Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month began as a week-long celebration signed into observance by President Jimmy Carter in 1978. The week began on May 4 to include the 7th and 10th. May 7 commemorates the first recognized arrival of a Japanese person to the U.S. and May 10 marks the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad, to which many Chinese workers contributed. The week was extended to a month in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush as a celebratory month of the accomplishments and contributions of the API people. In
2009, President Barack Obama updated the name of the month to what it is today to help to bring attention to the cultural identities of both the Asian and Pacific Islander communities in our country. To quote Yuri Kochiyama, a Japanese American political and civil rights activist, “Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is
education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow’s world is yours to build.”
Join us in celebrating our amazing API staff and students by posting your love for and support of them on the # yu-community channel on
Slack. Year Up would not be here without their hard work. Learn more about APIA Heritage Month here and here.