May is Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Judy Lee
- May 2
- 2 min read
Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated every May in the United States, honoring the rich cultures, histories, and contributions of AANHPIs to American society. The month of May was chosen for two significant reasons: May 7th marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843, and May 10th commemorates the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, a monumental achievement built largely by Chinese immigrant laborers whose contributions had long gone unrecognized.
Today, AANHPI Heritage Month serves as both a celebration and a call to reflection. It's an opportunity to recognize the enormous cultural, scientific, artistic, and civic contributions of AANHPI communities while also acknowledging the discrimination and hardship these communities have faced throughout U.S. history, from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 to the Japanese American internment during World War II to today.
The following are just a few of the many AANHPI advocacy organizations in Washington state. Consider learning more about the ones near you and supporting them!
A statewide coalition dedicated to advancing civil and human rights and racial and economic justice for Asians and Pacific Islanders, in solidarity with Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities.
A social justice-focused organization providing multilingual, multicultural community-based services to empower Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, immigrants, and refugees in the Pacific Northwest.
Founded by the community in 1975, SCIDpda preserves and develops Seattle's CID through affordable housing, small business support, and social justice and anti-racism programming.
A state agency that advocates for APA communities across Washington and maintains a robust AANHPI Heritage Month resource hub.
