Open Letter for Asian-American History Education in NYC Public Schools April 26, 2021 Dear Mayor De Blasio and Chancellor Meisha Porter, The recent surge in anti-Asian hate crimes and violence has highlighted the woefully inadequate education pertaining to Asian American history that our children receive. As parents of Asian- American students in NYC public schools, we urge you to take immediate actions to establish and promote a curriculum that is inclusive of Asian-American history and culture. Education is among the best antidotes to racism and must start in the earliest grades. The future of our city and our nation depends on what our children learn in school today. Asian-American children must know their history in this country so they can be proud of their heritage and stand up to discrimination and hate. Their classmates who are not of Asian descent must also learn about Asian-American history to better understand and respect the racial and ethnic background and identity of their Asian-American peers. Very few NYC students are taught about the numerous ground-breaking contributions Asian-Americans have made to this country and our city, or about the hardships, exclusions, violence, and killings that Asian- Americans have endured over the centuries in this country and our city. The stories of how Asian-Americans have stood up against racism and discrimination and fought to realize their dreams must be told. Asian-American history is American history. It is critical for all NYC students to see Asian-American role models, historical figures, writers, artists, scientists, and contemporary leaders included in the school context, including but not limited to curriculum, classroom walls, library books, lesson slides, and performances. To address the discrimination and prejudice that Asian-American students have been subjected to for far too long, we ask you as well as the principals and teachers of NYC public schools to support Asian-American children now. We ask you to immediately implement the following: One, teach Asian-American history to our children and their classmates in NYC public schools. Two, celebrate Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with a series of activities every year. Three, teach Asian-American children how to confront racism and teach their classmates how to support Asian-American classmates. We believe that by learning about the history of each member of our community--how we arrived at this land and how we helped to build this nation and city together--we will be more united, empathetic, and respectful to each other; we will be better able to fight racism, 1 discrimination, and inequality. We look forward to collaborating with you to achieve racial representation and equality in our schools for all children. Sincerely, Xia Li, Ting Yu, and Joseph Chou parents of Asian-American students at MS158 Marie Curie, Queens; Yiatin Chu and Lulu Song, parents of Asian-American students at PS184M Shuang Wen School, Manhattan We, the undersigned, are in solidarity with the authors of this letter and join in their demands. 