Origins – Brief History
AAPI Heritage Month began as a weeklong celebration in 1978, introduced by U.S. Representatives Frank Horton and Senator Daniel Inouye.
In 1992, it became a full month—May—through a bill signed by President George H. W. Bush.
Why May?
May was chosen to honor two major milestones:
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May 7, 1843 – The first known Japanese immigrant arrived in the U.S.
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May 10, 1869 – Mark the anniversary of the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad, built largely by Chinese immigrants under brutal, discriminatory conditions.
Who Does AAPI Include?
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Asian Continent
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East Asians (e.g. Chinese, Korean, Japanese)
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Southeast Asians (e.g. Filipino, Vietnamese, Thai, Indonesian)
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South Asians (e.g. Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan)
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Central Asians (e.g. Kazakh, Uzbek, Tajik)
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Pacific islands of Melanesia
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New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands
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Micronesia
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Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia
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Polynesia
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New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island
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Why it Matters
AAPI Heritage Month isn’t just celebration—it’s education and resistance.
We honor:
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Resilience in the face of exclusion, internment, and erasure.
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Cultural contributions in food, arts, science, labor.
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Resistance to anti-Asian hate, xenophobia, and colonialism.
Prevent Hate
Hate against the AAPI community has increased in the past decade, with 49% of people reported having faced hate in the past year according to Stop AAPI Hate.
AAPI communities continue to face:
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Racial profiling
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Anti-immigrant policies
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Microaggressions and workplace bias
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Hate crimes and online harassment
AAPI Heritage Month is a time to speak out, learn, and prevent hate through awareness.
Learn More
Visit the official AAPI Heritage Month Website: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2024
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Explore these AAPI-led orgs doing powerful work year-round:
Celebrate. Educate. Prevent Hate.
Follow along for tools, stories, and community action this AAPI Heritage Month.