Google Doodle celebrates Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa

In honor of Asian American Pacific Islander month in the U.S., May First's Doodle celebrates Ruth Asawa, the acclaimed Japanese American artist and educator who overcame great adversity throughout her journey, ultimately exhibiting her intricate wire sculptures and works on paper in museums around the world.

Born in 1926, Asawa’s family made a living as farmers until World War II, when they were sent to the US government internment camps for the Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. There, Asawa pursued her interest in art, getting lessons from fellow camp inmates. 

RUTH ASAWA

Following sixteen months of internment, Asawa received a scholarship to Milwaukee State Teachers College, where she studied to become an art teacher. Three years later, she was prevented from doing her student teaching because of her Japanese heritage. Undeterred, she transferred to the experimental Black Mountain College in North Carolina. It was there that she blossomed as an artist and met the architect Albert Lanier, whom she would marry and start a family with, raising six children together.

Adapting methods she learned in Mexico, where people made wire baskets for domestic use, Asawa used similar techniques to create the looped wire sculptures she became known for. Asked to name her inspirations, she spoke of “plants, the spiral shell of a snail, seeing light through insect wings, watching spiders repair their webs in the early morning, and seeing the sun through the droplets of water suspended from the tips of pine needles while watering my garden.”

Ruth Asawa reflected her experience as a detainee in the San Jose Internment Memorial that she sculpted.

While some critics dismissed her art as “feminine handiwork” early on, but aappreciation of Asawa’s work has grown over time. Her legacy lives on in public commissions in California as well as museums and galleries around the globe. 

She designed the Japanese American Internment Memorial Sculpture in San Jose in 1994 as well as SF State University’s Garden of Remembrance, which includes boulders from ten internment camps.

Asawa also advocated for arts education for kids, including the creation of a public arts high school that was later renamed the Ruth Asawa San Francisco School of the Arts. Since 1982, the city of San Francisco has also declared February 12 to be Ruth Asawa Day.

"Art will make people better, more highly skilled in thinking and improving whatever business one goes into, or whatever occupation. It makes a person broader," she said.

She died at her San Francisco home in 2013 at the age of 87.

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Sunday Read: FilAm U.S. Solicitor General talks about his immigrant roots

SCREEN CAPTURE / CSPAN

U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco.

EDITOR'S NOTE: U.S. Solicitor General Noel Francisco was the keynote speaker at the Department of Justice's ceremonies honoring AAPI Heritage Month last Thursday, May 14. His remarks follow:

By Noel Francisco, U.S. Solicitor General

IT IS AN HONOR to join you in marking the 40th anniversary of the federal government’s celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage.  In 1978, Congress passed and President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution designating a week in May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week,” and calling “upon the people of the United States, to observe such week with appropriate ceremonies and activities.”  

The idea was a success.  And because everything in the federal government has a tendency to grow, Congress and President George H.W. Bush agreed to expand Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week into Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.  

The joint resolution observed that May was a fitting month because the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States in May 1843 and the transcontinental railroad — which was built largely by Chinese immigrants — was completed in May 1869.  Every President since then has issued a proclamation celebrating May as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

A few weeks ago, President Trump issued a proclamation honoring the “more than 20 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders who call America home” and who “have helped strengthen our communities, industries, Armed Forces, national security, and institutions of governance … [t]hrough their industriousness and love of country.”  In particular, he recognized Kalpana Chawla, the first Indian American woman to fly in space, who served courageously in the space program until the loss of the Space Shuttle Columbia 15 years ago, and Susan Ahn Cuddy, the first Asian-American woman to join the United States Navy, who served as a code breaker and an aerial gunnery officer during World War II.

My Heritage

As I’m sure is true for many of you, the Asian American or Pacific Islander who inspired me most is a member of my family.  My father, Nemesio Maharice Francisco, was born and raised in the Philippines.  I’d like to tell you three stories about him—stories that will likely echo those that many of you could tell about your own families.

The first is a story of adversity.  My father was born in 1935, and grew up amidst the ravage of World War II.  At that time, the Philippines was a commonwealth, still under the formal control of the United States but transitioning toward independence.  Within hours of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Philippines was also attacked.  As a very young boy, my father was driven from his home by invading soldiers.  He once told me how, for days, he was forced to live in the remnants of a bombed out tank.  

