AAANHPI Heritage Month: Let's just say it, 'Barack Obama is our first AANHPI President'

In 2015, standing amidst the high-stakes theater of the Paris Climate Conference, then-President Barack Obama leaned into a piece of his identity that is rarely mentioned: "I am an island boy."

It wasn’t just a catchy soundbite; it was a tactical play for empathy in a room full of leaders whose nations were literally being erased from the map. By referencing his years in Hawaii and Indonesia, Obama signaled to the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) that he didn’t just see sea-level rise as a data point—he saw it as the loss of a home.

We often talk about the "global stage," but Obama’s remark was a reminder that policy is personal. He wasn't just a president negotiating a treaty; he was a kid from Honolulu reminding the world that when the tide rises, it doesn't care about your borders.

Obama often says that what is best in him comes from Hawaii. He calls the islands a "melting pot" that shaped his worldview.

In a 1999 essay for the Punahou Bulletin, a quarterly magazine for Punahou School, he wrote: "The opportunity that Hawaii offered — to experience a variety of cultures in a climate of mutual respect — became an integral part of my world view, and a basis for the values that I hold most dear."

Growing up in Honolulu, he saw people of all backgrounds living together. This experience gave him a unique perspective on the world. He learned the value of diversity and the importance of finding common ground.

Obama often says that what is best in him comes from Hawaii. He calls the islands a "melting pot" that shaped his worldview.

Obama’s Pacific upbringing deeply influenced his foreign policy. As president, he launched the "Pivot to Asia" (and away from the traditional Eurocentric view dominating US policies). This strategy aimed to strengthen ties with countries in the Asia-Pacific region. He believed the future of the United States was tied to the Pacific. He worked to increase trade, boost security cooperation, and promote human rights in the region.

        RELATED: Adobo and lumpia at the White House

One of the centerpieces of the "Pivot to Asia" was the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). This massive trade agreement involved 12 countries, including the United States, Japan, and Vietnam. Obama argued that the TPP would create jobs and level the playing field for American workers. However, the agreement faced strong opposition from both political parties and was one of the first things scrapped by the Trump in the opening days  of his presidncy.

Despite the setback of the TPP, Obama’s Pacific legacy remains. He strengthened alliances with Japan, South Korea, and Australia. He also engaged with China on issues like climate change and maritime security. His focus on the Asia-Pacific region reflected his belief that the United States must be a leader in the 21st century.

Obama’s connection to the Pacific is more than just political. It is personal. He spent his formative years in Hawaii and Indonesia. He grew up among Asian and Pacific people. Through his sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, who was born in Indonesia, his immediate family These experiences gave him a deep appreciation for the cultures and traditions of the region. He often spoke about the "spirit of aloha" and its importance in building a more peaceful and prosperous world.

Former President Barack Obama body surfs in Hawaiian waters.

In his memoir, A Promised Land, Obama reflects on his time in Hawaii. He writes about the beauty of the islands and the warmth of the people. He also discusses the challenges he faced as a young man of mixed race. These experiences shaped his identity and his commitment to social justice.

In Janny Scott’s biography of Obama’s mother, A Singular Woman, one of her interviewees maintains that Obama's time in Indonesia taught him a valuable lesson: ‘This is where Barack learnt to be cool … if you get mad and react, you lose. If you learn to laugh and take it without any reaction, you win.’…" Eerily similar to, "When they go low; we go high."

The Javanese have a word for this kind of bearing. They call it halus - defined by some scholars as: “Formality of bearing, restraint of expression, and bodily self-discipline."

Obama’s Asian-Pacific upbringing was a defining factor in his life and presidency. It gave him a global perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the world today. His legacy in the Asia-Pacific region will continue to be felt for years to come.

“I try to explain to them about the aloha spirit,”  Obama said to a gathering of fellow Hawaiians. “And it’s that spirit that I am absolutely convinced is what America is looking for right now.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

AANHPI Heritage Month: Overcoming the "perpetual foreigner" trope

Illustrated by Gemini

American history textbooks typically reduce the AANHPI experience to two brief moments: Chinese railroad labor and Japanese American  incarceration during WWII. By skipping over the figures who fought for birthright citizenship, labor rights, and scientific breakthroughs, these books maintain a limited "foreigner" narrative rather than an American one.

