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Asian Pacific American Heritage

Asian PacificAmerican Heritage
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Curriculum Materials Center

David & Lorraine Cheng Library

William Paterson University

Asian Pacific Americans are the fastest-growing racial group in America according to the US Census Bureau. May was chosen to celebrate and pay tribute to the first Japanese immigrants who came to America in May 1843. In 1977, Frank Horton of New York introduced to Congress the House Joint Resolution to proclaim the first 10 days in May as Pacific/American Heritage week. This joint resolution was passed in 1978 and signed into law as Public Law 95-419 by President Jimmy Carter on October 5, 1978. In 1990 congress passed Public Law 101-283 which expanded the celebration for the entire month of May. It was annually designated in 1992 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month when Congress passed Public Law 102-450.


Asian/Pacific Heritage Month https://asianpacificheritage.gov/

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Famous Asian Americans

1. Anna May Wong, Taishanese American Actress

2. Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, Chinese American Nuclear Physicist

3. Dalip Singh Saund, Indian American Congressman

4. Dr. David Ho, Taiwanese American Research Physician and Virologist

5. Duke Kahanamoku, Native Hawaiian Olympic Gold Medalist, Surfer and Actor

6. Haing S. Ngor, Cambodian American Surgeon, Actor and Author

7. I.M. Pei, Chinese American Architect

8. Jerry Yang, Taiwanese American Co-Founder of Yahoo! and Tech Investor

9. Joyce Chen, Chinese American Chef, Restaurateur, and Author

10. Kalpana Chawla, Indian American Astronaut and Engineer

11. Patsy Matsu Takemoto Mink, Japanese American Politician and Attorney

12. Philip Vera Cruz, Filipino American Labor Leader and Civil Rights Activist

13. Sammy Lee, Korean American Olympic Diver, Coach and Physician

14. Tammy Duckworth, Thai American Army Veteran and U.S. Senator

15. Yo-Yo Ma, Chinese American Classical Musician and Performer

16. Yuji Ichioka, Japanese American Historian and Civil Rights Activist


Learn more about these famous Asian Americans at the following link.


https://redtri.com/asian-american-historical-figures/

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No Kim Chi For Me By Kim Aran

Yoomi hates stinky spicy kimchi until her grandmother makes pancakes for her.


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Drawn Together by Le Minh

A boy and his grandfather cross a language and cultural barrier using their shared love of art, storytelling, and fantasy.


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Bilal Cooks Dal by Aisha Saeed

Bilal and his father invite his friends to help make his favorite dish, daal, then all must wait patiently for it to be done.


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Front Desk by Kelly Yang

It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao. and go for her dreams?


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Stepup to the Plate Maria Singh by Uma Krishnaswami

Maria learns to play softball just like her heroes in the All-American Girl's League, while her parents and neighbors are struggling through World War II, working for India's independence, and trying to stay on their farmland.


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A Different Pond by Bao Phi

While Bao and his father fished for food in a small pond in Minneapolis, his father told him a story of a different pond in Vietnam.


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When You Trap A Tiger by Tae Keller

Would you make a deal with a magical tiger? This uplifting story brings Korean folklore to life as a girl goes on a quest to unlock the power of stories and save her grandmother. Some stories refuse to stay bottled up.


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Queen of Physics by Teresa Robeson

Wu Chien Shiung is a famous physicist who overcame prejudice to prove she could be anything she wanted. Wu Chien was born in China 100 years ago when most girls did not attend school and were not thought to be as smart as boys.


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Hello Universe by Erin Entrada Kelly

The lives of four misfits are intertwined when a bully's prank lands Virgil at the bottom of a well. Valencia, Kaori, and Gen band together in an epic quest to find and rescue him.


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Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | BrainPOP News