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Asian Pacific American Heritage


Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who enrich and contribute to American history, society, and culture. Prince George’s County is home to over 40,000 Asian Americans and 2,000 Native Hawaiians & Pacific Islanders (2020 US Census). “Asian American” and “Pacific Islander” are large and imperfect terms. These communities include East Asians, South Asians, Southeast Asians, Central Asians, West Asians, Polynesians, Melanesians, Micronesians, and their diasporas, including Indo-Caribbean folks.

Norman Mineta

Norman Mineta

American politician Norman Mineta (born 1931), was the first Asian-American cabinet member; he served under both the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations. Mineta, an American of Japanese descent, was forced into an internment camp during World War II, and as a member of Congress during the 1990s, he lobbied for the United States government to issue an official apology and financial restitution to families such as his. As Secretary of Transportation in the administration of George W. Bush, Mineta oversaw an agency of 100,000 employees and a $60 million budget amid heightened security concerns in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

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Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson

Dwayne Johnson, also known as The Rock, was the youngest champion in World Wrestling Federation (WWF) history. Johnson's exotic looks--and impressive physique--helped make him one of the top-earning personalities in his field throughout the 1990s and 2000s. His 2000 autobiography, The Rock Says...: The Most Electrifying Man in Sports-Entertainment, spent five months on the New York Times best-seller list, and the following year Johnson made his feature-film debut in The Mummy Returns. Since then Johnson has made a name for himself outside the wrestling ring with action films such as The Scorpion King (2002), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013), and several installments of the Fast & the Furious franchise; children's films such as Tooth Fairy (2010) and Moana (2016), and even comedies such as The Other Guys (2010), Pain & Gain (2013), and Baywatch (2017). In 2011 Johnson returned to the ring as The Rock and routinely appeared in the wrestling ring over the next decade. In 2015 he starred in his first ever television series, Ballers, a sports comedy that saw its fifth season premiere in 2019.

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Yo-Yo Ma

Yo-Yo Ma

Winner more than 17 Grammy Awards, cellist Yo-Yo Ma possesses astounding technical brilliance and an awe-inspiring artistic sensibility. He virtually defined the standard for future cellists, and during his prolific career recorded more than 50 albums, between 1983 and 2000. Ma never hesitated to explore fresh musical terrain and the music of other cultures, and often explored the musical forms outside of the Western classical tradition. Ma immersed himself in projects as diverse as native Chinese music and it's distinctive instruments, the music of the Kalahari bush people in Africa, and tango music. Ma became one of the most sought-after cellists of his time, appearing with eminent conductors and orchestras throughout the world. He also gained a deserved reputation as an ambassador for classical music and its vital role in society. Ma was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009 for his contributions to classical music.

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Maya Lin

Maya Lin

Once referred to as the "black gash of shame," according to Time's Jonathan Coleman, the memorial commemorating the nearly 60,000 American veterans who died in the Vietnam War has become the most popular landmark in Washington, D.C., attracting millions of visitors to its black granite walls to touch the carved names of the dead men and women who served during the 1960s and 1970s in America's most controversial military action. Maya Lin, the creator of this monument, was at first harshly criticized for her design, which many charged was unsentimental, degrading, even ugly; Lin herself was attacked on racial grounds, many vets believing that her heritage as a Chinese American made her an unacceptable memorialist. Since its 1982 unveiling, however, the massive monument has come to symbolize America's willingness to "not only finally...confront the outcome of the Viet Nam War but also to begin the long process of healing," wrote Coleman, who added that the memorial "made it possible for the country to come together and honor those who had served--those who had died and those who had come home to anything but a hero's welcome."

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Amy Tan

Amy Tan

Amy Tan first gained acclaim in 1989 for The Joy Luck Club, a beautifully spun tale of generational and cultural differences in Asian American families focusing on mother-daughter relationships. Though her novels eloquently convey elements of the rich Chinese culture, they have universal appeal due to their insightful treatment, human emotions, and themes common to everyone: loss and hope, family ties and reconciliation, failure and success. The tales in her books are told from the points of view of a number of the characters, lending a more personal appeal. She has remained a popular writer with works such as The Hundred Secret Senses (1995), Saving Fish From Drowning (2006), and The Valley of Amazement (2013). In 2017, Tan released her memoir Where the Past Begins: A Writer's Memoir.

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Jerry Yang

Jerry Yang

Jerry Yang teamed with fellow Stanford student David Filo to make the emerging World Wide Web a place that could be navigated. What started out as a part-time project mostly for their own benefit turned into Yahoo! Inc., one of the world's most used search engines for the Web, complete with personalized features for shopping, searching, connecting, and using the Internet.

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Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu

Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu

Among the team of experimental physicists who developed the first atomic bomb for the U.S. government during World War II, Chien-Shiung Wu (1912-1997) spent 37 years as a leading researcher at Columbia University. She was noted for her meticulous experimental work in studying radioactive interactions. Her most famous experiment overturned what long had been considered a fundamental law of nature, the principle of conservation of parity.

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Dalip Singh Saund

Dalip Singh Saund

The Indian American politician Dalip Singh Saund (1899-1973) was the first Asian American elected to the U.S. Congress.

