From Food to Feng Shui
America Celebrates Asian Heritage
By Larry Wong
4/22/2002

As a third-generation Chinese American who a) doesn’t speak a lick of
Mandarin or Cantonese, b) can barely use chopsticks and c) has white friends
who boast “I’m more Asian than you!” I admit I may seem the least likely to
write about Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage Month. Indulge me, please.

The idea of a Heritage Month for Asians and Pacific Islanders was formally
introduced by Congress in 1977, then made official in 1979 when President
Carter signed a joint resolution establishing the first week to honor the
nation’s Asian Pacific Americans. In 1990, Dubya’s dad, George H.W. Bush,
changed the celebration into a month-long event to fully highlight APA
contributions past and present.

What does the month of May have to do with Asian American history? Well,
besides the fact that February had already been designated Black History
Month (starting in 1926) and September was proclaimed Hispanic Heritage Month
(in 1968), May honors the first Japanese immigrants who arrived in the U.S.
that month in 1843 and thus the collective immigrant experience for all
Asians.

When one considers that the APA community is comprised of dozens of
ethnicities and hundreds of languages and dialects, the dedication of an
entire month honoring our collective heritage becomes a unifying and
galvanizing force.

So, for the 10-million-and-counting Asian Pacific Americans now living in
this country, like my father who traveled by boat from a small village in
China to the shores of Angel Island, May promises to be a month full of pride
and empowerment.

And the celebration’s already starting as Los Angeles, home to the largest
APA population, kicks-off Heritage Month today with a banquet at the Westin
Bonaventure hosted by Mayor James K. Hahn. Not to be outdone, other cities
big and small across America will have events for everyone to enjoy; check
the Web for local Heritage Month events. (You may want to start
http://www.AsianWeek.com. not only because I used to be an
editor there but because it’s the nation’s only comprehensive news source
covering the APA community).

About the Author
Larry Wong just completed a 4-year stint as News Director for KSCI-TV in Los
Angeles and the International Channel Cable Network, broadcasters of
Asian-language news for Asian Pacific Americans. He can be reached at
wonginternational@msn.com