In the month of May, as students begin to wind down their school year and the days of summer soon pounce upon everyone, the world recognizes Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage month. A minority in the United States that once was heavily slandered and thrown aside has made up an essential part of this country’s history.
From the first immigrants who came to the United States in the 1800s, Asians had to work their way up the societal barriers, often facing heavy racism and discrimination solely based on their appearance. Often escaping their home countries and extreme poverty in the process, these brave immigrants were the definition of trying to live the American dream. Chinese workers immediately were put to hard labor work, with many especially working on the trans-continental railroads that were under construction for years.
Life didn’t get easier at the turn of the 20th century, with two global wars breaking out. The Japanese were put under heavy scrutiny by the United States, notably after the devastating bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. When Japan fully committed to joining the Axis Powers, Japanese/Asian discrimination became much more prevalent. The United States passed Executive Order 9066, effectively allowing Japanese internment camps, pushing them away from society.
And now, just recently removed from the Covid-19 pandemic, Asian hate has gone up exponentially over the past decade. It remains very important to keep in mind and celebrate the Asian community and what they have done for America and the rest of the world.
Image Credits: https://www.philasd.org/dei/2022/04/26/reflections-on-asian-american-pacific-islander-aapihistory-month-make-us-visible/
