an impact on our community,” Sacil said. “Every time it comes around I see social media posts or public messages bringing awareness to the occasion, however it only reaches a certain demographic of people and I feel that it can sometimes be overlooked compared to other groups.”
AAPI month isn’t just an opportunity to recognize the positives, it’s also a time to acknowledge what these cultures endured according to junior Trisha Agarwal.
“I think it’s important to recognize and celebrate the diversity of Asian cultures,” Agarwal said. “I also think it’s a great time for us to recognize past challenges faced by the AAPI community and reflect on the progress that has been made for greater inclusion in society.”