An article on the IMDiversity Web site quoted Don Nakanishi, head of the Asian American Studies Center at the University of California at Los Angeles, as calling Saund "the unsung pioneer of Asian American electoral politics." His life story encompassed financial ups and downs, struggles against discrimination, and an unwavering devotion to the American ideals of freedom and equality that he had read about as a child in India--and to the universal ideals of human dignity that motivated his early activism on behalf of Indian independence and of his fellow Indian Americans. "My guideposts were two of the most beloved men in history, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi," Saund wrote in his autobiography, Congressman from India.

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Dr. David Ho

Dr. David Ho

When Time magazine's 1996 Man of the Year announced that AIDS could be reversed, his bold pronouncements became fodder for sudden, intense publicity and controversy. If Dr. David Ho's treatment works, it might be the first time ever that doctors have found tools to eradicate a viral infection that has already entered the body. Ho's techniques, reported Christine Gorman in Time, "provided the first concrete evidence that HIV is not insurmountable," and promised to end "15 years of horror, denial and disappointment" in efforts to combat AIDS. Ho and his team of researchers, said Gorman "fundamentally changed the way scientists looked at the AIDS virus."

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Haing S. Ngor

Haing S. Ngor

A survivor of the reign of terror of the Khmer Rouge in his native Cambodia, Haing S. Ngor (1940-1996) became known for his role in the 1984 film The Killing Fields, which told of atrocities in Cambodia. Although a physician, not an actor, he won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for the film. Until his tragic death, Ngor was a human rights activist, using his fame and income to help refugees and to tell the story of the holocaust experienced by his people.

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Joyce Chen

Joyce Chen

“good grades and joyous disposition.” Her father, Liao Hsin-shih, was a railroad administrator and city executive. Chen referred to her mother as Mrs. Hsin-shih Liao. Her grandfather and his brothers held high-ranking positions in the Chin Dynasty. Despite being born into a well-to-do family, Chen was taught culinary skills “so I wouldn’t eat raw rice in case I couldn’t afford a family cook.” When she was sixteen years old her family moved to Shanghai, where in 1942 she married Thomas Chen (Chen Da Zhong). The couple had three children: two were born in Shanghai, and the third was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where the family settled after fleeing China in 1949 just before the Communist revolution.

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Kalpana Chawla

Kalpana Chawla

Her family's legacy was one of triumph over tragedy, and for Kalpana Chawla, the dream of adding to her family's legacy materialized when she went became the first Indian woman to go up in space in 1997. On February 1, 2003, as a member of the ill-fated Columbia shuttle crew, Chawla would be honored for a life she lived too briefly--but during which she realized spectacular achievements against great odds.

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Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink

Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink

While representing Hawaii for nearly 20 years in Congress, Representative Patsy Takemoto Mink (born 1927) made great strides toward peace, women's rights, civil rights, equality and justice.

On January 3, 1965, Patsy Takemoto Mink was the first Japanese-American woman and the first woman of color to be elected to the United States Congress. Breaking new ground for women and ethnic groups, though, was nothing new for her. The road to Congress was paved with many firsts, such as being elected the first female class president in her high school and being the first Japanese-American woman to practice law in Hawaii. Mink's dedication to helping others has resulted in legislative reforms in health care, education, women's rights, civil rights, conservation, employment and environmental affairs.

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Philip Vera Cruz

Philip Vera Cruz

Phillip Villamin Vera Cruz was a longtime leader of the movement, begun in the 1960s, to unionize the nation's farmworkers, especially the immigrant, itinerant workers who do much of the back-breaking, extremely low-paying work on the majority of America's large non-grain farms. Vera Cruz was a leader of the successful Filipino-led sitdown strike in the vineyards of Coachella, California, in 1965. It was this galvanizing event that led to the creation of the United Farmworkers of America.

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Yuji Ichioka

Yuji Ichioka

Born June 23, 1936, in San Francisco, CA; died of cancer September 1, 2002, in Los Angeles, CA. Historian, educator, and author. Ichioka is credited with coining the term "Asian American, " and he worked to bring Asian immigrants of all nationalities together in the United States and foster an understanding of Asian-American history. He was a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA), where he earned his B.A. in 1962, going on to earn a master's degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 1968 and also doing graduate work at Columbia University.

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Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin

Jeremy Lin is an American professional basketball player who plays as a point guard for the Beijing Ducks. After failing to be drafted out of college, he mostly sat on the bench with the New York Knicks before leading the team to victory against the New Jersey Nets in 2012. The sudden success made Lin a star, and after several more months of play with the Knicks, he was signed as a point guard with the Houston Rockets. After two seasons with the Rockets, Lin was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2014 and then the Charlotte Hornets in 2015. After leaving Charlotte the following year, Lin spent time playing for the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks before eventually signing with the Toronto Raptors and winning an National Basketball Association (NBA) title with the team in 2019. Lin subsequently put his NBA career on hold, signing a contract to play for the Chinese Basketball Association's (CBA) Beijing Ducks in August of 2019.

