Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This month, we celebrate the integral contributions Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the nation's history and culture while honoring the unique cultures and narratives of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities. In a year in which we have witnessed increased hate crimes against the Asian community in the United States and abroad, we encourage you to learn more about the contributions and history of Asians in America to better understand present issues faced by Asian-Americans. We have compiled a list of books, films, educational materials, platforms, and organizations for you to check out to learn more about the rich and multifaceted histories and cultures of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Asian and Pacific Islander influence in the United States has spanned centuries. During AAPI heritage month and beyond, we invite you to learn more about the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders.
Books
Films & Documentaries
Organizations & Platforms
The History of Chinatowns
Chinatowns have played an important role in preserving Chinese heritage and culture and creating community for Asian immigrants making their home in a new country. But beyond the visual aesthetic of the nation’s most popular Chinatowns is a deep-set history that tells the story of the United States’ oppression of Chinese immigrants and Asian Americans. This history too often goes unsung in history books but is imperative to painting a full picture of the experiences faced by Asian Americans in this country.
Indentured Servitude in The Caribbean
After the abolition of slavery in the British West Indies in 1834 (formally in 1838), the British sought to replace the labor of formerly enslaved Black Jamaicans. Britain looked to Asia to usher in a new system of labor, indentured servitude. While indentured servitude promised low wages to workers over a contract-assigned period of time, the means by which many workers were brought to the Caribbean and treated while working banana, sugarcane, and coffee plantations was oppressive. Many Chinese and Indian migrant workers who worked as indentured servants found themselves working under harsh conditions, discrimination, and had little protection under the law. The legacy of Chinese and Indian indentureship has greatly shaped the landscape of the Caribbean; everything from culture to food, music, and more.
The Museum of Chinese in America
The Museum of Chinese in America is a cultural and historical staple in U.S. History. The museum, located in the heart of New York City’s Chinatown, has played an important role in collecting documents, family heirlooms, cultural artifacts, and historical data pertaining to Chinese immigrants and their journeys to the United States. The museum amplifies the voices and experiences of Chinese Americans who have found their stories erased from general teachings and discussions of U.S. history.
In January of 2020, the Museum of Chinese in America’s offices and archival spaces were one of many organizations affected by a fire that ravaged the building at 70 Mulberry Street. In the year since the MOCA team has initiated recovery efforts, the physical location of the museum has moved to 215 New Centre Street in New York City. MOCA has partnered with Google to provide a digital exhibition of the museum’s community recovery process in rescuing precious and important archival documents, items, and histories that tell the story of the Chinese in America.
Visit the digital exhibition here.
Article written and compiled by Lyndsay Archer & Ihechi Ezuruonye