1. lin, Parent, Queens 2. Ralph Chu, Parent, Queens 3. A.Zhang, parent at MS74, Parent, Queens 4. Xiaoyan Chen MS 158, Parent, Queens 1. P Wang, Ps115, Parent, Queens 2. Joyce Ling, Parent, Manhattan 3. Ryan Mark, Student, Manhattan 4. Sophia Mark, Student, Manhattan 5. L. Mong, PS188, Parent, Queens 6. Peng Z. Parent at MS 67, Parent, Queens 7. Karen Brown IS125, Parent, Queens 8. Tangdongjiao, Parent, Brooklyn 9. Katherine Lai, sophomore at Carle Place High School, Student, Long Island 10. Wendy jiang, Parent, Brooklyn 11. Qundi weng, Parent, Brooklyn 12. Samantha Tan, Student, Queens 13. Sophie Zhuang, Parent, Brooklyn 14. Xue Zhang jhs216, Parent, Queens 15. Ping Jiang, PS184, Parent, Queens 16. Yan Yu, professor at St John’s University, Educator, Queens 17. Peter x. Jhs 216, Parent, Queens 18. C. Wang,MS67, Parent, Queens 19. Sandy Hou, Parent, Queens 20. Lily L, Parent, Manhattan 21. Jenny Jiang, Alumna of Stuyvesant High School, Student, Brooklyn 22. Lynn Tse, Parent, Brooklyn 23. I.y, Parent, Brooklyn 24. Jiayue Yu,Jianghui Ji,parents of Asian-American students at MS 158 Marie Curie and P.S 31Q,Queens, Parent, Queens 25. Yuan Zhao Tan, Parent, Queens 26. Ben chen ps 187, Parent, Brooklyn 2 27. Ting Yu, Parent, Queens 28. Liang, Parent, Brooklyn 29. Sam, Parent, Queens 30. RC, teacher, Parent, PA 31. Kara Yim, Student, long island, ny 32. Renee Wen, Carle Place High School, Student, Long Island 33. Angel Chen, Parent, Queens 34. Jane Ling, Teacher at PS2M, Educator, Queens 35. CocoLin Ps 2, Parent, Manhattan 36. Liang Ling, Parent, Queens 37. Diamond Ling, Student, Queens 38. Emily L, Student, Queens 39. Edmund Ling, Parent, Queens 40. Joy Ling, Community Member, Queens 41. Jie G., Parent, Long Island 42. Fengying Liu PS184, Parent, Manhattan 43. Chun wai Yeung, Parent, Queens 44. Young Jung, PS162, Parent, Queens 45. Karen Brown IS125, Parent, Queens 46. Jane PY Cheung, Parent, Manhattan 47. Jane PY Cheung, MS126, Parent, Manhattan 48. Kenneth Chen PhDPE, Parent, Brooklyn 49. Jenny Chen MS67, Parent, Queens 50. Donghui Zang, Parent, Queens 51. xiaoyan Zheng, Parent, Brooklyn 52. Lily Lin，PS.184M Shuang Wen school, Parent, Manhattan 53. Maggie Wang PS 176, Parent, Brooklyn 54. Carrie Kong, Parent, Staten Island 55. Jane PY Cheung, 13K430, Parent, Manhattan 56. Jane Chen, Parent, Queens 57. Jinny Zhong, Parent, Brooklyn 58. Parents of PS 184M, Parent, Manhattan 59. Qiaojing Liao parent of IS239, Parent, Brooklyn 60. Selina He, IS 187, Parent, Brooklyn 61. Lily Lee, Parent, Manhattan 62. Eileen Zhao, Parent, Queens 63. X.C, Parent, Manhattan 64. Miranda Chiu PS 188, Parent, Queens 65. Miaona Zheng parent of Stuyvesant HS, Parent, Brooklyn 66. Monica Gee, Parent, 3 67. M Zheng Teacher at PS 105, Educator, Brooklyn 68. Mary Lee PS 200, Parent, Brooklyn 69. Michelle Zhu, PS 105, Parent, Brooklyn 70. Angela Chen, Stuyvesant high school, Parent, Queens 71. Jackie ps188, Parent, Queens 72. Vivian Chen, Parent of student at P.S.13, Parent, Queens 73. Yanling ( Christal ) Wu, MS158 Marie Curie, Parent, Queens 74. Connie Huang, Parent, Brooklyn 75. Fai Lam, Parent, Brooklyn 76. Christine Quan, Parent, Queens 77. Xiaoyun Chen, Parent, Brooklyn 78. Kenny kuo PS 205, Parent, Brooklyn 79. Julie Zhou, Parent, Queens 80. Michael Chen, Parent, Brooklyn 81. Jade Xie, Parent, Manhattan 82. Sharon Mei, IS234, Parent, Brooklyn 83. Shu Mei, PS686, Parent, Brooklyn 84. BC ps 77, Parent, Manhattan 85. Brayden Yue PS130, Parent, Manhattan 86. Grace Zeng, Student, Queens 87. Kelvin K