My father’s family pooled all of their resources to send him—the youngest son—to medical school and, eventually, to the United States, where he met my mother.  That’s, of course, where my story began.  And isn’t that the story of many of us?  We came here on the shoulders of immigrants who had the courage to cross oceans in search of a better life.

The second is a story about politics — in the best sense of that word.  I remember my father and mother having an argument about a political donation that my father made to President Reagan’s re-election campaign.  My mother learned about it when my father got the perfunctory thank-you note in the mail along with the auto-penned photograph of the President.  Now, my mother had grown up in a Teamsters household, but I don’t think she was objecting to my father’s support for President Reagan.  She just couldn’t believe that he had wasted so much money on a campaign contribution.  But my father was so proud of that auto-penned photo.  And it was only many years later that I began to understand why.  It was because he had come to understand that he was an American, and he was actively participating in our democratic process.

The third story occurred shortly before my father’s death in 1989.  My father had come to this country with a group of Filipino doctors many years earlier, and he was now dying of lung cancer.  The other Filipino doctors and their families — known to me as my “aunties, uncles, and cousins” — came to say goodbye.  And what struck me was how all of my “cousins” and I looked alike.  And it wasn’t our jet black hair and brown skin.  Rather, in the fashion of the time, all of us boys had pony tails and earrings.  I don’t think our parents liked it all that much.  But what was clear was how thoroughly American all of us were, just one generation later.

To me, these three stories about my father tell a distinctly American story.  And I suspect many of you in this room could tell similar tales.  No matter what other divisions may exist in our society, these stories unite us as Americans.

Trailblazers in Public Service

All of us here are also united by our choice to work in public service, and we owe a debt of gratitude to our forebears who blazed the trail for us in this field.

I think, for example, of Herbert Choy, who was born to Korean immigrant parents in Hawaii in 1916.  As a young teenager, he worked long days at a pineapple processing plant for twelve-and-a-half cents an hour.  He dreamed of being a lawyer, even though at that time no Korean American had ever become a member of the bar.  Through his hard work, he earned admission to Harvard Law School, graduated in the spring of 1941, and became the first Korean American bar member in November of that year. 

When Pearl Harbor was attacked in December, he volunteered for the United States Army the next day.  He served six years in the JAG Corps, including deployments to Japan and Korea.  When he returned home, he went into private practice, served as Attorney General of the Hawaii Territory, and was appointed in 1971 by President Nixon to fill Hawaii’s first seat on the Ninth Circuit.  That made him the first Asian American to serve as a federal judge, a role he filled with distinction for 33 years until his death in 2004. 

One of his first law clerks was Richard Clifton, who later became the second Hawaiian to serve on the Ninth Circuit.  Judge Clifton said that Judge Choy taught him “to render judgments without being judgmental … to disagree without being disagreeable.  He understood that the law is there for the entire community and that it should be administered fairly.”  That is an inspiring legacy for us all.

Others blazed the trail into public service in different ways.  After Pearl Harbor, Japanese Americans in the military were forced to surrender their weapons, and many were sent with their families to internment camps.  Eventually, President Roosevelt — against the advice of the Army — agreed to authorize one combat team of Japanese American volunteers.  “Americanism,” he said, “is a matter of the mind and heart; Americanism is not, and never was, a matter of race or ancestry.”  

The 442nd Regimental Combat Team went on to become, by some measures, the most decorated unit in the history of the United States military.  When the famous Lost Battalion of Texas was surrounded by enemy forces in the mountains of France, the 442nd battalion took 800 casualties to rescue them — a mission that later led the Governor of Texas to name every man in the unit any honorary Texan.  By the end of the war, the soldiers of this single battalion had earned an astonishing 21 Medals of Honor.  In 1946, a battalion that was almost never formed because of racial prejudice was personally welcomed home by President Harry Truman.

The men of the 442nd — and other Asian Pacific Americans who volunteered during the war — continued to serve, even during peace.  One member of the unit was Lieutenant Daniel Inouye, who was severely wounded taking out two enemy machine gun nests in Italy.  He had always wanted to be a surgeon, but his wounds cost him one of his arms.   He was inspired to take a different path by a fellow wounded soldier that he met in a military hospital.  That soldier told him he planned to recover, go to law school, and then run for Congress in his home state of Kansas.  Inouye did the same thing in Hawaii.  Just over a decade later, Daniel Inouye shook hands on the floor of the Senate with his fellow soldier and senator, a man named Bob Dole. 

