What is AANHPI Heritage Month?
By Emily Sayre and Caitlyn Evans
May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, a month to celebrate and honor AANHPI contributions to United States history. The terms AAPI/AANHPI have a long history, and encompasses Asian, Native Hawaiians and Pacific islanders from Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. The AANHPI community in the United States represents many different ethnicities and cultures, with unique history, culture, and achievements highlighted during the month of May.
A Brief History of AANHPI Heritage Month
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month traces back to the 1970s, when Congress introduced resolutions to designate a week in May to commemorate accomplishments of Asian/Pacific Americans. In its first proclamation by President Carter, the week beginning May 4th, 1979 was designated AAPI Heritage Week. In 1990, the observance of this week was expanded to the Month of May. Within the month, the 7th and 10th are recognized as significant days in AAPI History.
May 7th, 1843 is the day the first Japanese immigrant to the United States arrived, and
May 10th, 1869 is the day the first transcontinental railroad was completed. Many of its workers were Chinese immigrants responsible for the heavy manual labor tasks.
In 1992, May was permanently designated as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.”
Notable AANHPI News
In April of 2021, President Biden signed a proclamation re-naming the month Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI). At the same time, he re-established the White House Initiative on AANPHI through an Executive Order. Initially created in 1999, it directed agencies to coordinate efforts towards elimination of systemic barriers impacting AA and NHPI communities.
In January 2025, this executive order was revoked, and the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders was closed. President Trump also eliminated federal recognition of AANHPI Heritage Month. While devastating to the work being done in support of AANHPI communities, this decision cannot erase the ways that AANHPI experiences have and continue to shape America.
How AANHPI Experiences Shaped America
Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders played an important role in American civil rights, most notably through Supreme Court Cases. The 14th Amendment, which grants birthright citizenship to all persons born in the United States, regardless of race or nationality, was established as a direct result of the court case United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898). Wong Kim Ark was born in San Francisco to Chinese immigrant parents, and after travelling to visit his parents, was denied re-entry into the United States under claim that he was not a citizen. He fought this all the way to the Supreme Court, where he won and was allowed re-entry. This ruling became relevant with the Japanese internment during WWII. During this time, the United States War Department demanded that those of Japanese descent either renounce allegiance to the Japanese government to keep their U.S Citizenship, or be incarcerated and deported. It was determined that the government could not revoke citizenship under U.S. v Wong Kim Ark.
We Are Not Free by Traci Chee
One book that discusses what life was like for Japanese Americans during the time of internment and WWII is We Are Not Free (2020) by Traci Chee. This YA historical fiction book about young Nisei, second-generation Japanese American citizens, whose lives are irrevocably changed by the mass U.S. incarcerations of World War II.
Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have also played a significant role in the fight for increased wages and better working conditions. In 1946, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino workers went on strike at 33 out of the 34 sugar plantations located on Hawaiian islands. The demands were for workers to be provided housing, medical, pensions, and wage benefits. After roughly two and a half months, their demands were met.
This success can be seen to this day: Hawai’i is now the second-highest union density in the nation. In 1982, the Chinese American women working in NYC’s Chinatown went on strike in demand of better working conditions and liveable wages. In a demonstration of the power they held over the city’s economy, they took to the streets and had their demands met just days after the strike began. This was a historic victory that provided higher wages and benefits for tens of thousands of workers, and amplified Asian American voices.
Asian American Histories of the United States by Catherine Ceniza Choy
Asian American Histories of the United States (2022) Catherine Ceniza Choy details the 200-year history of Asian migration, labor, and community formation in the US while emphasizing how essential Asian American experiences are to any understanding of US history.
Celebrate & Support!
Heritage celebrations can come in many different forms. Asian American and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islander’s histories and contributions to our communities are vast and widespread. Their traditions, people, and experiences that have helped create opportunities and fight oppression in America should be widely celebrated, not just in May, but year round.
Educate yourself on AANHPI history; PBS has a 5-hour film series that showcases the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played in shaping the US today. This series is split up into multiple episodes, so it is a perfect way to spend a few weekday nights.
Support AANHPI businesses. Find AANHPI-led and AANHPI-owned businesses to support. Doing a bit of research to find local-to-you businesses is a great way to support your overall community, as well as the AANHPI community.
Read AANHPI stories! In addition to seeking out AANHPI authors and stories, you can find AANHPI-owned bookstores to support. Vroman’s Bookstore has put together a list of AANHPI-owned bookstores, and you can even filter a Bookshop.org bookstore search for AANHPI-owned bookstores.
Use this month to learn about AANHPI history, read AANHPI stories, and find new-to-you AANHPI businesses to support. Use what you learn as a starting point for supporting and celebrating those with AANHPI heritage. As the current Trump administration takes steps to erase their history, is it crucial that we continue to keep their history alive and recognize the ways in which Asian Americans and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders have contributed, and continue to contribute, to our society.