AANPI Heritage Month
What is AANHPI Heritage Month
AAPI heritage month began in the 1970s as a week-long celebration. Since the 1990’s it’s been celebrated the entire month of May. This month was chosen to recognize the first Japanese immigrants and the completion of the transcontinental railroad. This month aims to celebrate the experiences, traditions, and cultures of the Asian Americans living in the U.S.
What does AANHPI mean?
The official title of AAPI heritage month was changed in 2021 to include Native Hawaiians. The inclusion of Native Hawaiians expands the inclusivity of AANHPI month and the contributions of Native Hawaiians to the Asian American and American community at large.
Ways to celebrate
Host an AANHPI movie night
In the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in Asian stories. Although we still have a long way to go, here are some movies and TV shows you can watch to celebrate this month!
Seeing Red, Crazy Rich Asian, Parasite, Bollywood, Squid Games, Everything everywhere all at once, Raya and the Last Dragon, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, Moana
Support Asian Communities
To celebrate AANHPI month, you can also find ways to support AANHPI communities. This can include donating to AANHPI organizations and charities, educating yourself and creating awareness regarding AANHPI issues, and supporting AANHPI brands. Some of my faves include Asian American Girl Club, Mejuri, and Chunks.
Explore Art
A fun way to celebrate this month is to explore art, music, and other creative endeavors by AANHPI creators. I recently visited the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco and it was so fun!
Cuisine
This is a great month to prioritize shopping at asian markets and eating at Asian owned businesses. A few of my favorites in the Grand Rapids area include Kim Nhung Superstore and Seoul Market.
Crafts
This is a great one to include kids in! There are so many fun crafts you can do to celebrate AANHPI month. A couple simple crafts include origami, paper lanterns, DIY leis, and a DIY ddakji game.
