LIFE U ACADEMIC SUPPORT MAGAZINE | 9
MULTICULTURAL ACADEMIC SUPPORT PROGRAMS
Asian American and Pacific Islander ( AAPI ) Heritage Month
BY DR . ANDREA DIAZ
According to apaheritage . org , the month of May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month , paying tribute to the achievements and contributions generations of Asian American and Pacific Islanders have made to American history , society and culture . The origin of this celebration dates to June 1977 when Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y . Mineta of California introduced a House resolution to proclaim the first 10 days of May as Asian / Pacific American Heritage week . The following month , Senators Daniel K . Inouye and Spark Matsunaga from Hawaii introduced a similar bill in the Senate . Both legislations were passed in October 1978 , and former President Jimmy Carter signed a Joint Resolution designating the annual celebration .
In 1990 , according to apaics . org , President George H . W . Bush signed a bill passed by Congress to extend the weeklong celebration to a monthlong celebration . In 1992 , the official designation of May as Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month was signed into law .
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843 and to mark the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869 . Many of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants .
During the upcoming month of May , Life University will “ Bloom into Life ” by celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month . Events to celebrate the occasion will be held across campus ; these events are a collaborative effort of Academic Support Global Voices ; the Diversity Committee ; the Office of Diversity , Equity and Inclusion ; Sid E . and Nell K . Williams Library ; and Enrollment International Programs . For a list of events recognizing AAPI Heritage Month , check out the Events Page of the Academic Support magazine .
The Multicultural Student Academic Support Program celebrates the historical aspect of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month , as well as the selfaffirmation and self-empowerment of Asian and Pacific Island Americans .
REFERENCES : https :// apaics . org / events / asian-pacific-american-heritage-month / https :// www . loc . gov / law / help / commemorative-observations / asian . php https :// apaheritage . org /