STG resource guide: Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPI Heritage Month) is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and current contributions of Asian and Pacific Islander individuals and groups. AAPI is an umbrella term that encompasses the entire continent of Asia, as well as the multiple islands of Melanesia and Polynesia. Congress chose the month of May because it commemorates the immigration of people from Japan to the United States that occurred on May 7, 1843. It also marks the month that the transcontinental railroad was completed, whose workers were mainly Chinese immigrants. In honor of this year's AAPI Heritage Month, we invite you to explore STG's curated list of resources below.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month resource list:
About AAPI Month:
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Fun Facts - Infographics that depict fun facts and statistics related to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community
- The story behind Asian Pacific American Heritage - an NPR article that discusses the history of how Asian Pacific American Heritage came to be and the reason May was chosen as the month of celebration
- Asian/Pacific American History: Learning our Legacy - staff members from the National Archives share personal stories and perspectives on what Asian/Pacific American heritage and history means to them
- 11 Moments From Asian American History You Should Know - An article by Time Magazine that covers some of the most major milestones from Asian American history, chosen by historians and experts
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month - a web portal that serves of a collection of information and archival materials contributed by the Library of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration, The National Park Service, and various other credible sources.
Books:
- The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan
- Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu
- When I'm Gone, Look for Me in the East by Quan Barry
- Things We Lost to the Water by Eric Nguyen
- Sisters of Mokama by Jyoti Thottam
- A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza
- Fairest by Meredith Talusan
- Fiona and Jane by Jean Chen Ho
- This is Paradise by Kristiana Kahakauwila
- If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha
- The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
- The Most Beautiful Thing by Kao Kalia Yang
Films & TV:
Always Be My Maybe (Netflix)
Better Luck Tomorrow (Starz)
Crazy Rich Asians (HBO Max)
Everything, Everywhere, All at Once (Amazon/Apple TV/Vudu)
Gook (Amazon Prime Video)
Minari (Showtime)
Moana (Disney Plus)
The Big Sick (Amazon Prime Video)
To be Takei (Amazon/Apple Tv/Vudu)
Street Food: Asia (Netflix)
Fresh Off the Boat (Hulu)
Squid Games (Netflix)
Community events:
- Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration - An annual festival featuring cultural performances, food, and art from different Asian countries, occurring on May 6 at the Seattle Center.
- Visit Wing Luke Museum - The Wing Luke Museum is an art and history museum in Seattle, Washington, United States, which focuses on the culture, art and history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
STG shows:
8:00 p.m., Wednesday, May 10 | Tickets start at $30.50
7 p.m., Thursday, May 11 | Tickets start at $37.50
7:00 p.m. & 9:45 p.m., Sunday, June 4 | Tickets start at $35
AAPI-owned local businesses:
To find even more organizations to support, visit the Intentionalist — a site that "makes it easy to find and support local small businesses and the diverse people behind them through everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop"
Shops:
- Kinokuniya Seattle - Japanese bookstore with a wide selection of manga, anime, and other Japanese literature and merchandise.
- Uwajimaya - Asian grocery store with a large selection of imported foods, produce, and household items.
- Kobo - Japanese crafts and art shop featuring ceramics, textiles, and jewelry.
- Hing Hay Co. - Chinese herb and tea shop with a wide selection of teas, herbs, and traditional remedies.
- Kaukau Market - Pacific Islander grocery store with a selection of fresh produce, meats, and imported goods from the Pacific Islands.
- Seattle Gourmet Foods - Asian snack and candy store with a wide selection of treats from Japan, China, and other countries.
Restaurants:
- Phnom Penh Noodle House - Cambodian noodle soups, curries, and stir-fried dishes
- Hood Famous Bakeshop - Filipino-inspired baked goods and desserts
- Wataru - traditional sushi and Japanese cuisine
- Pho Bac - Vietnamese pho and other classic dishes
- Kauai Family Restaurant - Hawaiian-style plate lunches and other island fare
- Maneki - Japanese seafood and sushi since 1904
- Nue - global street food with an emphasis on Southeast Asian cuisine
- Buddha Bruddah - Hawaiian-style poke bowls, plate lunches, and musubi
- Asian Counseling and Referral Service (ACRS) - ACRS provides mental health services, job training, and other support programs for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Seattle area.
- Asian Pacific Islander Community Leadership Foundation (ACLF) - ACLF offers leadership development programs and other community building activities for Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in the Seattle area.
- Filipino Community of Seattle - A nonprofit organization that provides social services, cultural events, and community outreach programs for Filipino Americans in the Seattle area.
- International Examiner - A nonprofit community newspaper that focuses on news and issues affecting Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the Seattle area.
- Korean Women's Association (KWA) - KWA provides social services and other support programs for Korean Americans and other immigrant communities in the Seattle area.
- Pacific Islander Community Association (PICA) - PICA provides social services, cultural activities, and other support programs for Pacific Islanders in the Seattle area.
- Seattle Chinatown International District Preservation and Development Authority (SCIDpda) - SCIDpda works to preserve and develop the historic Chinatown-International District neighborhood in Seattle, with a focus on promoting economic development and cultural preservation.