Inspiring Progress in Public Service and the Law

Thanks to pioneers like Judge Choy and Senator Inouye, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have come a long way in American public life, and that progress continues.  It should inspire us all that America’s face to the world — our ambassador at the United Nations — is a brilliant and strong Indian American woman, Nikki Haley.  The mighty Pacific force of the United States Navy, the fleet that liberated my father in the Philippines, is now commanded by Harry Harris — the first Japanese American Admiral in the Navy.  And President Trump recently nominated Admiral Harris to serve as United States Ambassador to South Korea, where he will play a key role in the President’s effort to address the difficult issues in the Korean Peninsula.

Of particular importance to us at the Department of Justice, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made great strides in the law.  Over the past 30 years, the number of Asian American law students has quadrupled, and over the past 15 years, the number of Asian American lawyers in the United States has doubled.  And I am honored to be the first Asian American or Pacific Islander to represent the United States in the Supreme Court as the Solicitor General. 

But I am certainly not the only one to argue in the Court.  By my count, Asian American or Pacific Islander advocates presented 16 arguments at the Supreme Court this term.   I am not aware of any official statistics, but I think that is very likely a record.  One fact that should make us even prouder is that 15 of those 16 arguments were presented by current or former members of the Justice Department, including former Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal, former Assistant to the Solicitor General Kannon Shanmugam, former Assistant to the Solicitor General Pratik Shah, and current Assistant to the Solicitor General Fred Liu.  Other DOJ alumni advocates included the Solicitor General and Deputy Solicitor General of the District of Columbia, Todd Kim and Loren Ali-Khan, and Professor Aditya Bamzai of the University of Virginia Law School.

Asian American and Pacific Islander lawyers are also assuming more prominent roles throughout our Department.  The U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia is my dear friend, Jessie Liu — the first Asian American to hold that prestigious position.  Our colleague Robert Hur, who recently served as the principal deputy to Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein here at Main Justice, has succeeded the DAG as U.S. Attorney for the District of Maryland.  And B.J. Pak is the first Asian American U.S. Attorney to serve in Georgia, where he leads the important office for the Northern District of Georgia.

Of even more enduring significance, there are now far more Asian American and Pacific Islander federal judges than ever before.  A decade ago, there was only one Asian American federal court of appeals judge:  Judge Atushi Wallace Tashima of the Ninth Circuit.  Today, there are eight.  Four were appointed by President Obama:  Judge Denny Chin of the Second Circuit, a former Assistant United States Attorney, Judge Jacqueline Nguyen of the Ninth Circuit, also a former Assistant United States Attorney , Judge Sri Srinivasan of the D.C. Circuit, a former Assistant and Principal Deputy Solicitor General, and Judge Raymond Chen of the Federal Circuit, a former Solicitor of the Patent and Trademark Office. 

In just over a year, President Trump has appointed another three federal court of appeals judges of Asian American or Pacific Islander descent:  Judge Amul Thapar of the Sixth Circuit, a former United States Attorney for the District of Kentucky and District Judge who was the first South Asian American to sit on an Article III court, Judge James Ho of the Fifth Circuit, a veteran of the Office of Legal Counsel and the Civil Rights Division who immigrated from Taiwan and learned to speak English by watching Sesame Street, and Judge John Nalbandian of the Sixth Circuit, a talented appellate advocate whose mother was born in a Japanese internment camp during World War II.

Our Continuing Mission

All of us can be proud of that progress, but we still have work to do.  Although Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are thriving in American society and are better represented in the institutions of government than ever before, we must continue striving to make our country a place of justice and opportunity for all.  For those of us here at the Department, that means faithfully enforcing the rule of law and ensuring that the promise of freedom that inspired our ancestors to come this country remains real for everyone who calls America home.  It also means continuing to promote diversity broadly defined, including the diversity of viewpoints.  And that doesn’t just mean tolerating the presence or views of others.  It means welcoming civil disagreement, and listening with an open mind.  

As Justice Scalia once put it, “One of the strengths of this great country, one of the reasons we really are a symbol of light and hope for the world, is the way in which people of different faiths, different races, different national origins, have come together and learned — not merely to tolerate one another, because I think that is too stingy a word for what we have achieved — but to respect and love one another.”

