Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month got its start as a congressional bill, inspired by Black History Month and Hispanic Heritage Month, with the mission of bringing attention to the contributions Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have made to the history and culture of the United States.
On October 5, 1978, President Carter signed a joint resolution designating an annual celebration. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed an extension turning it into a month-long celebration. The proposed resolutions sought that May be designated for two reasons; on May 7, 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States, and more than two decades later, on May 10, 1869, the golden spike was driven into the first transcontinental railroad, which was completed using Chinese labor. To continue learning click here.
The National 2024 theme for the observance of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month in May is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation”. This year’s theme is a continuation of the “Advancing Leaders” theme series which began in 2021. “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation” celebrates the visionaries and pioneers who have influenced our AANHPI heritage and continue to shape our shared future. Innovation, resilience, and a pioneering ethos are fundamental to American leadership. AANHPI leaders have significantly contributed to our nation’s economic growth, technological progress, and socio-political transformation with their creativity and resourcefulness, even while overcoming considerable cultural and systemic challenges.
About the Resource Guide
The Commonfund Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee has created a resource guide to help all of us celebrate the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders in all aspects of American life. With that said, this resource guide is not an exhaustive list by any stretch of the imagination, the hope is that you will take advantage of at least a few of these resources to begin your exploration of this very important part of American history; your history, our history.
