Signs for honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Month can be seen everywhere in May, each one reminding me to honor the contributions of the AAPI community to America. However, as a first-generation Chinese American, I feel conflicted about AAPI Month. This conflict doesn't stem from the celebration itself, but rather from my limited knowledge of its origins.
After the education of a U.S. History class, I can talk about how the founding fathers contributed to the pursuit of freedom and how the colonizers fought for their independence, but there's barely any knowledge in my mind that I can say about AAPI contributions to this country with the exception of a blurred recognition of how "they worked in low-wage jobs."
However, this month, particularly through social media, we were asked to celebrate and acknowledge the contributions of AAPI communities to the United States. But my knowledge from high school curriculum of AAPI topics was limited to 1850s immigration forces in the mines, the existence of nativism, and the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
When I realized this gap in my knowledge, I chose to do some research online. And yet, I was shocked to find out how much I still needed to learn.
There are Asian American history moments that ought to never be forgotten, such as the 11 listed by Time Magazine, which were never taught to us in a typical school curriculum. Indeed, AAPI laborers in Western mines were not immune to the scourge of racial violence and discrimination — their communities were marginalized, seen through the lens of nativist prejudices, and their struggles were frequently pushed to the margins of mainstream historical accounts. Their contributions were rarely recognized through a historical lens, but can be, and need to be recognized now.
During the 1860s, Chinese laborers assisted in the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad, which made it easier for people to travel and conduct business, thereby benefiting the US economy during a time of discrimination.
In addition, the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which was almost entirely made up of Japanese Americans, rose to become one of the most decorated units in American military history. This was accomplished despite the fact that they faced discrimination and internment at home during WWII.
In fact, the struggle persists to modern history. I was too young to comprehend the hatred that is directed toward Asian people two years ago. However, I now see it as a remnant of the racial hierarchy that places the Asian American community in a lower position than the most prominent communities.
Being a resident of Arcadia, a city with 56.9% Asian population, shelters me from these harsh realities. Arcadia stands in stark contrast to places where the history and contributions of Asian Americans are even less recognized, which feeds the cycle of ignorance and marginalization.
Why celebrate AAPI Month without truly understanding its significance? Promoting the celebration of diversity rings hollow when history is presented through a predominantly mainstream perspective. In places like Los Angeles, resources to celebrate AAPI contributions abound, but in areas with fewer AAPI residents, much more can be done–we must go beyond surface-level recognition to honor AAPI Month. To celebrate it means to include AAPI history in education, listen to their stories, and address discrimination in a collective and unified way.
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