It’s hard to top Justice Scalia for rhetorical flourish.  So like the loyal law clerk I once was, I think I’ll let him have the last word.  Thank you for the invitation to join you in celebrating the heritage we share and the country we love.

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AAPI Heritage Month: Google honors James Wong Howe, revolutionary with a camera

JAMES WONG HOWE

TODAY (May 25) Google honored James Wong Howe as sthe subject of their daily Doodle. Here's Google's writeup on the famous cinematographer:

Meet the cinematographer who changed films forever

The poet of the camera’, ‘an artist in film’, ‘a painter with light’: these are some of the names given to James ‘Jimmy’ Wong Howe. A pioneer, an innovator, a creator, James Wong Howe is one of the world’s greatest ever cinematographers. He worked on over 120 films between 1922 and 1974, directed two features, and won two Oscars. As well as making films, he worked on documentaries, TV, and commercials. He was even offered the job of working on the Godfather films shortly before his death. 

But Wong Howe wasn’t a likely figure, pitted for greatness from birth. A first-generation Chinese American, Wong Howe fought prejudice all his life. 

Learning the ropes

James Wong Howe was born Wong Tung Jim in Guangzhou, China on August 28, 1899. Howe’s father brought his young family to the US – what he described as the ‘mountain of gold’ – when Howe was 5 years old. 

His first home was Pascoe, Washington, where his father opened a general store and became the first Chinese merchant in the town. As a child, Howe faced vicious racism. His first schoolteacher quit as she didn't want to teach a person of Chinese descent. His second teacher changed his name to be more anglicised, which is how he became ‘James Wong Howe’. As a child, Howe was bullied by his classmates, and used to take sweets from his father’s shop to give to the other children and try to make them like him. 

He was learning how to hold his own in a world that was not built for him, that tried to hold him down at every opportunity – and learnt to persevere and prosper. This was a lesson that he would carry throughout the rest of his career.

Lights, camera, action

Wong Howe left Pascoe to become a boxer, but later moved to LA – home to the glitz and glamor of the movies – and became a bellboy in a Beverly Hills hotel. 

Then, at 17, James Wong Howe got into the film industry from the bottom. He was employed at the Famous Players-Lasky Corporation as a cleaner, but it was from here that he would forge connections with some of the greatest movie makers of his generation. From sweeping up film ends in the camera room, he eventually became an assistant cameraman – the first step in a career that would last for more than 50 years. 

James Wong Howe revolutionized filmmaking.

From chewing gum-eating canaries to roller skating cameramen

Wong Howe pioneered the wide-angle lens, low key lighting (which earned him the nickname "Low Key Howe"), and deep focus. He was also one of the first cameramen to ever use a hand-held camera. But he also had some unusual approaches to the new technology of film. 

It was Wong Howe’s creative – and sometimes unusual – thinking that made him famous. He got his accidental big break by using a visual trick to make the actress Mary Miles Minter’s light blue eyes show up dark on film. “The word went around at cocktail parties that Mary Miles Minter had imported herself an Oriental cameraman, who hid behind a velvet curtain and magically made her eyes turn dark,” Wong Howe said. “After that, I was never out of work."

While shooting a film for Cecile B. DeMille, Howe was tasked with capturing a close up of a singing canary. But they couldn't get the canary to sing. They tried all kinds of methods, like the noise of a sewing machine and a violinist, until someone realized that the bird was female and that they don’t sing at all. But with some characteristic ingenuity, Howe grabbed some chewing gum and put it in the canary's mouth. The bird’s chewing made it look like it was singing – problem solved.

Other ingenious techniques that Howe used included: shooting a boxing scene by rollerskating around the action; using the reflection of tin cans to light a scene up a hill without electric lights; shooting scenes while being pushed around in a wheelchair; and weighing down birds to make them land where he needed them to.

Google's Doodle of James Wong Howe

Against all odds

James Wong Howe became one of the best cinematographers in history – he was even the most well paid cameraman in Hollywood for a time. But he had to fight prejudice all his life to maintain his position. Like the days of bribing schoolchildren with sweets to make them like him, Howe faced prejudice both on and off the film set. 