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Daniel Inouye

Daniel Inouye

Daniel Ken Inouye was a senior in high school and contemplating a career in medicine when the United States entered World War II following the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. A native of Hawaii, he was a nisei, the child of a Japanese immigrant to the islands. His father, Hyotaro Inouye, eked out a living as a clerk to provide for his wife, Kame Imanaga (herself a nisei), and the four Inouye children. They lived in one of Honolulu's worst slums, but as their oldest son later wrote in his autobiography, "I was too young to realize how underprivileged I was, and foolishly I enjoyed every moment of my childhood. There was always enough to eat in our house--although sometimes barely--but even more important, there was a conviction that opportunity awaited those who had the heart and strength to pursue it."

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Lisa Ling

Lisa Ling

Lisa Ling is an American television journalist. Since September of 2014, Ling has been the host of This Is Life with Lisa Ling on CNN. She previously served as the host of Our America with Lisa Ling, and National Geographic Explorer and as cohost of The View.

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Vera Wang

Vera Wang

Energetic and creative fashion guru Vera Wang became known as the designer to the stars in the 1990s with her trademark up-to-date wedding dresses, in addition to sleek evening gowns and elegant figure skating costumes. Using sheer materials and emphasizing minimalist styles, she has amassed a legion of famous fans from framed actresses and ice skaters who have made Wang a household name. Wang's creations are not just for the elite, however; she has a ready-to-wear line of bridal and evening dresses that can be found at stores across the nation. And in 2006, Wang became even more accessible to the masses with the announced launch of the Simply Vera line at Kohl's department stores. Also in 2011, Wang launched White by Vera Wang, a line of affordable wedding gowns sold at David's Bridal. A former almost-Olympic figure skater herself, Wang used her extensive experience as a fashion editor at Vogue and her stint designing for Ralph Lauren to launch her own lines. Her incentive for starting with bridal wear stemmed from her own frustration at not being able to find a suitable dress for her own 1989 wedding. "They were over-the-top and ornate and looked like wedding cakes," Wang told Jane Sharp in Biography. "I wanted something more elegant and subdued, but there wasn't anything. I realized the desire to fill that niche."

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B.D. Wong

B.D. Wong

Only twenty-something when he won theater's highest accolade--a Tony Award as best featured actor in 1988 for his performance in M. Butterfly, B. D. Wong could have rested on his many laurels. He is the first Asian American actor to receive awards from Actors' Equity, Theatre World, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk--in addition to his Tony. But Wong is not the kind of person to focus on his own career without regard for his community. B.D. Wong has become a well-known name among Asian Americans for his dedication to fair portrayals of Asians as much as for his famed acting ability.

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Lana Condor

Lana Condor

Lana Condor is an American actress known for her roles in films such as X-Men: Apocalypse and To All the Boys I've Loved Before. Condor has also appeared in the films Patriot Day (2016) and Summer Night (2018). Condor was cast in the James Cameron-penned sci-fi/action film Alita: Battle Angel, scheduled for release in 2019. She also signed on to costar in the SyFy channel original series Deadly Class, set to premiere in 2019.

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Tyga

Tyga

Tyga is an American rapper and hip-hop artist who came to prominence in 2007, when, as a teenager, he performed at the MTV Video Music Awards. Known for his mixture of invective, humor, and at times disparagement of women, the rapper has produced several studio albums, including his 2008 debut No Introduction, Careless World: Rise of the Last King (2012), and Hotel California (2013).

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Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong

Ocean Vuong is a Vietnamese American writer whose debut novel, On Earth We're Briefly Gorgeous, was showered with unreservedly approving accolades in 2019. A few months after its publication, he won a prestigious "genius grant" in the amount of $625,000 from the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation. One of Vuong's early champions was Ben Lerner, author of another 2019 standout novel The Topeka School and Vuong's undergraduate writing teacher at Brooklyn College. "It was unclear if Ocean was aware of the immensity of his talent," Lerner told New York Times writer Kevin Nguyen, "but everybody around him was." Vuong works as an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. He also travels to give lectures at other institutions.

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M. Night Shyamalan

M. Night Shyamalan

A Hollywood auteur who directs as well as writes major motion pictures, M. Night Shyamalan released one of the top-grossing films of all time, The Sixth Sense, in 1999. The film starred Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment as a child psychologist and a boy, respectively, coming to grips with death. The film combined strong writing and solid directing with outstanding performances to create one of that year's top-grossing films, second only to Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The Sixth Sense, directed by Shyamalan when he was 28 years old, grossed more than $700 million. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including best director, best screenplay, and best picture. Shyamalan continued his directorial pursuits with a number of mystery oriented films over the years, including Signs (2002), The Village (2004), and The Happening (2008). Shyamalan began filming his next project The Visit in 2014. The movie was set for a 2015 release. He also transitioned into TV directing with the mystery series Wayward Pines, scheduled to air in 2015.

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Stop Asian Hate

Originally Asian Pacific Heritage Week, this celebration was created by a 1978 congressional bill sponsored by the U.S. Representatives Frank Horton and Norman Y. Mineta and U.S. Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga. Twelve years later, President George H.W. Bush signed an extension making the week-long celebration into a month-long celebration. May was chosen because the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States in May of 1843 and the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad, on which many Chinese laborers worked, was held on May 10, 1869.