According to the latest STAATUS Index from The Asian American Foundation, the American collective memory regarding AAPI history is basically a blank page. The numbers are jarring: over half of U.S. adults — 53%, to be exact—couldn't name a single historical event or policy involving Asian Americans. Not one.

We’re living in a "paradox of visibility." We see AAPI faces in our media and eat the food, but the historical backbone of that community remains invisible to the mainstream. When people could actually name something, they almost exclusively pointed to the Japanese American incarceration during WWII. Beyond that? Crickets.

As the administration pushes for a "patriotic" narrative that filters out "divisive" topics, these figures are the first to be cut. Excluding them isn't just about missing names; it’s about erasing the 150-year struggle for civil rights and legal belonging that defines the AANHPI experience.

Here are some of the AANHPI figures—including the often-ignored heroes of education—who are missing from your average U.S. textbook:

The pioneers of belonging

• Mary Tape: Decades before Brown v. Board of Education, Mary Tape fought for her daughter’s right to attend public school in 1884. Her landmark case, Tape v. Hurley, forced the city to provide an education for Chinese children, laying the early groundwork for the desegregation of American schools.
• Wong Kim Ark: A San Francisco cook whose 1898 Supreme Court victory ensured that birthright citizenship applies to everyone born on U.S. soil. Without him, the legal status of millions of Americans would be in question today.
• Patsy Takemoto Mink: The first woman of color in Congress and the powerhouse behind Title IX. Every girl playing school sports today owes a debt to this Japanese American leader from Hawaiʻi who demanded equal opportunity in education.

Leaders of the movement

• Larry Itliong & Philip Vera Cruz: These Filipino labor organizers were the spark for the 1965 Delano Grape Strike. They reached across racial lines to join forces with Cesar Chavez, proving that the American labor movement has always been a multi-ethnic fight.
• Queen Liliʻuokalani: The last monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi, whose autobiography documents the illegal 1893 overthrow and subsequent U.S. annexation, providing a critical perspective on American expansionism.
• Yuri Kochiyama & Grace Lee Boggs: Two activists who showed that Asian American history is inseparable from the Black Power and Civil Rights movements. Kochiyama’s life, from WWII incarceration camps to being by Malcolm X’s side, is a masterclass in intersectional justice.
• Mabel Ping-Hua Lee: A brilliant suffragette who fought for American women’s right to vote in 1912, even though she herself was barred from voting by the racist Chinese Exclusion Act.

View from the edge

When current policies label these stories as "ideological," they aren't just cutting facts; they are cutting the roots of our belonging. Figures like Mary Tape didn't "divide" the country—they challenged it to be more inclusive. Removing them from the curriculum leaves us with a hollowed-out history that treats 24 million AANHPI Americans as guests rather than stakeholders.

The push to "restore truth" to the American narrative is a direct hit on the pioneers who forced this country to live up to its own ideals. As we mark AANHPI Heritage Month, we’re reminded that the purpose of ethnic studies isn't to divide—it’s to tell the whole story of how the United States became what it is today. By scrubbing content that Trump's people see as "divisive," the administration risks erasing the very people who fought for the rights we now take for granted.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

AANHPI Heritage Month: Why every American should know about Mary Tape

In 1885, Mary Tape, right, fought for her children's education.

As we kick off AANHPI Heritage Month, the air is thick with "patriotic" mandates and executive orders designed to sanitize the American story. The administration wants a version of history that feels like a Hallmark card—smooth, comfortable, and entirely devoid of the friction that actually moved the needle on civil rights.

But you can’t talk about the American dream of "education for all" without talking about the woman who fought the system before most of our ancestors even set foot on these shores. If your history book doesn’t mention Mary Tape, it isn't giving you the truth; it’s giving you a curated silence.

"Is It a Disgrace to be Chinese?"

In 1884, Mary Tape wasn’t looking to lead a revolution; she was just a mother trying to enroll her eight-year-old daughter, Mamie, in a San Francisco public school. The school principal refused, citing "the Chinese" as a threat to the moral and physical health of white students.