James Wong Howe married Senora Babb in 1937 in Paris, but their marriage wasn't legally recognised until 1957 as they were an interracial couple. During World War Two, Howe had to wear a badge that said ‘I am Chinese’ as everyone thought he was Japanese. His friend James Cagney wore one too out of solidarity.

Fighting this uphill battle – even being investigated by the Un-American Activities Committee under McCarthy – makes Wong Howe’s achievements even more impressive. 

A lifetime on film

When Wong Howe began his career films were silent and in black and white. By the time he made his last film, every aspect of movie-making was different. Howe saw all of these changes, not only keeping up with the times, but also constantly innovating and pushing the form forwards. 

Film making was completely different by his death in 1976, in part thanks to James Wong Howe himself.

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AAPI Heritage: Congressional members extol AAPI contributions and history

MEMBERS of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and other Congressional leaders will be celebrating the month with ceremonies May 16 but they released their statements regarding Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Tuesday, May 1.

AAPI Month is celebrated each May to recognize the history, contributions, and achievements of the Asian American and Pacific Island•er (AAPI) community. The proclamation was signed by Donald Trump earlier on Tuesday.

May is officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month by section 102 of title 36, United States Code. The observance originally began as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, which was established through a joint Congressional resolution in 1978 and was later expanded to a full month in 1992. 

The month of May was chosen due to two important milestones in Asian/Pacific American history: May 7, 1843, when the first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States, and May 10, 1869, when the first transcontinental railroad was completed with substantial contributions from Chinese immigrant workers.

The CAPAC will have an official ceremony on May 16, noon until 2 p.m. in the Kennedy Caucus Room in the Senate Russell Office Building, Room 325, in Washington D.C.

Statements from Congressional leaders:

• Rep. Judy Chu, D-Calif., CAPAC chair:

“Each May, we come together to celebrate the vibrant history and widespread contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to our nation. As laborers who helped build the first transcontinental railroad and contribute to the farm worker movement, and military service members who have fought valiantly in battles dating back to the American Civil War, the rich cultural heritage of the AAPI community is inextricably woven into the fabric of our nation. From our indigenous Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities to our more recent refugee and immigrant populations, AAPIs have also planted deep roots in their local communities as small business owners, entrepreneurs, teachers, doctors, artists, lawyers, scientists, and public servants.

“As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let us honor the tireless work of generations of AAPIs who came before us and recommit ourselves to advancing the work that still lies ahead. Together, we have the power to speak out against dangerous policies targeting immigrant, refugee, and minority populations and to build a brighter future for generations to come.”

• Rep. Madeleine Bordallo, D-Guam, CAPAC vice chair:

“Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a celebration of our diversity and the contributions that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders make to our nation every day. We are a nation of immigrants, whose ancestors came to America seeking liberty, prosperity, and human dignity. As we celebrate APA Heritage Month, we should be mindful of this history and remember that ours was a country founded on compassion and justice. I am proud to join my colleagues in honoring the heritages of all Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and I encourage all Americans to take time during APA Heritage Month to appreciate the achievements and patriotism of the AAPI community.”

• Rep.Ted Lieu, D-Calif, CAPAC Whip:

“This month, we celebrate and honor our country’s Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. The AAPI community has made indelible contributions to American society and culture and continues to demonstrate the importance and value of diversity and inclusion. As an Asian American, I am grateful for the AAPI trailblazers who carved a path for people like me to thrive fields like public service, art, education, business, research, science, journalism and entertainment. Ensuring people of all backgrounds have the opportunity to succeed is the best thing we can do for our country.”

CAPAC Executive Board Members

• Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, D-Hawaii:

“The AAPI community has made exceptional contributions to our country throughout history. Hawai‘i’s own leaders like Senator Daniel Inouye, Senator Daniel Akaka, Congresswoman Patsy Mink, the Nisei-only 442nd Infantry Regiment, and our Filipino WWII Veterans have shaped our collective history by breaking down barriers and working with unwavering conviction to better the lives of all Americans. Our AAPI community today continues to lead across every sector—from government, business, and military service, to culture, arts, technology, healthcare, and so much more.”