Events

Wed, May 01, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Hillcrest Heights
Have fun crafting and creating a Japanese carp kite inspired craft and learn about the history of Children's day in Japan. Supplies are provided.

Wed, May 01, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Laurel - Large Meeting Room A (Dorothy Height Room)
In a recent Supreme Court case limiting affirmative action in college admissions, Asian Americans showed support and opposition to the policies. This presentation offers context and a forum for dialogue on Affirmative Action, magnet schools, and more. Leading the discussion is Janelle Wong, co-author of legal briefs advocating for affirmative action and magnet school reforms.

Thu, May 02, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Spauldings - Large Meeting Room
Test your knowledge with an afternoon of Asian Pacific American History trivia! From historical milestones to contemporary achievements, let’s have a fun time celebrating and learning! The winner will receive a prize.

Thu, May 02, 4:45pm - 5:45pm
Laurel
Build your child's confidence as they read to specially trained therapy dogs. Bring your own book or choose from a selection of Asian Pacific American Heritage folktales. Each child will read for 10 minutes.

Sat, May 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Bowie - Auditorium
Moksha, the University of Maryland's premier competitive Indian classical dance team, merges contemporary and Indian music with classical dance to craft original pieces that address diverse themes and social justice issues. Through performances nationwide, they strive to elevate awareness of this distinctive art form.

Sat, May 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
New Carrollton - Large meeting room 1
Discover the allure of Afghan jewelry with local artisan Farkhonda Mujadeddi as she showcases her craft in a live demonstration.

Sat, May 04, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Beltsville - Large Meeting Room
Step into the vibrant world of Filipino culture with our immersive event! Celebrate the colorful traditions of the Flores de Mayo festival as you get creative with flower crown-making and woven paper flag crafting. Immerse yourself in the rhythmic beats of Filipino folk dances, from the graceful Cariñosa to the dynamic Tinikling, with brief historical insights adding depth to each performance.

Mon, May 06, 3:30pm - 5:30pm
Laurel
Create 3D printed shapes and models using Tinkercad, 3Doodlers, and more. Come create a Lotus Flower or create a free style. Teens can earn community service hours.

Mon, May 06, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Largo-Kettering
Watch your favorite anime, talk about and preview new manga. Create art, comics, and costumes. Join fellow anime and manga fans. Participants can receive community service hours for this program.

Tue, May 07, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Glenarden - Small Meeting Room
Embark on a culinary journey with the University of Maryland's Asian American Studies program! Delve into the rich tapestry of Asian American cuisine through a cooking demonstration featuring a beloved dish. Learn to prepare this delectable creation while gaining insight into its historical significance and social context within Asian American communities.

Wed, May 08, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Surratts-Clinton
Enjoy your afternoon learning a new creative skill. Learn origami, the Japanese art of paper folding. Adults only.

Thu, May 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Surratts-Clinton
Bring your toddler and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more! We will be celebrating APAH month.

Thu, May 09, 10:30am - 11:00am
Bladensburg
Bring your preschooler to this special storytime, and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Sat, May 11, 1:00pm - 3:30pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
Do you nerd out about "My Hero Academia," "Attack on Titan," "Demon Slayer," or "Sailor Moon"? Join the Manga and Anime Club! Watch a movie, meet people with similar interests, and create buttons inspired by your favorite anime characters. Refreshments will be provided.

Sat, May 11, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Oxon Hill - Author Room
Have fun crafting and creating! Supplies are provided.

Mon, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Accokeek
Bring your toddler and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more! This storytime will celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mon, May 13, 10:30am - 11:00am
Bladensburg
Bring your toddler to this special storytime and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.

Mon, May 13, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Largo-Kettering
Watch your favorite anime, talk about and preview new manga. Create art, comics, and costumes. Join fellow anime and manga fans. Participants can receive community service hours for this program.

Tue, May 14, 5:00pm - 7:00pm
Surratts-Clinton
Watch your favorite anime, talk about and preview new manga. Create art, comics, and costumes. Join fellow anime and manga fans.

Tue, May 14, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Largo-Kettering
Explore science, technology, engineering and math. Drop in for for an immersive experience about life in Nepal. Sample kagati paani (lemon water) a popular Nepali drink, listen to some Nepali music and learn to play Guccha (Marbles).

Tue, May 14, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Bladensburg
Do you nerd out about "My Hero Academia," "Attack on Titan," "Demon Slayer," or "Sailor Moon"? Join us at the Manga and Anime Club at the Bladensburg Branch Library. Come for screenings, discussions, activities, and Japanese culture. Meet people with similar interests and explore our collection. All levels of fandom are welcome.

Tue, May 14, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Surratts-Clinton
Discover the fascinating stories of Filipino migrants who have made Prince George’s County their home in this engaging presentation. Explore their backgrounds, hear compelling tales of their pursuit of the American Dream, and learn about their significant contributions to the county.

Wed, May 15, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Bladensburg
A Racial Healing Circle is a compassionate space of conversation and listening for people of all backgrounds to share their stories and experiences with racism and discrimination. Together let's learn from each other and reflect our common humanity. This circle is a series of the Bladensburg Social Equity Commons.

