Bill introduced to make AANHPI history a part of the nation's curricula; DeSantis signs mandate in Florida

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (seated) signed a new law to teach AANHPI history in public schools.

Florida joins a growing number of states mandating that Asian American history be included in the curriculum of its public schools.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 1537 into law requiring Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history in the state's K-12 curriculum.

The May 9 signing makes Florida the first Republican-led state to pass such a law. Mimi Chan, director of Make Us Visible Florida — a nonprofit community advocacy agency that pushes for the inclusion of AANHPI studies in public schools — led the effort for two years to make it happen.

“It took a lot of work and determination in order to get this passed,” Chan said, according to The Independent Florida Alligator. “Asian American history is American history.”

As the nation continue to observe Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, US Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY) and Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) announced May 11 that they introduced legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in the nation's schools.

Throughout America’s history, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made immeasurable contributions to our nation, helping to make the United States the country that it is today. However, AANHPI history has been ignored or poorly represented in our K-12 education system and social studies textbooks.

The lawmakers’ Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act would help change this by increasing awareness of the history, contributions and experiences of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders in the United States so that more students across the nation understand and appreciate the role that AANHPIs have played in shaping and building America.

“From the heights we’ve reached to the struggles we have faced, future generations must know and understand all that the AANHPI community has given to our country>" said Meng, the First Vice Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.  "For too long, our schools have ignored or diminished this vital part of our nation’s past, and it is finally time for that to change. 

"A greater understanding of our story would also help address anti-Asian hate and discrimination at its roots, and combat the stereotypes and negative perceptions that for generations have existed about Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. I thank Senator Hirono for partnering with me on this important legislation and look forward to our bills moving through Congress.”

“Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize AANHPI individuals and communities that have contributed to the development and enhancement of American life and culture,” said  Hirono. 

“But too often, the teaching of AANHPI history has been limited to passing references or minor footnotes that barely scratch the surface of our diverse and resilient communities,” she said.

“The inclusion of AAPI histories in education is crucial as it allows AAPI students to see themselves and their communities represented in the curriculum, while promoting mutual learning between students of all backgrounds, and helping to dismantle harmful stereotypes by exposing all students to the richness of all the contributions the AAPI community has had to our country,” said Soukprida Phetmisy, Senior Managing Director of Teach For America’s Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Alliances."

The drive to include Asian American history in US schools began in response to the growing number of anti-Asian attacks since the beginning of the pandemic in 2021 when Trump administration began blaming China for the spread of the coronavirus that included the use of racist rhetoric. Though COVID-19 is no longer a pandemic, the virus is still claiming about 1000 lives every week. 

One of the reasons Asian Americans has become an easy scapegoat is because of the stereotype that paints Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners, even though history tells us  Asian Americans have been in North America before the United States was even a country.

“Had I seen myself reflected in history and had others been able to learn about the civic contributions, I feel that the feeling of other or the perpetual foreigner syndrome could have been prevented,” Chan said.

Reports by the FBI, find that the racist attacks against Asian Americans appear not to be slacking. Of the eight lives lost in the recent Texas mall shooting, four the fatalities were Asian Americans. 

“The anti-Asian violence that escalated since the pandemic began illustrates how harmful believing these stereotypes can bem" said Phetmisy. "To fight back against this prejudice and violence, it is essential to understand and acknowledge the inextricable role of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in shaping the nation's story and identity. By teaching this full history, and celebrating it, we dispel the harmful narrative that suggests Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are not an integral part of the United States.”

“Now, more than at any time in recent memory, it is crucial that students have the opportunity to learn the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities,” said Margaret Huang, President and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) and Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund. 

"The United States has a long and shameful history of discrimination against people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent — and just this year, the FBI documented record levels of hate violence against our communities. Hate crime laws must be enforced, but equally important are prevention and education.”

"The teaching of Asian Pacific American History in our education system is critical for the progress of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities,” said Gregg Orton, National Director of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA). “The consistent neglect of APA history in our curriculum has led to the erasure of many generations of our communities. This bill would allow our students nationwide to be seen and feel empowered, while educating others in understanding our roots and cultural history."

The Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act would require grant applications from Presidential and Congressional Academies to include Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers.

Presidential Academies are designed for teachers seeking to strengthen their knowledge of American history, and Congressional Academies for students who aim to enrich their understanding of the subject.

The bill, which Meng previously introduced in 2020 and 2021, would also encourage the inclusion of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history in national and state tests administered through the National Assessment of Educational Progress, and promote collaboration with the Smithsonian Institution's Asian Pacific American Center to develop innovative programming regarding Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history.

Besides Florida, the Illinois, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Connecticut have already passed legislation mandating AANHPI history be taught in the states' public schools. A bill has been introduced to include similar requirements in New York schools. 

The Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act  "represents a historic step in prioritizing Asian American and Pacific Islander histories in our education system," said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director of Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. "Recent events have shown that teaching diverse curricula is ever more important to building a more inclusive future, and public education of AAPI histories will play a crucial role in ensuring that we can move forward as a country."

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow @DioknoEd on Twitter or at his blog Views From the Edge.