• Rep. Jimmy Gomez, D-Calif.:

“It is an honor and privilege to represent a district as diverse as California’s 34th Congressional District. From the communities of Koreatown, Chinatown, and Historic Filipinotown, to the neighborhoods of Little Tokyo and Little Bangladesh, Los Angeles provides a diversity of art, culture, and cuisine unlike any other city in the country. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I join my colleagues in honoring the immense contributions of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to America’s greater story and I’m proud to be one of their representatives in Congress.”

• Rep. Colleen Hanabusa, D-Hawaii:

“As we mark Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by honoring the contributions our community has made to America, let us remember that there is so much more work to be done. Hawaii is the only majority-AAPI state in the country. Our history is full of examples of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders working to build the foundations of our state’s success in business, education, military service, science, engineering and the arts. The AAPI community is one of the fastest growing groups in America. But as our country continues to diversify we must recognize that we live in challenging times. Divisive rhetoric, discrimination and racism have been given a prominent platform in America. It is up to all of us to remember the struggles of those who came before us. As we honor their work, let us remember their perseverance and continue their fight for equality.”

• Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif.:

“The many contributions that Asians and Pacific Islanders have made to the community in Silicon Valley and to our country are a testimony to the benefits of embracing diversity. We must ensure that America remains a nation where people from all backgrounds are free to pursue their potential and the American dream.”

• Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif.:

“This May, I’m proud to join communities across the country in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. By opening new businesses, participating in the arts, serving in elected office, and pioneering new scientific discoveries, the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans are a vital part of our nation’s civic, economic, and cultural development. The East Bay’s diversity is one of its greatest strengths and I am proud to represent such a vibrant Asian Pacific American community. As a member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus and co-chair of the CAPAC Health Care Task Force, I’m committed to expanding opportunity and ensuring that every family can realize the American Dream.”

• Rep. Doris O. Matsui, D-Calif.:

“I’m pleased to join my colleagues in celebrating the profound impact that Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have had on American life. From contributions in the arts, to science, to civic life, the AAPI community has played in an important role in enhancing our country’s multifaceted identity. This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I encourage all Americans to join in celebrating those contributions and look for ways to value diversity in their communities.”

• Rep. Grace Meng, D-Calif.:

“I’m thrilled to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM) with my fellow Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) across the nation and in Queens. APAHM is a joyous month to reflect on the unique and many contributions that AAPIs have made to our country. Our participation in American society has grown exponentially since the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843.

“From the Chinese workers who built the Transcontinental Railroad to the millions of small business owners across America, AAPIs are part of the American social fabric. Today, it is encouraging to see AAPIs are participating in our political system, the military, academia, entertainment, and sports. They are actors and actresses, politicians, doctors, lawyers, bankers, athletes and soldiers. While we celebrate our shared success, we must also invest in overcoming inequality and ensure AAPIs have an equal chance at the American Dream. In Congress, I will continue to fight for policies that ensure AAPIs receive equal treatment and justice and to have our contributions to American society recognized nationally.”

• Rep. Bobby Scott, D-Virginia:

“I am proud to celebrate Asian American Pacific/Islander (AAPI) heritage month. During this time, we reflect on the many contributions that the AAPI community has made in the development and success of this country. The APPI community has been an integral part of the story of America.”

• Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif.:

“Each year, the month of May is a time to recognize the many contributions Americans of Asian and Pacific Island descent have made to the United States. Members of the AAPI community have been an essential part of our nation for centuries. We have created businesses, developed new technologies, produced great works of art, and served America in times of peace and times of war. As I join my colleagues in CAPAC to celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I do so with pride in all that we have achieved and excitement for all the achievements yet to come.”

CAPAC Associate Members

• Rep. Jerry McNerney, D-Calif.:

“This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, I am proud to join my colleagues in honoring Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and their invaluable contributions to our country. Asian Pacific Americans have made many contributions throughout our nation’s history and I am proud that many call California and my district home.”

• Rep. Grace Napolitano, D-Calif.:

“Each May we recognize the contributions Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made to the United States, a proud nation of immigrants. As the AAPI community continues to grow, it strengthens our military, our economy, our schools, and every other segment of our society. This important progress and success are reflected across California’s San Gabriel Valley, which I am proud to represent in Congress. My CAPAC colleagues and I remain committed to ensuring the AAPI community is heard and fairly represented. We invite you to join us this month in honoring the extraordinary accomplishments and diverse culture of all Asian Pacific Americans.”