Mary didn’t back down. She sued. And in a time when the Chinese Exclusion Act was the law of the land, she won. The California Supreme Court ruled in Tape v. Hurley that the state couldn’t deny a child an education based on their race."Is It a Disgrace to be Chinese?"

        FYI: Read more about the Tapes' fight for equal schools

Despite the court win, the San Francisco School Board pulled a classic move: they changed the law to create "separate but equal" schools just to keep Mamie out of the white classroom. Mary’s response was a blistering open letter to the board that should be required reading in every civics class:

"Is it a disgrace to be Chinese?" she wrote. "Are you not all of the same blood? Are you not created by the same God? That you should think your color best...?"

She called out the hypocrisy of a "free" nation that took her family's taxes but barred their children from the schoolhouse door.

View from the edge

The current push to label the history of systemic racism as "divisive" or "anti-white" is a direct insult to Mary’s legacy. Telling her story isn't about shaming anyone; it’s about acknowledging that educational equity wasn't a gift handed down by the founders—it was a right clawed back from the state by immigrants who believed in the American promise more than the government did.

It is important for today's AANHPI communities, especially those who are against affirmative action,  to know that the rights that we enjoy today, including the right to an education, did not come about because of the majority's largesse.We had to fight for those rights. 

The efforts of the Tape family laid early groundwork for desegregation in the United States leading up to the historic Brown v. Board of Education, we erase the proof that Asian Americans have always been at the forefront of the fight for justice.

We don't need a "sanitized" history. We need the raw, uncomfortable, beautiful truth of people like Mary Tape. She didn't divide America; she challenged it to live up to the ideals of the Constitution.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

AANHPI Heritage Month: California state park plans a public celebration of Chinese house of worship

The interior of the Weavervill Joss House tells stories of Chinese immigrants.

California State Parks and its partner, the Weaverville Joss House Association, invite the public to watch history come alive during the Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Day with a Lion Dance at Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park (SHP). This free event will take place Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an annually observed commemorative month in the United States. It is celebrated during the month of May, and recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States.

The Weaverville Joss House, known traditionally as the Temple among the Forest beneath the Clouds. Built in 1874, it stands as a resilient anchor of cultural history. It is the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California and the entire United States.

Hundreds of Chinese miners arrived here during the 1850s Gold Rush. They faced immense discrimination and heavy foreign miner taxes. This temple was their safe space. It functioned as a house of worship, a social hall, and a travelers' hostel.

The interior walls hold actual handwritten census logs. These logs provide a rare, priceless archive of a community that left behind very few written records.

The Joss House is an active house of worship.

Culturally, it’s believed that lions will preserve peace and tranquility in the community and prevail over all evil to bring joy and happiness. After the lion dance, there will be a traditional firecracker display, followed by a dragon dance by the Eastern Ways Martial Arts School. Refreshments will include green tea ice cream with specialty tea and cookies provided by the Weaverville Joss House Association.

Since it’s the Year of the Fire Horse, there will be fire horse crafts for children and guided tours of the Temple of the Forest Beneath the Clouds (Cloud Forest Temple), the oldest continuously used Chinese temple in California.

WHAT: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Day

WHEN: Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

WHERE: Weaverville Joss House State Historic Park,630 Main St., Weaverville, CA 96093

California State Parks welcomes all visitors. For more information about the event or if members of your group have accessibility needs, please contact the park at (530) 623-5284 in advance to arrange accommodations.You can also get updates by following the park’s Facebook page.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

UCLA offers new digital textbook on AANHPI history for free

One of the problems of offering ethnic studies in US schools — particularly about AANHPI history — has been the lack of teaching material, but school districts can no longer use the lack of resources as an excuse.

UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center just dropped a game-changer for the classroom. Their new multimedia textbook, Foundations and Futures, isn't just another dry history book — it’s a massive, digital deep-dive into the AAPI stories that usually get short shrift in American curricula.

Led by professors Karen Umemoto and Kelly Fong, It moves way beyond the "model minority" myth, bringing in over 100 scholars to spotlight more than 20 different communities, including often-overlooked stories from South Asian organizers and Pacific Islander diasporas.

This free resource packs 50 chapters of history, from the struggles of 8-year-old Mary  Tape fighting for her right to go to school to the groundbreaking legacy of Hawaii Congressmember Patsy Mink.

