- Cultural Calendar
Each May for Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we recognize the strength, contributions, and legacies of the Asian Americans, Native Hawai'ians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) who have helped to build and unite this country in each successive generation.
AANHPI people are deeply rooted in the history of the United States and contribute daily to a more just and inclusive society in countless rich and diverse ways. They have served in politics with distinction, fought for gender and racial justice in education, courageously demanded justice for indigenous people and the environment, and organized to create better working conditions for all. AANHPI people have also created impactful and beautiful art, become leading fashion icons, and made people laugh and think.
Here in 2023, it has never been more important to make a distinction and honor the legacies, histories, and contributions of each of these groups, and to do so including the Pasifika and Native Hawai’ian people who have, in the past, been left out of our celebrations of AAPI/NH month. To honor them, take some time this month to learn more about them, such as Hawai’i’s last queen, Queen Lili’uokalani, from whom the Hawai’ian kingdom was illegally stolen.
Sadly, Asian Americans continue to experience racism, prejudice, and hate crimes, which increased to an alarming level in the U.S. during the pandemic. To counteract this perpetration of hate against Asian community members, let us instead uplift the histories of Asians in the U.S., making sure to include their experiences of racism, the legacy of inequitable immigration policies, and most importantly, the long-standing legacy of Asian antiracist advocacy.
Learn more in our Medium article here.