Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Resources

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

Resources for Students After a year with a marked increase in discrimination and harassment aimed at Asian-Americans across the country, the past few months have been particularly shocking, in both the frequency and violence of attacks.

A powerful way to fight racism is through education. Conversations about prejudice with your students and school community go a long way toward building empathy and acceptance. Below are resources to help you reach that endeavor. Asia Society, The Rise of ‘Dehumanizing’ Anti-Asian Racism in the U.S (Open external link). Description: In this short clip, Dr. Russell Jeung, a co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate, speaks about the reports his group has received about verbal harassment, physical attacks, and bullying against Asians and Asian Americans from across the United States.

Focus Question for The Rise of ‘Dehumanizing’ Anti-Asian Racism in the U.S.: How can we best respond to the dire situation created by acts of Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander racism and hate?

Discussion Questions:

 Why does Russell Jeung state that the situation here in the United States is dire?

 What does it mean to dehumanize someone? Why do you think that these attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders often attempt to dehumanize them?

 How should we respond to this dire situation? How can we ensure that the people and the government address this situation? Learning for Justice, Min Jee’s Lunch(Open external link) Description: A short story for young students that can be used to begin conversations about stereotypes and the value of speaking up.

Focus Questions for Min Jee’s Lunch: What is a stereotype? Why is it important for us to be aware of stereotypes? How should we respond when we see or hear someone use a stereotype?

Discussion Questions (from Learning for Justice (Open external link)):

 Why was Min Jee extra excited for lunch at the beginning of the story?

 How did Audrey’s comments make Min Jee feel? Why?

 Why is it wrong to make assumptions about people or groups like the ones Audrey made about Asian people?

 Ella and Gabriel wished they had stood up for Min Lee. When is a time you have stood up for a friend, someone has stood up for you, or you have seen someone stand up for someone else?

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

Gothamist/WNYC, Demonstrators, Elected Officials Rally after Surge in Anti-Asian Hate and Violence (Open external link) Description: This article describes a Rise Up Against Asian Hate rally that took place on February 27, 2021 at Federal Plaza in Lower Manhattan, and highlights the response of community activists to the recent waves of anti-Asian attacks.

Focus Question for Demonstrators, Elected Officials Rally after Surge in Anti-Asian Hate and Violence: How do coalitions come together to organize for change and to protect a community?

Discussion Questions:

 Who are some of the groups and individuals at the rally against Anti-Asian hate and violence, and what were their reasons for speaking out?

 What do the groups and individuals who attended the rally agree on? What are some of the differences in their perspectives?

 What are some of the emotions that people who attended the rally expressed? What are some of their ideas for how to respond to anti-Asian bias and violence? How are emotion and activism connected?

 Select a sentence from the article that stands out to you. The sentence can be informative, interesting, notable, or elicits an emotional response. Share the sentence with your class and explain what it means to you.

PBS, Asian Americans, the Fight for Ethnic Studies (Open external link) Description: A video depicting the student-led efforts that resulted in the 1969 launch of the first Department of Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley, and later San Francisco State.

Focus Question for The Fight for Ethnic Studies: Why did students in the late 1960s at San Francisco State fight for Ethnic Studies? How did that fight build coalitions between Asian American students and other student groups?

Discussion Questions:

 How did the civil rights movement and fight for Black Studies at San Francisco State influence the activism of Asian American students at the college? What other circumstances do you think influenced the protests of Asian American students at the college?

 In what ways did different groups at San Francisco State find common ground in their protests?

 What was the Third World Liberation Front? What were its goals?

PBS, Asian Americans, the Impact of the Vincent Chin Case (Open external link) Description: A video on the 1982 murder of Vincent Chin, a pivotal moment in civil rights history. It is the first time that federal hate crime laws are used in a case involving an Asian American victim.

Focus Question for The Impact of the Vincent Chin Case: Why was the Vincent Chin case a pivotal moment in civil rights history?

Discussion Questions:

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

 How were the results of the trials of Ronald Ebans and Michael Nitz in the killing of Vincent Chin a catalyst for protest in the Asian American and Pacific Islander community?

 How were the results of the trials of Ronald Ebans and Michael Nitz representative of anti-Asian and Asian American racism and violence in United States history?

 How did the Asian American community in the Detroit area respond to the Vincent Chin case? How did their initial response grow?

 What did Jesse Jackson mean when he stated, “We have been drawn here together by death, an unplanned family reunion”? How is Jackson’s response similar to some people’s response to anti-Asian American racism at present?

 What is the legacy of the Vincent Chin case?

PBS, Asian Americans, Women Advancing Equality (Open external link) Description: A video about Asian American Congresswoman Patsy Mink, who co-authored Title IX, a law to ensure that no one will be discriminated against in education and federally-funded activities based on gender, and supported civil rights legislation.

Focus Question for Women Advancing Equality: How did Patsy Mink fight to advance equality for everyone in the United States?

Discussion Questions:

 Who was Patsy Mink? What obstacles did Patsy Mink face in running for Congress?

 How did Patsy Mink advocate for the passage of civil rights legislation?

