May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (formerly Asian Pacific American Heritage Month), a celebration of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese person to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, where the majority of the workers were Chinese immigrants. From https://asianpacificheritage.gov/about/
Learn More About AAPI & AAPIHM
- "Drop the Hyphen in Asian American"On the historical divisiveness of an unnecessary punctuation mark.
- "Why It's Time to Retire the Term 'Asian Pacific Islander'"Sometimes in the march to progress and inclusivity, we find ourselves taking a path that leads us in the opposite direction than what we intended. Such is the case with the term “Asian Pacific Islander” or API, a now commonly used way to describe people of Asian American and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. An even more shorthanded version is Asian Pacific American, or APA.
- Asian American K-12 ResourcesA list of resources curated by Dr. Sarah Park Dahlen (iSchool at Illinois).
- Asian Pacific American Librarians Association (APALA)APALA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing leadership opportunities through informed dialogue that addresses the needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander library workers and those who serve these communities.
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American CenterThe Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center brings history, art and culture to you through innovative museum experiences and digital initiatives.
Engage in AAPIHM at Geneseo
- May 1, 2023 @ 5-6 p.m.: Q&A with Kevin KreiderKevin Kreider is the star of Netflix's Bling Empire, an entrepreneur, and sobriety and recovery leader. Born in Seoul, South Korea and adopted at the age of three to a German/Irish family in Philadelphia, Kevin Kreider grew up with a loving family. Feeling he was not white enough, and yet, not Asian enough either, Kevin set out to carve his own unique path to redefine Asian masculinity.
Cultural Clubs at Geneseo
You do not need to share the social identity to belong to these cultural clubs.
- Chinese Culture Club at Geneseo
- Filipinx Student Union
- Geneseo Japanese Culture Club
- Geneseo Muslim Students & Friends Association
- Geneseo Shakti
- Himalayan Student Association
- Korean American Student Association
The Library's APAHM Cultural Collection
Check out books, videos, and other materials from the Library.
Declare an Asian Studies Minor!
Contact Becky Leathersich if you're interested in pursuing the interdisciplinary minor.
Explore Rochester & Online Events
- Asian Pacific Heritage MonthThe Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America's history and are instrumental in its future success.
- May 4 @ 5-7 p.m.: Opening Reception of NAPAHM ExhibitCome and join us in celebrating local AAPI pioneers, innovators and entrepreneurs -- their stories of overcoming challenges in thriving and making notable contributions to our community will inspire you.
- May 6, 2023 @ 9:30-5 p.m.: Upstate AAPI SummitNYS Senator Jeremy Cooney is hosting a free Upstate NY AAPI Summit. Join us to celebrate and explore Asian American heritage and how we can support each other in our efforts to empower AAPI identities across Upstate New York. Workshops include: Breaking Down Barriers, Mental Health in the AAPI Community, Economic Opportunity & Equity, and Organizing Our Upstate Communities.
- May 7, 2023 @ 12-5 p.m.: Asian Pacific American Heritage CelebrationJoin us for Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration Day! Enjoy free museum admission, community and cultural displays, live performances, a grand finale, and more. This year’s theme is “Together, we are stronger.”