Thu, May 16, 10:30am - 11:30am
Largo-Kettering
Explore and have fun with hands-on science or math activities, songs, and games. We will start off reading "Big Mooncake for Little Star" by Gracie Lin and then learn about the phases of the moon!

Thu, May 16, 10:30am - 11:00am
Baden
Bring your preschooler and enjoy stories, songs, fingerplays, and more!

Thu, May 16, 11:00am - 11:30am
Fairmount Heights
Bring your preschooler to enjoy stories and songs in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage.

Thu, May 16, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Hyattsville - Meeting Room 2
Do you need to earn community service hours? Come make a difference in your community, gain friends from around the area, and make your voice heard in your public library! In celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, explore architecture in anime, manga, and your daily life. Afterward, learn about notable Asian Pacific American architects. Ages 13 and up.

Sat, May 18, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Bladensburg - Bladensburg Large Meeting Room
Discover the captivating blend of Bharathanatyam, an Indian Classical dance form with elements of Hip Hop culture. In this interactive demonstration and dance class, Chitra will offer social exchanges, movement exploration, and simple choreography. Designed to foster connections among participants, this inclusive experience welcomes individuals of all levels and ages!

Mon, May 20, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Largo-Kettering
Watch your favorite anime, talk about and preview new manga. Create art, comics, and costumes. Join fellow anime and manga fans. Participants can receive community service hours for this program.

Tue, May 21, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Greenbelt - Auditorium
Explore science, technology, engineering and math. Drop in and make your very own Japanese-style Kakudako kite.

Tue, May 21, 4:30pm - 6:00pm
Oxon Hill
Listen to favorite stories read aloud and do related activities and games.

Tue, May 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
Mixt Food Hall - 3809 Rhode Island Ave, Brentwood, MD 20722
Join a lively discussion! This month the Mount Rainier Branch Library and Prince George’s County Office of Human Rights are discussing, "They Called Us Enemy" by George Takei, co-writers Justin Eisinger and Steven Scott, and artist Harmony Beckeri.

Tue, May 21, 6:30pm - 7:30pm
South Bowie - Large Meeting Room (213)
Have fun crafting and creating Cherry Blossom Trees! Supplies are provided.

Tue, May 21, 6:30pm - 8:00pm
Virtual Branch - PGCMLS Programming
Have a lively discussion about "Hula: A Novel" by Jasmin ʻIolani Hakes.

Wed, May 22, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Bowie - Conference Room
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with ‘A Scatter of Light’ by Malinda Lo; we will check out some art and poetry from the novel, chat about it, and listen to excerpts from the book. Snacks will be provided.

Wed, May 22, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
Enjoy your evening making crafts and learning a new skill. Hands-on learning with step-by-step instructions provided. Learn the history behind Zen gardening and how it can help with mental health and mindfulness. Supplies provided. Adults only.

Thu, May 23, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
Step into the enchanting world of origami, where we'll be introduced to "Kamishibai," a captivating storytelling tradition blending illustrated paper cards and a scripted performance by the Japanese Information and Cultural Center.

Tue, May 28, 4:00pm - 5:00pm
Hyattsville
Listen to favorite stories read aloud and do related activities celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage.

Tue, May 28, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
In this online tour presented by the National Museum of Asian Art, participants will have the opportunity to view stunning imagery and examine refined brushwork in a selection of Chinese handscrolls, hanging scrolls, and more. This event will take place in-person at the Upper Marlboro Branch Library, where attendees will gather to watch the live, online tour together.

Tue, May 28, 6:00pm - 6:45pm
Baden
Do you nerd out about "My Hero Academia," "Attack on Titan," "Demon Slayer," or "Sailor Moon"? Join the Manga and Anime Club! Come for discussions, activities, trailer screenings, and Japanese culture. All levels of fandom welcome.

Tue, May 28, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Bladensburg
Do you nerd out about "My Hero Academia," "Attack on Titan," "Demon Slayer," or "Sailor Moon"? Come to the Bladensburg Branch Library for a Manga and Anime Club Watch Party showing of “Liz and the Blue Bird." Watch the movie, meet people with similar interests, and explore our collection. All levels of fandom are welcome.

Wed, May 29, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
Experience the serene beauty and harmonious melodies of traditional Japanese koto music. The koto, a 13-string instrument made of paulownia wood, is the epitome of elegance and simplicity, mirroring the tranquility of Japanese nature. Join us for a captivating performance showcasing the exquisite sounds of the koto, played with precision and grace.

Tue, Jun 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Upper Marlboro - Large Meeting Room
Have fun exploring, crafting and creating with hands-on experiments and activities. Suminagashi is a Japanese paper marbling technique. Transform plain paper with water and ink into something vibrant and colorful. Supplies are provided. Space is limited.

Music Playlist on Freegal

Videos

Kanopy Videos

Kanopy

Kanopy is an online video streaming platform with 26,000 movies, doh2cumentaries, and indie and foreign films from over hundreds of producers including The Criterion Collection, The Great Courses, Kino Lorber, PBS, and thousands of independent filmmakers. Users are limited to 10 videos streamed every month.

