The pandemic years of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage month have been as sobering as celebratory. Last May, in the shadow of the tragic and murderous deaths of spa workers and patrons in Atlanta, and in light of the necessity for a #StopAsianHate campaign, I urged our teaching and teacher community to integrate AAPI histories within their curriculum.
From the outset of the pandemic, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) have particularly been vulnerable to scapegoating, xenophobia, and violence. This volatility is not new, and in fact, follows an old pattern of racism and exclusion.
Abstract: Incidents of hate crimes, attacks, and harassment directed at Asian Americans have skyrocketed during the COVID-19 pandemic. To scholars and students of Asian American history, these patterns are neither new nor surprising.
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month. I am Chinese and Vietnamese, so at home, it’s AAPI love and appreciation all the time. This year’s AAPI heritage month, however, feels more weighted. Even my mom feels it.