“It’s transformative for youth to see themselves and their families centered in curriculum instead of in a paragraph, sentence, footnote or not at all,” said Fong. “In centering Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences, the textbook opens possibilities for students to feel valued and learn more about the communities they belong to as well as communities they may not know much about.”

“I was inspired by the thought of my 15-year-old Indian/Pakistani American niece seeing herself and her community represented in a major textbook,” said Uzma Quraishi, a contributing writer to the project. “I thought, ‘How empowering and affirming would that feel for a young Asian American today?’”

Almost 25 million people identify as Asian in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. Yet, a recent study from The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) found that one in four adults in the US say they lack personal connections with anyone in the AAPI community. About half of adults say that AAPIs have little or no influence on American culture, with 47% of those surveyed unable to name a famous Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and 53% unable to name a single significant moment in US history related to AAPIs.




Foundations and Futures is being released at an important time for public education, as the movement for ethnic studies in K–12 schools and higher education has grown significantly in recent years.

Governor Gavin Newsom signed California Assembly Bill 1468 in 2020, requiring students enrolled in California State University campuses to take a class in Native American Studies, African American Studies, Asian American Studies, or Latina and Latino Studies. This was followed by AB 101 in 2021, which made California the first state to require ethnic studies for high school graduation.

There are now 22 other states that have statutes requiring ethnic studies, with Oregon, Oklahoma, Florida, Tennessee and Connecticut among those that include Asian American and Pacific Islander studies in their academic standards.

What makes UCLA's textbook stand out is the format. It’s built for the TikTok generation but grounded in serious scholarship, using audio, video, and poetry to bring 200 years of struggle and triumph to life. As ethnic studies becomes a requirement in more states, UCLA is handing teachers the keys to tell a more honest, inclusive version of the American story.

“The histories featured in the textbook expand our understanding of the world in transformative ways. It helps grow our understanding of who we are and build mutual respect across differences,” said Umemoto. “It deepens knowledge about growing societal problems and shares intergenerational wisdom to make positive change in the world.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month rings hollow

Donald Trump's praise of AANHPI people don't match his words and actions.

OPINION

It appears the writer of the White House proclamation for AANHPI Heritage Month hasn’t been listening to his boss lately. While the official document is filled with glowing tributes to our "patriotism" and "resilience," the man in the Oval Office has been telling a very different story on the campaign trail and in the briefing room.

We’ve seen this movie before. The White House Proclamation wants to celebrate AANHPI contributions to America’s 250-year history, but those words ring hollow when they come from a leader who has spent his energy painting our communities as a threat to the very fabric of the nation.

A tale of two narratives

The gap between the proclamation’s ink and Donald Trump’s actual rhetoric is a canyon that cannot be bridged by a press release:

"Belonging" vs. The Threat to Citizenship: The 2026 proclamation speaks of Asian Americans as "integral to the American story." Yet, the Trump administration is actively working to dismantle the 14th Amendment. By vowing to end birthright citizenship via executive order, the President is signaling that the children of many AANHPI immigrants are not "true" Americans, regardless of where they were born.

"Talented Doctors" vs. "Gangsters with Laptops:" The proclamation celebrates the "talented doctors" and "technological innovators" driving our industries. Yet, Trump recently amplified a rant describing Indian and Chinese tech professionals as "gangsters with laptops" who have "robbed us blind" and "stepped on our flag."

"Strengthening the Economy" vs. "Hellholes:" While the official message claims AAPI communities "strengthened every facet of American life," Trump recently reshared content labeling the ancestral homes of millions of Americans—specifically India and China — as "hellhole[s] on the planet."

"Unity" vs. The "China Virus" Legacy: The White House calls for "Power in Unity," but we haven't forgotten the President's relentless use of terms like "China Virus" and "Kung Flu." These weren't just nicknames; they were dog whistles making it OK for the racists to emerge from their dark corners. Studies confirmed these racist references caused anti-Asian hate to surge, turning a global health crisis into a target on the backs of our elders.

The view from the edge

As the nation marks its Sestercentennial, the administration is desperate to claim the AANHPI success story as its own. But you can't honor "family and hard work" while simultaneously plotting to strip the next generation of their legal right to exist as citizens.