• Rep. Scott Peters, D-Calif.:

“Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates the history and lasting contributions of the Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to San Diego and our country.Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest-growing racial group in the United States with more immigrants originating from the Asia-Pacific region than anywhere else in the world. San Diego’s AAPI community has emulated that growth to become a political, economic, and social force in our city. It’s one of San Diego’s greatest strengths, which is why I’m working to create greater economic opportunity and oppose backwards immigration policies, so our AAPI community can continue to grow and thrive. I hope you all will join me this May in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.”

• Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.:

“As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, it is a privilege for me to salute my district's diverse Asian American and Pacific Islander population, and AAPI families from coast to coast, for all their contributions to our country. AAPIs enrich our neighborhoods, our businesses, and our culture each and every day, and have been pivotal to making America a strong, just, prosperous, and forward-thinking nation. In the years to come, our AAPI community will continue to play an essential role in making America a more perfect union.”

• Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington:

“Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments and vast contributions Asian Pacific Americans have made to the United States. I am proud to represent a district in the Pacific Northwest with a significant Asian Pacific American community that enriches and strengthens our entire region. During this month, we also reflect on the deep-rooted history of Asian Pacific Americans in our country and their continued work to make our country stronger.”

U.S. Senators

• Sen.Tammy Duckworth, D-Illinois:

"Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is a time to reflect on and take pride in the numerous contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout our nation’s history and of the continued contributions of our children and our children’s children. As we celebrate our community this May, we should also look ahead and continue to work for progress for our community and ensure the American Dream remains within reach for all.”

• Sen. Mazie K. Hirono, D-Hawaii:


“As we observe Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we celebrate the progress AAPI communities have made across the country. However, these are unusual times. As communities of color are attacked by the Trump administration, we must all continue the work that we’re doing and increase our efforts to achieve equality and opportunity for all.”

House Congressional Leadership

• Rep. Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., House Democratic Leader:

“Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is an opportunity for all Americans to recognize the immense contributions that this beautiful and diverse population has made to our nation. For generations, Asian Pacific American communities have come to our shores to pursue the American Dream, bringing their rich cultures and wonderful traditions. Many of these courageous Americans overcame persecution, injustice and bigotry to strengthen our country and, in the process, exemplified what it means to be an American. 

“For generations, proud Asian Pacific American men and women have bravely defended our nation and become an enduring part of our unique American story. In San Francisco, we are immensely proud of the richness and diversity that our vibrant AAPI community has brought to our city. We like to say that the beauty is in the mix, and generations of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have built our city, invigorated our community and enriched all our lives. 

“This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, let us celebrate the AAPI community’s undaunted spirit and the role they have played in our history and the contributions they are making to our future. We can honor these proud Americans by reaffirming our legacy as a nation of immigrants and fulfilling our most basic promise that out of many, we are one.”

• Rep. Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland, House Democratic Whip:

“Throughout May, we pay tribute to the history and heritage of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. I join in celebrating the diverse cultures that form a critical part of our American fabric and the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to our nation. In business, government, sports, the arts, science, and military service, they continue to help make America stronger, safer, and more prosperous. 

“In Congress, I’ve been proud to work closely with my colleagues in the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), led by Chairwoman Judy Chu, to make opportunities more accessible to workers and their families, to expand access to quality health care and education, to stand up for the rights of immigrants, and to combat racism and xenophobia. Together, we will continue fighting to protect voting rights, to ensure justice is blind, and to create good jobs that offer pathways to long-term economic security. As we celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month together, let us resolve to continue standing up for our shared values and common vision of an America where all are able to get ahead.”

• Rep. Joe Crowley, D-New York, Chairman of the House Democratic Caucus:

“During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we pay tribute to the rich histories, cultures and contributions the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have made to our country. From science to the arts, our AAPI brothers and sisters have enriched and shaped every aspect of American society. I am proud to join CAPAC and my fellow Americans in this celebration, and to reaffirm my commitment to elevate and promote opportunity for the AAPI community in Congress.”

