Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates a very broad range of Asian, Pacific Islander, and Polynesian cultures. For example, Asia is a continent with lots of countries in it. Each country has its own culture. Cultures can even differ depending on the region in the country. There are many Pacific Islands and territories in the US, which also have rich histories and cultures. Take this month to celebrate these individual cultures and their histories. You can celebrate Asian, Pacific Islander, and Polynesian cultures by reading about them, trying traditional recipes, listening to music, and much more.
Asia
Countries include Thailand, China, India, Malaysia, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Vietnam, Mongolia, and so much more!
Pacific Islands
Pacific Islands include Fiji, Solomon Islands, New Guinea, and much more!
Polynesia
Polynesia includes Cook Islands, New Zealand, and US territories like Hawaii Islands and American Samoa.
If you like food, check out these yummy dishes!
Get an adult’s help and try some of your reporter’s favorite recipes like this Indian recipe, Thai recipe, and Japanese recipe! Some ingredients may be hard to find depending on where you live. If you are able to find them, the meal is worth it! It is okay to get creative and substitute ingredients if you have to.
If you have curious tastebuds, explore other Asian, Pacific Islander, and Polynesian recipes!
If you like to read, check out these books!
- A Map Into the World by Kao Kalia Yang. It is about a young Hmong girl who moves to a new home with her family who collects treasures along the way.
- Fish for Jimmy by Katie Yamasaki. It is about two brothers in a Japanese-American family. It is a story about their experience in an internment camp during World War II.
Combating Stereotypes and Racism:
Another very important reason to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is to stop hate.
This year was tough on everyone. With the Coronavirus, scary things have happened and a lot of people were quick to blame people of Chinese or Asian descent. Sometimes people of Chinese or Asian descent in the US have been bullied or hurt because of this. It is important to remember that it is wrong to bully people, no matter what. It is also important to stand up to bullies and stand with those who are being bullied.
Much of the bullying comes from a place of fear and confusion. Taking the time to learn about other cultures can help us all understand and respect each other.
Related content:swe
- Lost in Translation: Demystifying and Maximizing Asian Culture
- SWE Signs Onto Joint AAPI Statement With SASE
- SWE Condemns Violence Against the AAPI Community
- Podcast: The Experience of Being an Asian American Female Engineer