 What was Patsy Mink’s impact on advancing equality for all Americans?

PBS NewsHour, Asian Americans Face a Wave of Discrimination during the Pandemic (Open external link) Description: PBS News Hour correspondent Amna Nawaz interviews Asian American and Pacific Islander activist Helen Zia and Rise founder Amanda Nguyen to discuss the recent surge in Anti-Asian violence and racism.

Focus Question for Asian Americans Face a Wave of Discrimination during the Pandemic: What has led to the rise in Anti-Asian violence and racism? What can we do about it?

Discussion Questions:

 What has led to the recent surge in racism and violence directed towards Asian and Asian Americans? How are these occurrences linked to events in the past?

 According to Helen Zia, how is Anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander violence the result of systemic racism and white supremacy?

 How are these attacks affecting people as they also respond to the COVID pandemic?

 What should be done in response to this wave of discrimination as well as the larger aspects that connect to issues of systemic racism?

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

PBS NewsHour,‘The Problem with Apu’ and the American Immigrants Stories that Aren’t Being Told(Open external link) Description: An interview with comedian Hari Kondaboluon exclusion and stereotyping in American media, with a particular focus on the character of Apu from “The Simpsons.”

Focus Question for ‘The Problem with Apu’ and the American Immigrants Stories that Aren’t Being Told: How have South Asian immigrants been portrayed in the media?

Discussion Questions:

 What is Hari Kondabolu’s position on the character of Apu from The Simpsons?

 Hari Kondabolu says that stereotypical impressions of a group of people are a way of silencing that group of people. What do you think he means by that?

 Hari Kondabolu states that we should work harder to tell the real stories of people, including immigrants, because it helps to humanize them. What does it mean to humanize a group of people?

 How might stereotypical caricatures lead to the mistreatment of people? What should we do about it?

 Can you think of other examples of stereotypes from popular movies or tv that are accepted by the mainstream? What can we do about them?

American Social History Project, A Chinese Immigrant Recalls the Dangers of Railroad Work · SHEC: Resources for Teachers (Open external link) Description: A book excerpt detailing the extreme danger taken on by thousands of Chinese immigrants who worked in railroad construction in the West from the 1860s to the 1880s.

Focus Question for A Chinese Immigrant Recalls the Dangers of Railroad Work: How does the work experience of Chinese workers give a window into the lives of Asian immigrants 150 years ago?

Discussion Questions:

 What were some of the dangers that Chinese workers faced while working on the Railroad?

 Why do you think the workers agreed to work under such dangerous conditions?

 What impact did building the Transcontinental Railroad have on the environment?

 There are few written records left by Chinese immigrants who worked on the railroad from the 1860s to the 1880s. What sources of information can we use to learn about the lives and work of Chinese workers in the 19 Century?

 How can we connect the experiences of Chinese workers in railroad construction to contemporary examples of Anti-Asian American racism? What does this tell us about structural racism and inequality? Additional Resources: Please use the below resources to support your school community.

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

 NYC "Stop Asian Hate" Education Resource Guide

The New York City Office for the Prevention of Hate Crimes (OPHC) is re-issuing the resources the Department of Education (DOE) shared last April when we began to see the troubling increase in anti-Asian incidents, and encourage you once again to incorporate lessons that address the consequences of racism, bias, and discrimination. The following resources have been compiled to help initiate discussions with your students and to provide empowering ways to stand up against hate. We hope you find them useful.

 Asian Americans K-12 Education Curriculum and Lessons, Untold Civil Rights Stories

Through relevant and engaging lesson plans and activities, the resources developed will seek to inspire a deeper understanding of the history, current experience, and future trajectory of our nation's fastest-growing demographic group. Important content and themes explored in the series will be used to teach concepts while meeting national content standards.

 Asian Pacific Heritage Month ADL Resources

Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a commemoration of the culture, traditions and history of Asian American and Pacific Islander people in the United States. In 1978, Congress passed a joint Congressional Resolution to pay tribute to Asian Pacific American Heritage Week during the first week of May and in 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. During Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, communities commemorate the achievements and contributions of people who are Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) with community festivals, government-sponsored activities and educational activities for students.

 Asian Pacific Heritage Month Teaching Tolerance Resources

May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Use these resources to celebrate the diverse experiences of AAPI students and effectively teach AAPI history—this month and throughout the year.

 Respect For All Educator Resources

 Respect For All Family Facing Resources

 Challenging Biased Language :( Open external link) Strategies and resources for everyone to help challenge bigoted and offensive remarks to ensure dignity and respect for all people.

 Coalition for Asian American Children and Families (CACF)(Open external link): Educate Asian Pacific American parents in their preferred languages on their rights, responsibilities, and opportunities to attain services within the school system.

 Muslim Community Network (Open external link) develops the capacity of Muslim New Yorkers and their allies to fully participate in the social and political landscape of New York City.

