The month of May is Asian Pacific Heritage month. Looking for ways to explore the history, traditions, and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States?
The Asian Pacific American Heritage website is a great place to start. From here, one can explore all kinds of exhibits and collections including:
- Audio and Video of Poetry and Literature
- The Chinese Rare Books Digital Collection
- Digitized newspaper articles chronicling Asian-American history
- Audio interviews and stories from Asian-American veterans
- And much more
PBS has curated online offerings for anyone interested in learning more, including school resources. There are video profiles of Asian-American designers, tales of family, and explorations of gender identity.
Orange County Public Library offers a curated catalog list of books for kids. And NPR offers this reading list for adults.
For those hoping to celebrate with some North Carolina flavor, WNCT 9 in Greenville has posted this list of virtual events, and explains why we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month in May:
May is chosen for this heritage month because it was the month the first Japanese immigrants stepped foot in the U.S. in 1843. It is also in May that the transcontinental railroad was completed, which was built by Asian immigrants.
Interested in advocacy, community programs, or in making friends? Check out North Carolina Asian Americans Together, here.