A proclamation is just paper if it isn't backed by respect. Until Donald Trump stops describing our community as "gangsters" and our children as "aliens," these words aren't a celebration — they’re a betrayal.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X, BlueSky or at the blog Views From the Edge. If you find this perspective interesting, please repost.

Graphic novel wins Pulitzer for Chinese American artist/aurthor

Tessa Hulls chronicled her family's mental health journey and immigration journey to the US.

The story of an immigrant family spanning three generations and the journey from China to the US earned a Pulitzer Prize for the author, Chinese American author Tessa Hulls.

In her acclaimed graphic memoir debut, Feeding Ghosts, Hulls traces the reverberations of Chinese history across three generations of women in her family.

“Sometimes I wonder if my parents simply reached the Pacific Ocean and, finding a barrier not easily crossed, stopped,” she writes in her graphic memoir, Feeding Ghosts.

The Pulitzer Prize committee called Hulls' work “an affecting work of literary art and discovery whose illustrations bring to life three generations of Chinese women — the author, her mother and grandmother, and the experience of trauma handed down with family histories.”

 Tessa’s grandmother, Sun Yi, was a Shanghai journalist swept up by the turmoil of the 1949 Communist victory. After fleeing to Hong Kong, she wrote a bestselling memoir about her persecution and survival—then promptly had a mental breakdown from which she never recovered.

Growing up with Sun Yi, Tessa watches both her mother and grandmother struggle beneath the weight of unexamined trauma and mental illness, and bolts to the most remote corners of the globe. But once she turns thirty, roaming begins to feel less like freedom and more like running away. 

It took Huls ten years to write and draw her memoir

“I didn’t feel like I had a choice,” she told Alaska NPR. “My family ghosts literally told me I had to do this.”

She lives in Juneu, Alaska where she works at the state capitol.

Feeding Ghosts is Tessa’s homecoming, a vivid, heartbreaking journey into history that exposes the fear and trauma that haunt generations, and the love that holds them together.

In addition to winning the Pulitzer Prize, Feeding Ghosts has received many accolades since its publication, including both the Libby Award for Best Graphic Novel and the National Book Critics Circle’s John Leonard Prize, as well as being named a “Best Book of the Year” by Time magazine, NPR, Publishers Weekly and others.

Hull joins another Asian American in winning this year's honor. Susie Ibarra, a Filipino American, also won the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Her composition Sky Islands, drew inspiration from the Philippines rain forest and mountains.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news, views and chismis from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Memorial Day, 2025: Remembering and honoring the Philippine Scouts

 

Today, Memorial Day of 2025, with the Donald Trujmp administration doing all it can to eliminate government and corporate programs touting DEI (Diversity, Equality, Inclusion), it is even more important for us to honor those soldiers, sailors and airmen and airwomen, many who gave their lives to protect America's democracy.

My father, Major Melchor V. Diokno, began his military career as a member of the Philippine Scouts, a speical unit of the US Army. He was in the 14th Engineering Regiment that fought in the battle of Bataan during WWII. He survived the Bataan Death March after US forces surrendered to the larger and better equipped Japanese Imperial army.

While much is being written about the Filipino immigrants who arrived after the 1965 immigration reform that allowed people from countries other than Europe to migrate to the US; and the manongs who arrived  in the early part of the 20th century, many of whom wound up working the agricultural fields of Hawaii and California and the canneeries of Alaska. However, little has been written about the men of the Philippine Scouts, an elite unit of the US Army. 

After World War II, the Philippine Scouts was disbanded. Following WWII, the U.S. Army reconstructed the Philippine Scouts around the approximately 6,000 Scouts who survived combat, prison camp and the Japanese occupation, says the website of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society. This reconstructed force peaked at about 36,000 and was used in occupation duty on Okinawa and some other Japanese islands and in reconstruction and guard duty assignments elsewhere.

FYI: Much of the following information is from the website of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society.

Here are some of the highlight, courtesy of the Philippine Scouts Heritage Society): :

In 1946, the US Army reorganized the Philippine Scouts into “New” Philippine Scout units. One such organization was the 56th Engineer Construction Battalion (PS) and eventually redesignated the 514th Engineer Construction Battalion (PS) until disbanded in 1953.

