In the month of May, you may start seeing a lot more AAPI-themed coverage popping up on your social media feeds in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month.
Given the name, it’s obvious AAPI Heritage Month doesn’t occur in Australia, yet a lot of the content you may notice in coming weeks is still compelling and worth checking out.
Over 30 years ago the US Congress designated the month of May as a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States and the contributions they’ve made to the country. In this instance, Asian/Pacific includes all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).
As a South Asian Australian woman, I particularly enjoy reading articles during AAPI month that zoom in on the experience of young Asian and Pacific Islander people in America who are also navigating their lives as children of immigrants. From stories about representation in the arts to narratives about young people challenging cultural stigmas around mental health, careers, beauty standards and arranged marriages, there is plenty of content I relish reading at this time of the year and find just as relatable and enjoyable to read all the way from Australia.
Here are some places where you’ll no doubt be able to find awesome AAPI content in May, so keep your eyes peeled!
Here are also some tweets that have got me excited for AAPI month:
While we're debating about whether to mask or not to mask, let's take a moment to remember our Asian American #FrontlineHeroes who remain at work, answering their call of duty. Thank you frontliners! pic.twitter.com/4GE6n599Ij
— AARP AAPI Community (@AARPAAPI) April 29, 2022
As you all start to compile your booklists for AAPI month, a friendly reminder
– The term Asian includes a broader range of regions not just East Asia
– Don’t leave out pacific islander stories
– Not all Asian authors are Asian American— Mishma (@chasingfaes) April 27, 2022
I “met” @lisaling on Channel One News when I was in 7th grade and when I first fell in love with history. Now I teach history and she’s inspiring me to keep teaching AAPI stories to my Ss. #teaching4justice @edu_to_empower pic.twitter.com/FOYXv6bw4D
— Erica 🇵🇭🇺🇸👩🏻🏫SDCC2024 Panelist (@ericaintheclass) April 29, 2022
4 more days until YES WE WILL! Say it with me now, YES WE WILL celebrate AAPI Heritage Month and encourage kids to dream big! ❤️📚✨#YesWeWill https://t.co/WQpkGynAmN
— Kelly Yang (@kellyyanghk) April 29, 2022