Ways to Celebrate AAPIHM (Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month)
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As an Asian American woman, wife, and mother, I look forward to celebrating my family’s heritage each May during Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM).
As one of the 23 million Americans who identify as AAPI, I am happy to see that AAPIHM is becoming bigger across the country. But it still has a long way to go.
Here are some ideas for incorporating AAPIHM celebrations into your own home.
What to Know About Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Here are some fast facts about AAPIHM:
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month was originally a week signed into law by President Carter in 1978, designating a week to celebrate the AAPI community.
President George H. W. Bush signed a bill in 1990 that extended the week into the entire month, and President Obama changed the name to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2009.
According to GoodGoodGood, “Lawmakers chose May because of its historical significance for the AAPI community. It commemorates the immigration of the first Japanese people to the United States, as well as Golden Spike Day (May 10, 1869), which marked the completion of the transcontinental railroad, largely built by Chinese laborers.”
AAPI stands for Asian American and Pacific Islander. The term describes a diverse and fast-growing population of Americans representing roughly 50 ethnic groups from more than 40 countries.
It doesn’t matter if you are AAPI or not; you can still celebrate this special month.
Watch AAPI Movies
Spend some time this month watching movies featuring actors from the AAPI community.
If you are looking for movies to watch with your kids, check out this list of 8 Movies to Watch On Disney+ To Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
In addition, HBO Max is offering an Asian American and Pacific Islander Voices collection.
And Netflix subscribers have access to its Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Stories collection.
Head to a Museum
Museums across the country feature AAPI exhibits, so this is the ideal time to visit a museum.
Check out this list from House Beautiful of Art Museums That Honor the AAPI Community, such as The Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
Learn About Other Cultures
I was born in Hong Kong and am a proud member of the AAPI community, but that doesn’t mean that I know everything about each ethnicity that composes this beautiful community of people.
For example, as an Asian American, there is a lot I could learn about Pacific Islanders. So I’m using this special month to learn about other cultures.
Read Books by AAPI Authors
Another way to recognize AAPIHM is to read books written by AAPI authors, such as Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng.
You can find several choices in Good Housekeeping’s 34 Entertaining and Enlightening Books by Asian Authors.
Enjoy Different Cuisines
It’s no secret that I love food. So AAPIHM is the perfect excuse for me to eat all the delicious dishes I grew up eating with my family and enjoy new-to-me foods from other AAPI cultures.
Serve the Community
One of the greatest things I have come across is the Heart of Dinner in New York City.
Heart of Dinner is a nonprofit that provides meals to elders of the AAPI community, who are often vulnerable. Those in New York can volunteer to pack meals, deliver meals, write notes, or work behind the scenes. If you live anywhere else in the world, you can donate.