After disbanding the Philippine Scout units, many Philippine Scouts reenlisted in the US Army, some serving for decades. One such soldier, Technical Sergeant Melchor V. Diokno of B Company, 14th Engineers (PS), fought on Bataan, survived the Death March, fought with the guerrillas, and reenlisted after the war. He was eventually commissioned as an officer in the US Army, rising to the rank of Major, retiring in 1957. His story exemplifies one of the many Scouts that continued to serve even after the disbandment of the 14th Engineers (PS) and the rest of the Philippine Scouts.

        RELATED: 

• Unsung heroes: Dad, the Major
• Remembering the 1st and 2nds Filipino Infantry
• Veterans call for repeal of the Recission Acts

In the 1960s, though he already had American citizenship by virtue of his service in the US Army, as a leader in several Filipino American organizations in Northern California, as a civilian, he continued to fight for his former compatriots who were denied US citizenshp and military benefits because of the Recission Acts.

A popular saying goes: "Old soldiers never die, they just fade away." As we celebrate Asian American, Native American, Pacific Islander Heritage Month and observe Memorail Day, our ancestors deserve to be honored. We owe them so much.

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Hirono, Meng Introduce Congressional resolution recognizing May as AANHPI Heritage Month

As the Donald Trump administration is doing everything it can to minimize the history and role of Americans of color, it becomes more important to highlight the often ignored, and forgotten stories and individuals that make America great.

Back on May 8 United States Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) and U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), introduced a bicameral, bipartisan resolution to mark May 2025 as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The resolution recognizes the significant contributions that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities have made to this country.

        RELATED: Meng, Hirono introduced bill promoting AANHPI history in schools

“During Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we celebrate the diversity and historic contributions of our communities, while also recognizing the challenges we have overcome,” said Senator Hirono. 

“At a time when diversity is under attack and immigrant communities are being targeted across the country, I’m proud to join Chair Meng in introducing this resolution and reaffirming our commitment in this fight to build a more inclusive and equitable future for all,” said Hirono, one of three Asian American US Senators.

        FYI: The full text of the resolution is available here.

A week later on May 16, the White House issued a similar proclamation making May as AANHPI Heritage Month.

Trump has led and in many ways, encouraged the backlash against reforms that champion diversity, equaity and inclusion that provide opportunities long denied or thwarted by the white-dominated culture and institutions of America.

The Washington Post listed some of actions of this administration that could turn America back to the country that existed before the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s.

• DEI: On his first day in office, President Trump ordered a government-wide purge of DEI programs and offices.
• Civil rights: The Trump administration has moved aggressively to unravelPresident Lyndon Johnson's civil rights legacy, including by reorienting DOJ priorities to focus on "anti-white racism."
• History: Trump ordered a federal review of Confederate monuments toppled during the 2020 protests.
• Police reform: Days before the anniversary of Floyd's murder, the Justice Department scrapped proposed consent decrees for the Minneapolis and Louisville police departments — and dropped nearly a dozen other investigations into alleged police abuse.
• Refugee policy: The administration has effectively ended most refugee programs, except for one tailored to white South African farmers.

In the Senate, this resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Susan Collins (R-ME), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Dick Durbin (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

In the House, this resolution is cosponsored by Representatives Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Nanette Barragán (D-CA), Ami Bera (D-CA), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Ed Case (D-HI), Judy Chu (D-CA), Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX), Valerie Foushee (D-NC), Robert Garcia (D-CA), Dan Goldman (D-NY), Jimmy Gomez (D-CA), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ), Al Green (D-TX), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Ro Khanna (D-CA), Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-CNMI), Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), Susie Lee (D-NV), Ted Lieu (D-CA), April McClain Delaney (D-MD), Rob Menendez (D-NJ), Dave Min (D-CA), Kevin Mullin (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Linda Sánchez (D-CA), Bobby Scott (D-VA), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Marilyn Strickland (D-WA), Suhas Subramanyam (D-VA), Tom Suozzi (D-NY), Mark Takano (D-CA), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Mike Thompson (D-CA), Jill Tokuda (D-HI), Paul Tonko (D-NY), Norma Torres (D-CA), Derek Tran (D-CA), Juan Vargas (D-CA), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ).

