Happy AAPI Month!

As you may know (see what I did there?), May is AAPI month, which may leave you with some questions about the month itself and how you can celebrate. Thankfully I’m here to take you through it all!

Why do we celebrate it?

AAPI month is a way to celebrate and empower those in America who are of Asian or pacific islander descent. Historically, the month of May was chosen in order to commemorate the first immigration of Japanese immigrants to the United States May 7, 1843, and to commemorate the transcontinental railroad which was created May 10, 1869, the majority of the tracks having been laid by Chinese immigrant workers.

U.S history has been plagued by a long history of Asian hate, such as the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882, banning Chinese immigrant workers, or the Chinese massacre of 1871, when a mob in LA’s Chinatown brutally murdered 19 Chinese residents, to name a few. Even in recent times in light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Asian hate has been on the rise. AAPI month not only serves as a time to remember these horrible incidents, but to show people that despite this oppression, we are still breaking barriers.

How can I celebrate?

So now comes the question we’re all waiting for: how can I celebrate?? There are several things you can do to celebrate AAPI month, such as supporting local, asian-owned businesses! Asian restaurants serve some of the best food imaginable (totally not biased), and I know just how much people love boba. You could also check some really good Asian films and media, such as 3 Idiots, one of the most popular bollywood films of all time, or Everything Everywhere All At Once, the oscar winning narrative exploring Asian American culture in a unique, dimension-shattering way. Donations to local temples and Asian organizations also help a great deal.

There are, of course, many other ways to celebrate AAPI month, like taking part in Asian festivals, however these are just some places to start. City High’s very own AAPI committee is also another one of these great places to start! They will be selling boba and mango juice at The City Grind for the entire month of May, so make sure to get some while you can. Happy AAPI month everyone!

Sources:

SPARSH AIYAR

Editor in Chief at The City Voice | 1st Place Video Interview | MIPA 2021-22 Division 1 Digital Media Contest

Hey there! My name is Sparsh Aiyar and I'm the editor in chief of The City Voice. I also make videos on our YouTube channel, so please make sure to check that out! I'm a huge music nerd and I play a lot of guitar so if you also like guitar, feel free to reach out. If you have any questions about the City Voice, please feel free to contact me via gmail, I would be more than happy to help!