Chan, BTHS, Parent, Brooklyn 88. Jenny Chen, Parent, Manhattan 89. Frances Lee, Parent, 90. Michelle Wang, Community Member, Suffolk 91. LL, parent at P4 at 179, Parent, Queens 92. Sandy Sun Mattlin middle school, Parent, Long Island 93. Phil Wong, Parent, Queens 94. Veronica Wu, Parent, Queens 95. Fanny Hu, Parent, Queens 96. April Chen, Columbia University, Parent, Manhattan 97. Wendy chen, Parent, Queens 98. Albert Lee, Parent, Brooklyn 99. C.H.Fang, parent ,PS 184, Parent, Manhattan 100. Ludanxu ms74, Parent, Queens 101. Lu J PS188, Parent, Queens 102. Jay Liang, Parent, Queens 103. Zhiying, Parent, Queens 104. Joyce, Student, Manhattan 105. YQ, Parent, Queens 106. E. Lau, PS173, Parent, Queens 4 107. Dr. Yan Yu, Parent, Queens 108. Dao Yin, Parent, Queens 109. Binya Lin JHS 185, Parent, Queens 110. Wei Ouyang, Parent of student at PS188Q, Parent, Queens 111. Jinyuan Yan, Parent of student at PS188Q, Parent, Queens 112. Amy Zheng, Parent, Queens 113. Jessica MS216, Parent, Queens 114. Rebecca Xue, Parent, Manhattan 115. XZIS.201, Parent, Brooklyn 116. HCPS.176, Parent, Brooklyn 117. Yanling Li, Parent, Queens 118. Xueqing Ma, Parent, Queens 119. X.Chen, parent at MS 158, Parent, Queens 120. Yanshuang, Parent, Queens 121. May Zou, Parent, Brooklyn 122. Howard Sun, Parent, 123. lingfangmeng ps.159, Parent, Queens 124. Min Yi Yu, Parent, Brooklyn 125. Jun Yu, Parent, Brooklyn 126. Min Ou, IS239, Parent, Brooklyn 127. Min Ou, IS234, Parent, Brooklyn 128. Jacqueline W., Parent, Staten Island 129. Pei Li, Parent, Brooklyn 130. Peggy, Parent, Queens 131. Polly IS187 the christa Mcauliffe middle school, Parent, Brooklyn 132. Hang Qing Chen, Parent, Queens 133. Grace Jin，president of Guizhou American association, business owner, Queens 134. anna xu journalist, Parent, Queens 135. Hanqing Lou, Parent, Long Island 136. Zhoufeng Lin, Educator, Brooklyn 137. ChunqiSun parents at PS2, Parent, Manhattan 138. Lina Liang, Parent, Manhattan 139. Melody Ke parents at Ps2, Parent, Manhattan 140. Sharon, Parent, Queens 141. Sue Huang, Student, Queens 142. Qun Shi, Parent, Long Island 143. Yibing Xio MS158, Parent, Queens 144. Y. Bai PS205Q, Parent, Queens 145. Michelle Wan MS158, Parent, Queens 146. Wei Y PS188, Parent, Queens 5 147. David Baker, Community Member, Staten Island 148. Jim Davis, Parent, Queens 149. J. Zhou, Parent, Manhattan 150. Lucy Lin, Parent, Queens 151. Yuzhu Ren ,MS67, Parent, Queens 152. X.W. PS79, Parent, Queens 153. AML, Parent, Brooklyn 154. Hui Ding, MS 158, Parent, Queens 155. Yujie Nakano, Parent, Brooklyn 156. Yvonne Lu, PS124, Parent, Manhattan 157. Yun Mai, Parent, Bronx 158. niki, Parent, Queens 159. duoxiu yang, Parent, Queens 160. Long Wang, Parent, Queens 161. Lucy Chen, Community Member, Community Member, Manhattan 162. J. Guo, Parent at Hunter College High School, Parent, Queens 163. M. Yuan, Parent at Hunter College High School, Parent, Queens 164. Mike at ps 188, Parent, Queens 165. Jean Zhou, Parent, Manhattan 166. Xiao Gao, Parent, Queens 167. HUIMIN LI ，PARENT，SUCCESS ACADMEY, Parent, Brooklyn 168. Jenny Chen IS180, Parent, Brooklyn 169. Stanley， PS204, Parent, Brooklyn 170. Cristiane liu, Ps188q, Parent, Queens 171. Dazhou Wang, Parent, Queens 172. tiffany, Parent, Bronx 173. Melanie Liu IS187, Parent, Brooklyn 174. Wendy Wong, Parent, Queens 175.