The civil rights policies that was born out of the Civil Rights Movement was led the Black community but they benefitted Asian Americans, Hispanics and women as well.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made invaluable contributions to our country and continue to play a vital role in shaping America for the better,” said Rep. Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

 “In the face of recent efforts to erase our community's achievements, Senator Hirono and I remain steadfast in our support for the AANHPI community and will continue to champion our stories of triumph, sacrifice, and resilience that are integral to the story of America.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.

Congressional bill would promote teaching AANHPI history in US schools

EMILY NAKAJIMA

Most US tudents rarely hear about the contributions of AANHPI to American history.

It is often said that history is written by the victors. In the case of the United States, the "victors" stole land from the indigenous peoples, enslaved Blacks, grabbed land from Mexico and banned immigrants from Asia.

Large parts of America's story was written from the white viewpoint often ignoring, short shrifting and even erasing the stories of non-white communities and individuals, the accomplishments, contributions and stories of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Island Americans.

US Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY), Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and US Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI) on Wednesday  introduced a bill that would partially tell the missing chapters about Asian Americans Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islander. According to recent surveys, thy are still thought of as "foreigners," despite having a presence in the US and making American history for centuries.

“Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders have made invaluable contributions to our nation – yet for far too long, our history has been ignored and overlooked in the classroom,” said Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.

The Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act introduced by the two lawmakers, is bicameral legislation to promote the teaching of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history in schools across the country.

AANHPI have made and continue to make immeasurable contributions to our nation, including in sports, arts, government, science, business, and military service. However, the K-12 education system and social studies textbooks have poorly represented how AANHPIs have played pivotal roles in shaping America for the better. In a recent survey by The Asian American Foundation, 42% of respondents were unable to name a famous Asian American, and 42% were unable to name a famous Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander.

 “The Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act aims to change that. I am proud to reintroduce this legislation with Senator Hirono to ensure that our stories are taught in schools and textbooks, especially at a time when AANHPI communities are under attack by those who wish to erase our achievements and sacrifices. AANHPI history is American history, and it deserves to be honored for generations to come.”

“Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history is critical to gaining a better understanding of the discrimination and prejudice endured by the AANHPI community, as well as our community’s many accomplishments,” added  Hirono. 

“As diversity, equity, and inclusion continue to be attacked by the Trump administration, this legislation would help increase awareness of the history, contributions, and experiences of the AANHPI community. I am proud to reintroduce the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act with Representative Meng to give our students a better understanding of the roles the AANHPI community has played in history and help dismantle harmful stereotypes and discrimination.”

Rep. Grace Meng (left) and Sen. Mazie Hirono introduced legislation in support of teaching
AANHPI contributions and achievements to US history.

Specifically, the Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History Act would:

• Require grant applications from Presidential and Congressional Academies to include AANHPI history as part of their American history and civics programs offered to students and teachers;

• Encourage the inclusion of AANHPI 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 AANHPI history.

The bill faces an uphill climb as it must pass the GOP-dominated Senate and House, both of which have shown its Republican members to succumb to Trump's anti-diversity edicts. Even those Republicans representing large AANHPI communities, such as California's Rep. Young Kim, who represents Orange and San Bernardino counties, home to  substantial Asian American communities, has been consistent in voting against her community interests by going along with Trump's anti-DEI policies.

Nevertheless, the legislation drew praise and support from leaders in the AANHPI communities.

“Ensuring that Asian Pacific American History is taught in our classrooms across the country 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 continued disregard of APA history - including the stories, experiences, and contributions from our AANHPI communities in curriculum has led to the erasure of many generations," Orton continued. "This key bill would allow our students across the country to see themselves, while educating others on the importance of understanding our roots and cultural history. Stories of our communities' resilience and perseverance are integral to the cultural fabric of our nation.”

“This bill is needed today more than ever given the ongoing attacks on inclusive education," said John C. Yang, President and Executive Director at Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC. “Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander histories should be taught in every classroom along with other underrepresented histories, including African American, Latino, and Native American histories. We are doing a grave disservice to the next generation if they do not learn the whole history of our nation. Teaching diverse curricula is critical to building a better, more inclusive future.”

