Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month was created by a joint congressional resolution in 1992. May coincides with two key milestones, the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the contribution of Chinese immigrants to the transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869. In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians.
The 2024 theme, “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future”, is an homage to ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.
The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2021, there were about 24 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing minority group in the United States.
Don’t be shy about asking any person how to pronounce their name properly. Here is a resource to help you prepare ahead of time: Pronounce Names – Dictionary of Name Pronunciation, How to say or pronounce names, Name pronunciation website
To find more information on the accomplishments of Asian American and Pacific Islanders check out the links below:
Asian American Historical Figures You Might Not Know About (tinybeans.com)