 Sikh Coalition(Open external link) A: community-based organization that works towards the realization of civil and human rights for all people

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

 Facing History and Ourselves

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is an invitation to pay attention to the history, identities, and stories of Asian and Pacific Islander American (AAPI) peoples. It is also a chance for educators to better understand and support AAPI students. And as AAPI people continue to be victimized by increased acts of racist violence in the wake of the pandemic, educators face additional challenges around how to support students from those communities,⁠ lend historical context to these harrowing events, and stand against anti-Asian racism. As Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month draws to a close and we move into the summer months, we invite you to check out our newest resources on these subjects and use them all year long:

 Professional Development & Lifelong Learning

Centering AAPI Students in the Classroom: An Expert Interview In this interview, Dr. Guofang Li and Dr. Nicholas D. Hartlep—leading scholars of Asian-American Education—discuss some of the unique challenges faced by students of AAPI heritage and share insights that all educators can use to serve members of these communities more effectively.

New Books on Asian and Pacific American History and Life This Asian/Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month, news of mounting discrimination and violence against Asian Americans has been drawing increased attention to the plight of this community, past and present. As shutdowns and social distancing recommendations lead Americans to spend more time at home, now is the perfect time to deepen our understanding of the richness of Asian American and Pacific Islander American history, as well as the community's immense resilience and creativity. Here we detail five books released within the last year for any educator eager to learn more about the struggles, resilience, and triumphs of APA peoples.

 Historical Teaching Materials & Survivor Testimony

The Legacies of Chinese Exclusion The Chinese Exclusion Act marked the first law to restrict US immigration on the basis of race. This resource includes activities intended to engage students in an exploration of the historical context and consequences of the 1882 legislation, drawing connections between the exclusion era and today. They also invite students to analyze a letter of protest from Chinese immigrant Saum Song Bo and consider how immigrants themselves played a role in shaping notions of democracy and citizenship within a polity that excluded them.

Teaching Farewell to Manzanar Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven years old in 1942 when the United States government authorized the forced relocation of all Japanese Americans on the West Coast to internment camps. Teaching “Farewell to Manzanar” interweaves a literary analysis of Jeanne’s memoir with an exploration of the relevant historical context surrounding her experience. This guide provides engaging activities, teaching strategies, and recommended media to structure your students' reading of the memoir.

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

Bearing Witness to Japanese American Incarceration March 21, 1942, marks the date that Congress authorized the federal courts to enforce President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066, sanctioning the forced removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans on the West Coast in internment camps. These lesson ideas probe some of the complex issues arising from the history of Japanese incarceration during World War II. While not comprehensive, these resources and activities enable students to explore difficult questions about national identity, institutional racism, and the boundaries of US citizenship.

George Takei on Surviving Incarceration & Embracing Democracy In a recent public engagement with Facing History, acclaimed actor George Takei addressed the audience about the importance of continued civic engagement even when we have been subjected to deep injustice. Weaving elements of his life and family story into the discussion, he explored the importance of choosing active civic engagement even in the face of racism.

Facing History and Ourselves invites educators to use our resource Teaching Farewell to Manzanar in the classroom.

 Teach Your Kids to Resist Hatred Toward Asians

Books make great educational resources to combat discrimination and xenophobia, and to foster activism.

 Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month National Endowment for Humanities

Online resources to uplift Asian and Asian American voices, encourage self-education, and offer solace from the Smithsonian Institution. Resources for educators, exhibitions, videos, activities, blogs and more available from museums and units within the Smithsonian.

 Asian Pacific American Heritage Month PBS

Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May and every day with a special PBS collection of stories that explores the history, traditions and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

 AAPI Heritage: Documenting Journeys

Join the Share My Lesson community in celebrating the generations of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans who have enriched global society, playing a critical role in its development and success. With our wealth of prek-12 digital resources, you and your students can explore the remarkable contributions that AAPI Americans have given to history, culture, the sciences, industry, government and more. In addition to recognizing the vast achievements of the AAPI community, work with your students and community to understand diverse perspectives and the difficult struggles that AAPI Americans have grappled with throughout the history of the United States. In this tailored collection, you’ll find resources, activities and lesson plans that cover subjects like:

ASIAN AMERICAN AND PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH RESOURCES

 Teaching Asian American and Pacific Island Perspectives and Experiences within Humanities Education

 Have Your Students Heard of Wong Kim Ark?

 Japanese Internment: Injustice or War Necessity?

 AAPI Month: Digging Deeper

Did you know? The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, during the beginning of the California Gold Rush. It also marks the anniversary of the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad on May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks that connected the frontier to the rest of the country were Chinese immigrants. Many years after the initial waves of immigration, the official celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month began as a shorter, 10-day celebration in 1977; however, President George H.W. Bush expanded it to a month-long commemoration in 1992.

 Interested in learning more about the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month? Check out the Smithsonian’s resources and engage with music, history and culture spanning centuries.

 Explore the journeys of America's Japanese and Chinese immigrants during the 19th century in this exhibit from the University of California.

National AAPI Day Against Bullying+Hate on May 18

In 2019, Act To Change spearheaded the inaugural National AAPI Day Against Bullying+Hate on May 18, in honor of the birthday of Vincent Chin, whose murder in a hate crime in 1982 sparked a national uprising.