Asian Pacific American Heritage Timeline

1

1587

The first Filipinos in what would become the United States landed in Morro Bay, California


1763

Filipino sailors traveled across the Gulf into Louisiana’s bayou country. These “Louisiana Manila men” are the oldest continuous Asian American settler community in North America.

2

3

1776

John Newton, one of the earliest documented South Asians in the U.S., is listed in the Virginia Gazette as a runaway indentured servant.


1854

In People v. Hall, the murder conviction against George W. Hall was reversed because all three witnesses were Chinese. This case established a precedent that Chinese Americans or Chinese immigrants could not legally testify against white people in court.

4

5

1867

In the era’s largest labor strike, thousands of Chinese railroad workers for the Central Pacific Railroad Company stage a strike to demand equal pay to white laborers, shorter workdays, and better conditions.


1869

First Japanese settlers arrived on the U.S. mainland, in California.

6

7

1870

Naturalization Act of 1870 restricted naturalized citizenship to white and Black people.


1879

 California’s Second Constitution prohibited the employment of Chinese people.

8

9

1882

Chinese Exclusion Act suspended immigration of Chinese laborers for 10 years.


1885

Philip Jaisohn arrived in the U.S. as a political exile, becoming the first Korean to be naturalized as a U.S. citizen

10

11

1886

In Yick Wo v. Hopkins, the Supreme Court ruled that the discriminatory enforcement of race-neutral laws is unconstitutional, regardless of how impartial the law is written. Yick Wo and Wo Lee had been imprisoned by the San Francisco Sheriff for operating a laundromat without a permit. However, the city had not granted permits to any Chinese-owned laundromats, which accounted for nearly 90% of San Francisco’s laundromats at the time.


1887

Constitution of the Hawaiian Kingdom: a minority of subjects of the Hawaiian Kingdom and foreign nationals, which included citizens of the United States, met to organize a takeover of the political rights of the native population in the Kingdom.

12

13

1893

The U.S. invaded the Hawaiian Kingdom and overthrew Queen Liliʻuokalani.


1898

The U.S. occupied Guam after the Spanish-American War and the Treaty of Paris of 1898.

14

15

1899

The U.S. annexed eastern Samoa, and Germany annexeds the western part of the islands.


1907

Five hundred white men violently attacked two hundred South Asian migrant workers in Bellingham, Washington to expel them from town. Within ten days, the entire South Asian population fled Bellingham to seek safer conditions.

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1912

Duke Kahanamoku, a Native Hawaiian athlete and actor, won his first of five gold medals in swimming at the Stockholm Olympics.


1920s

American Samoa’s Mau movement for independence from American colonialism was suppressed by the U.S. Navy. Samuel Sailele Ripley, who led the movement, was exiled from American Samoa but later served as mayor of Richmond, California.

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1923

In United States v. Bhagat Singh Thind, the Supreme Court ruled that South Asians cannot be naturalized.


1924

Immigration Act of 1924 effectively prohibited immigration of all Asians.

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1942

With Executive Order 9066, the U.S. incarcerated 120,000 Japanese Americans in concentration camps.


1942

Chinese-born American artist Tyrus Wong worked as a lead production illustrator on Disney's Bambi, taking inspiration from Song dynasty art.

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1943

Congress repealed the Chinese Exclusion Act and granted naturalization rights.


1946

The Philippines gained independence from the United States.

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1946

The Luce-Celler Act permitted Filipinos and Indians to immigrate and granted them naturalization rights.


1946

Wing Ong is first Asian American elected to state office (Arizona).

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1949

U.S. granted 5,000 educated Chinese refugee status after Chairman Mao Zedong established the People’s Republic of China


1950

Guam Organic Act of 1950 established Guam as an unincorporated organized territory of the United States.

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1956

Dalip Singh Saund of California became the first Indian American in Congress.


1959

Hiram Fong of Hawaii became the first Chinese American in the Senate.

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1959

Daniel K. Inouye of Hawaii became the first Japanese American in Congress.


1964

Patsy Takemoto Mink of Hawaii became the first nonwhite woman in Congress. 

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1965

Seeking fair pay and safe working conditions, the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee, made up mostly of Filipino farmworkers, began a five-year-long Delano Grape strike in California that prompted a global grape boycott.


1965

Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 eliminated national-origins quota system and granted immigration priority to relatives of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, professionals and other individuals with specialized skills, and refugees.

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1968

Emma Gee and Yuji Ichiok coined the term “Asian American” by creating the University of California, Berkeley’s Asian American Political Alliance (AAPA). AAPA would later be part of the third world Liberation Front, which demanded that the University support the scholarship and underemphasized histories of African Americans, Asian Americans, Chicanos/Chicanas, and Native Americans.


1975

Vietnam war ends, leading to over one million people to migrate from Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos to the U.S.

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1975

Chinese American Physicist Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu became the first woman to be president of the American Physical Society.


1976

Native Hawaiian musician and activist George Helm Jr. and his organization Hui Alaloa led an effort to end the bombing of the island Kaho’olawe by the U.S. Navy for target practice bombings.

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1979

First Asian/Pacific American heritage Week was celebrated.