“Ensuring that the rich and vital history of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders is taught in our schools isn’t just about representation, it’s about providing all students with a complete and accurate understanding of American history,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). “The Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act is an important step toward acknowledging the immeasurable contributions of AANHPI communities, addressing the roots of discrimination and fostering a more inclusive and informed future for all our students so that they can navigate an increasingly diverse and complex world.”

“Every student deserves to see themselves reflected in their education, and to learn about the experiences and cultures of the diverse communities that make up our nation's history,” said Mannirmal Kaur, Senior Federal Policy Manager of the Sikh Coalition. 

“Diverse educational materials don’t just instill a sense of belonging and empowerment in students from marginalized communities—they cultivate empathy and awareness and among all students, providing a more well-rounded education for every child," continued Kaur. "It is our duty to provide all of our children with a meaningful and holistic education so that they may better understand the world they live in, and the Teaching AANHPI History Act will bring us one step closer towards that goal.”

“OCA proudly endorses Senator Hirono and Representative Meng’s Teaching AANHPI History Act,” said Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. “This bill represents a historic step in uplifting AANHPI communities by ensuring our stories and presence are included in our nation’s school curricula. 

"For years, OCA has advocated for the inclusion of AANHPI narratives in K-12 education because our history is American history, and it deserves to be taught as such," said Thu Nguyen, Executive Director of OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates. "Incorporating these stories is essential to combating discrimination and fostering greater understanding and empathy. We appreciate Senator Hirono and Representative Meng’s continued leadership in advancing this bill and look forward to seeing its impact.”

“Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander history is marked by tremendous contributions to our nation’s progress, alongside painful experiences of exclusion and discrimination,” said Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China and Chair of the Chinese American nonprofit Committee of 100. “It’s essential that students learn the full story—from the challenges to the triumphs.”

“We strongly support the Teaching Asian Pacific American History Act,” said Huy Pham, Executive Director of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in Historic Preservation (APIAHiP). “At APIAHiP, we know that history lives not just in textbooks, but in the places, memories, and lived experiences of our communities. This bill is a critical step toward ensuring that Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander stories are not erased, but rightfully included in our national narrative. By expanding access to AANHPI history in classrooms, we help students of all backgrounds understand the full complexity of America’s past — and empower the next generation to preserve, honor, and protect the places that carry those histories.”

“For our children to appreciate the diverse tapestry of this Nation, they must learn the full breadth of the American experience, which inextricably includes the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander community,” said Priya Purandare, Executive Director of the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA). “Our history is not an elective; it is essential."

“The National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce & Entrepreneurship (National ACE) proudly supports the Teaching AANHPI History Act,” said Chiling Tong, President and CEO of National ACE. “Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are a vital part of America’s story. Recognizing their contributions and challenges is essential for fostering a more inclusive and comprehensive understanding of our history. We extend our gratitude to CAPAC Chair Meng for her leadership in advancing this important effort.”

“The Indian Diaspora Council International expresses its full support for ‘Teaching Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History,’ which is integral to understanding the origins, history, traditions and culture of a significant segment of our population, thereby enhancing our diversity and strength,” said Ashook Ramsaran, President of the Indian Diaspora Council.

Several states have recently implemented mandates for public schools to teach Asian American history, recognizing the need to include diverse perspectives in American history curricula. Illinois was the first state to require a unit on Asian American history in 2021, and since then, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Florida have followed suit. Other states are considering similar measures including California, home to the largest number of AANHPI, and Hawaii, the only state where AANHPI are in the majority.

These mandates aim to prevent anti-Asian hate and provide all students with a more comprehensive understanding of US history and a broader perspective that includes viewing the AANHPI peoples as fellow Americans.

From the building of the railroads to Silicon Valley, ffrom the Chinese Exclusion Act to military heroism defending democracy, from scientific discoveries to Olympic championships, from the fields of Hawaii and California to the White House, AANHPI have been active in making America's story and those stories  must be told.

“At a time when the Trump administration is actively working to undermine the teaching of accurate history by minimizing the deep, lasting harms of slavery and attempting to erase the contributions of people of color, this legislation is essential,” said Margaret Huang, president and CEO of the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC). “The SPLC strongly denounces the president’s efforts to mask racism and white supremacy as patriotism.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: For additional commentary, news and views from an AANHPI perspective, follow me on Threads, on X or at the blog Views From the Edge.