• Rep.  Linda Sánchez, D-Calif., Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus:


“I’m proud to recognize Asian Pacific American Heritage Month to celebrate the AAPI community in our country. Their involvement in the sciences, arts, industry, government, and commerce highlights the many contributions AAPIs make to enrich and strengthen our society’s cultural fabric. I am incredibly proud to represent cities that are known throughout Southern California and the world for their prominent Asian Pacific American communities. I join with my Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus colleagues to ensure that the concerns and needs of the Asian American Pacific Islander community are heard in Congress.”
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TGIF Feature: AAPI Heritage -- PBS airing six films about Asian America

IT'S MAY so it must be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. You can tell it's May with the attention mainstream media is placing on all things regarding this ethnic group. In honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, PBS is presenting six compelling documentaries on public television this May through the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM.  Three of these films, Finding Kukan, Random Acts of Legacy and Who is Arthur Chu? will premiere on season 6 of America ReFramed, an award-winning documentary series on public television.  Resistance at Tule Lake and The Chinese Exclusion Act will screen on PBS and WORLD Channel. The CAAM-produced Pacific Gateway: Angel Island VR will air digitally on PBS’s American Experience. Check your local listings for exact airdates and times.  These enlightening and inspiring films spotlight the resilience of Asian/Americans and the role of Asian/Americans in shaping U.S. history.  Viewers are encouraged to share your thoughts using #MyAPALife. All of the films will stream online for a limited time following their respective premiere date. Learn more about these films on the CAAMFest blog. These films are supported or co-produced by CAAM, with funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

RESISTANCE AT TULE LAKE directed by Konrad Aderer Broadcast date: May 6, 2018 on WORLD Channel A minority group is unjustly persecuted amidst racially-charged scapegoating by politicians. That’s the eerily relevant backdrop for RESISTANCE AT TULE LAKE, Konrad Aderer’s examination of the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans, which couldn’t come at a more important moment.

FINDING KUKAN directed by Robin Lung Broadcast date: May 8th on WORLD Channel Streaming online: May 9, 2018 - June 7, 2018 FINDING KUKAN documents filmmaker Robin Lung's 7-year journey to piece together the incredible story behind the pioneering mediamaker Li Ling-Ai, the co-producer for the 1941 documentary film, KUKAN. Despite having no Hollywood or government backing, KUKAN was screened at the White House for President Roosevelt before becoming the first of two documentary features ever given an Academy® Award in 1942.

RANDOM ACTS OF LEGACY directed by Ali Kazimi Broadcast: May 15, 2018 on WORLD Channel Streaming: May 16, 2018 - May 14, 2021 From one of the earliest known home movies, Ali Kazimi weaves a visually rich narrative of a wealthy Chinese American family from the Depression era. Combined with family accounts and other commentators, the film offers an intimate and radically different perspective on the Chinese American community in Chicago with a surprising feminist twist.

WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? directed by Yu Gu and Scott Drucker Broadcast: May 22, 2018 on WORLD Channel Streaming: May 23, 2018 - June 21, 2018 WHO IS ARTHUR CHU? follows 11-time Jeopardy! winner Arthur Chu, who won almost $300,000 by using an unconventional strategy on the game show. The national attention led this insurance analyst to amass tens of thousands of fans and haters on Twitter. Arthur plans to put his 15 minutes of TV fame to good use, and launches a career as both a speaker and writer. By dissecting topics such as racism and sexism particularly in “nerd culture,” his posture shatters the “model” Asian American stereotype.

PACIFIC GATEWAY: ANGEL ISLAND VR directed by Felicia Lowe and co-produced by CAAM Broadcast: May 28, 2018 on American Experience’s Facebook live stream Journey across the bay to the Angel Island Immigration Station in this fully immersive virtual reality experience, exploring the poignant stories carved into the walls of the “Ellis Island of the West.” In her first foray into this new digital medium, veteran filmmaker Felicia Lowe uses the historic Angel Island Immigration Station to shine light on a dark part of America’s past.

The Lim Family, American born and educated. The Chinese Exclusion Law made it difficult for the young generation to find employment, forcing many families to seek opportunities back in China. Lim Tong Family Archives.

THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT directed by Li-Shin Yu and Ric Burns and co-produced by CAAM Broadcast – May 29, 2018 as a Special Presentation of the PBS series American Experience THE CHINESE EXCLUSION ACT, a two-hour film for national broadcast on PBS, will explore in riveting detail this little known, yet deeply resonant and revealing episode in American history – one that sheds enormous light on key aspects of the history of American civil liberties, immigration, and culture – during one of the most formative periods of U.S. history. __________________________________________________________________________