1982

Vincent Chin, a Chinese American in Detroit, was killed by two white men because they thought Chin looked Japanese. The two men faced minimal consequences, spurring protests and outrage that united the Asian American community.

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1983

The Free Chol Soo Lee movement successfully freed Lee, a Korean immigrant, from death row after he was wrongfully convicted in a San Francisco Chinatown murder. After reporter K.W. Lee shed light on the problematic police investigation and trial, widespread support for a remarkable grassroots social movement ensued. This movement united diverse groups of Asian and Asian Americans in a common cause of justice and freedom for Lee.


1985

Ellison Onizuka became the first Asian American astronaut in space.

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1985

Haing S. Ngor, Cambodian American surgeon and actor, became the first actor of Asian descent to win an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his debut performance in “The Killing Fields.”


1986

Gerald Tsai of American Can became the first Asian American CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

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1988

After a decade of campaigning from the Japanese American Citizens’ League, the U.S. granted $20,000 in reparations to each survivor of incarceration during World War II.


1989

Amerasian Homecoming Act allowed children born to Vietnamese mothers and U.S. servicemen to immigrate.

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1992

Jay Kim of California became the first Korean American in Congress.


1996

Several women including Helen Zia, Christina M. Regalado, Dawn-Thanh Nguyen, Lisa Hasegawa, and Kiran Ahuja founded the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum to address six central issues: civil rights, economic justice, educational access, ending violence against women, health, and immigrant and refugee rights.

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1997

Gary Locke of Washington became the first Asian American governor of a mainland state.


1999

Andrea Jung of Avon became the first nonwhite woman CEO of a Fortune 500 company.

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2000

Secretary of Commerce Norman Mineta became the first Asian American Cabinet member.


2001

Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao became the first woman Asian American Cabinet member.

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2001

Organizations such as the Sikh Coalition and South Asian Americans Leading Together mobilized after the rise in violence against and surveillance of Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab American communities following 9/11.


2001

Dr. Wen Ho Lee, a U.S. citizen, was charged with spying for China; a federal judge later apologizes to Lee for being “led astray” by the Department of Justice.

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2003

Kalpana Chawla, the first woman of Indian descent to go into space, was one of seven crew members who died on the Columbia Space shuttle.


2007

Bobby Jindal of Louisiana became the first Indian American governor.

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2010

Apolo Anton Ohno became the most decorated American Winter Olympian, with eight medals.


2010

Nikki Haley of South Carolina became the first woman Indian American governor.

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2013

Kevin Tsujihara of Warner Bros. became the first nonwhite CEO of a major Hollywood studio.


2014

First Asian American U.S. Marine Officer, Maj. Kurt Chew-Een Lee, died at the age of 88.

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2021

Kamala Harris became the first woman, first Black person and first Asian American to serve as Vice President of the United States.


2022

California State University became the first university system in the U.S. to add caste to its anti-discrimination policy. This move followed years of on-campus interfaith and inter-caste activist work, including that of Nepali American Dalit social worker Prem Pariyar.

