Anser is celebrating the rich culture and heritage of the #AAPI community. While there has been a disturbing spike in anti-Asian racism in relation to the pandemic, we can and must come together as a business community and as leaders to create more tolerance and inclusivity.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
Each May, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month honors Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders by paying tribute to the generations for their contributions to American history, society and culture. The celebration originated in 1978 when Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution to celebrate Asian American Heritage Week, which was held during the first 10 days of May. This timeframe was selected to coincide with two important milestones in Asian Pacific American history: the arrival in the United States of the first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and contributions of over 20,000 Chinese immigrant workers to the building of the transcontinental railroad, completed May 10, 1869. Asia Pacific region is used to describe countries throughout East and South Asia, Southeast Asia, and islands in the tropical Pacific Ocean (e.g., Indonesia, Guam, Samoa, Hawaii, French Polynesia.)
Self Reflection Questions:
- What is the significance of selecting the month of May for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month?
- What comes to mind when you think of the culture, history, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders?
- What are meaningful ways organizations can recognize and celebrate the culture, heritage, history, and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders?