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Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

May is Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, which celebrates the histories of Americans hailing from across the Asian continent and from the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.

May was chosen to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month for two important dates: May 7 and May 10. May 7, 1843 marks the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States. And May 10, 1869, or Golden Spike Day, recognizes the completion of the first transcontinental railroad in the U.S., which had significant contributions from Chinese workers. The conditions Chinese workers were under were brutal, and they did not receive the same pay as their white counterparts.

You can learn more about Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month here: https://www.asianpacificheritage.gov/

Posted 5/1/2023