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Online Exhibits

Community Resources

  • Asian American Health Initiative - The mission of the Asian American Health Initiative (AAHI), part of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, is to improve the health and wellness of Asian American communities in Montgomery County by applying equity, community engagement, and data-driven approaches.
  • Asian American Youth Leadership Empowerment and Development - AALEAD’s mission is to support low-income and underserved Asian Pacific American youth with educational empowerment, identity development, and leadership opportunities through after school, summer, and mentoring programs.
  • Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project - The Asian/Pacific Islander Domestic Violence Resource Project (DVRP) is a non-profit organization in Washington, DC.  Our mission is to address, prevent, and end domestic violence and sexual assault in Asian/Pacific Islander communities while empowering survivors to rebuild their lives after abuse.
  • Hālau Nohona Hawaiʻi - Hālau Nohona Hawaiʻi refers to all things anchored in Hawaiian; living the Hawaiian way. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit Hawaiian cultural organization serving members of the DMV community. Our goal is to enrich and make a positive impact on our communities by sharing the spirit of aloha.
  • Asian American Studies Program at the University of Maryland - AAST is an ethnic studies program that focuses on the histories, identities, and experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
  • AQUA DC - Asian and Pacific Islander Queers United for Action (AQUA) is a volunteer-based social and advocacy organization for the queer and transgender members of Asian and Pacific Islander (API) communities in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. To achieve this overall vision, AQUA works closely with other API and queer-identified organizations through advocacy, coalition building, education, networking, outreach, and support events.
  • KhushDC - KhushDC is a prominent non-profit organization serving the DC, MD and VA area south Asian LGBT population. From hosting social events to participating in political rallies and educational forums, KhushDC is paving the way for future south Asian Queer and Trans leaders.
  • 1882 Foundation - The 1882 Foundation, a non-profit, non-partisan organization approved by IRS, seeks to broaden public awareness of the history and continuing significance of the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882.
  • Chinese Culture and Community Center, Inc. - CCACC is a vibrant organization serving, strengthening, and celebrating the Chinese American community. 
  • Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs - The Governor’s Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs engages, educates, and empowers the AAPI community in Maryland.  It advises the government, advances solutions, and serves as a resource to ensure the economic, educational, health, and social well-being of Asian American and Pacific Islander constituents.
  • Asian Reading Room in the Library of Congress - The Asian Reading Room is where the public and scholars alike may freely access more than 4 million physical items that make up the Asian collections housed at the Library of Congress. These materials encompass approximately 200 languages and dialects from across Asia, including Bengali, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian, Thai, Tibetan, Urdu, Vietnamese, and many others.
  • Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center - The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center brings history, art and culture to you through innovative museum experiences and digital initiatives.
  • Afghan Home USA - Afghan Home USA is a nonprofit, community-based organization to serve the Afghan community of the DMV area and beyond.
  • Asian Pacific American Legal Resource Center - APALRC’s mission is to advance the civil and legal rights of Asian Americans. APALRC’s goal is to ensure that Asian Americans can access government services and the legal system to protect and enforce their rights. APALRC’s strategy is to combine community legal education, individual representation, and systemic advocacy.
  • Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy (AAPIP) - AAPIP is a justice-minded national philanthropy serving organization that provides unique community spaces for Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, and allies in philanthropy.
  • Japanese American Citizen League - The Japanese American Citizens League is a national organization whose mission is to secure and safeguard the civil and human rights of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and all communities who are affected by injustice and bigotry. The leaders and members of the JACL also work to promote and preserve the heritage and legacy of the Japanese American Community.
  • US Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation (USPAACC) - USPAACC’s mission is to be the gateway to corporate and government contracts, Pan Asian American (includes East, South and Southeast Asian and Pacific Islander) suppliers, information about Asian Americans and the Asia-Pacific and Indian Subcontinent markets.
  • National Park Service on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage - As the nation’s storyteller, the National Park Service strives to tell the stories of ordinary and extraordinary Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders preserved in our nation’s parks, memorials, and historic sites.
  • South Asian American Digital Archive - SAADA creates a more inclusive society by giving voice to South Asian Americans through documenting, preserving, and sharing stories that represent their unique and diverse experiences.
  • South Asian Americans Leading Together - South Asian Americans Leading Together (SAALT) is a national movement strategy and advocacy organization committed to racial justice through structural change, which means we focus on transforming institutions while leveraging incremental change as a means to shift conditions and power.
  • Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote - APIAVote is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen their voices and create impact. For decades, our action-driven organization has led national initiatives to ensure AAPIs are represented and heard
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Rooted in the dreams of immigrants and inspired by the promise of opportunity, AAJC advocates for an America in which all Americans can benefit equally from, and contribute to, the American dream. Our mission is to advance the civil and human rights for Asian Americans and to build and promote a fair and equitable society for all.
  • AAPI Data - AAPI Data is a nationally recognized publisher of demographic data and policy research on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, with hundreds of news mentions in national and local outlets.
  • National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance - The National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance empowers LGBTQ+ Asians and Pacific Islanders through movement capacity building, policy advocacy, and representation.
  • Act to Change - Act To Change is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to end bullying for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) youth.
  • Empowering Pacific Islander Communities - EPIC advances social justice by engaging Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islanders in culture-centered advocacy, leadership development, and research.
  • Southeast Asia Resource Action Center - SEARAC is a national civil rights organization that empowers Cambodian, Laotian, and Vietnamese American communities to create a socially just and equitable society. As representatives of the largest refugee community ever resettled in the United States, SEARAC stands together with other refugee communities, communities of color, and social justice movements in pursuit of social equity.
  • National Korean American Service & Education Consortium - NAKASEC imagines a future in which low- and middle-income, immigrant, people of color, and marginalized communities are working together as the change-makers. We have transformed cultures, power relationships, systems, and policies in the United States, all in a broader global context.
  • AAPI Women Lead - AAPI Women Lead and #ImReady Movement aims to strengthen the progressive political and social platforms of Asian and Pacific Islander communities in the US through the leadership of API women, girls, and gender-expansive communities.
  • Asian Pacific American Librarians Association - APALA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to enhancing leadership opportunities through informed dialogue that addresses the needs of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander library workers and those who serve these communities.
  • Asian Prisoner Support Committee - The mission of the Asian Prisoner Support Committee (APSC) is to provide direct support to Asian and Pacific Islander (API) prisoners and to raise awareness about the growing number of APIs being imprisoned, detained, and deported.
  • American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee - ADC is a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage.
  • Arab American Foundation - The mission of AAF is to promote the Arab heritage, educate Americans about the Arab identity, and to empower and connect Arab Americans with each other and with diverse organizations across the U.S.
  • Equality Labs - Equality Labs is a Dalit civil rights organization dedicated to ending caste apartheid, gender-based violence, Islamophobia, white supremacy and religious intolerance. We build power through advocacy, organizing, art, research, training, education, and digital security. We center the leadership of South Asian caste-oppressed, queer, and religious minority communities in an ongoing redefinition of South Asian identity across the world.
  • Ambedkar International Center - Create awareness, exchange knowledge, execute caste and human atrocity prevention actions and influence public policy outcomes facilitating every downtrodden’s upliftment in India by collaborating with the UN and Indian government channelized through the world-class Ambedkar International Center. 

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