Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Here at Stonehill, we begin the commemoration in April so all can participate before the end of the semester. 

This Heritage month originated in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a law designating one week in May as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week”. The observance was extended to a month in 1990.

This year, AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated as the country continues to witness a horrifying number of racist, violent, and sometimes deadly attacks against members of the AAPI communities – particularly women. A recent story by CNN presents a horrible tally of some of the most recent incidents.

This heritage month also comes on the heels of Americans taking to the streets to protest anti-AAPI violence, with many gathering last month to mark the grim anniversary of the Atlanta spa shootings.  Eight people – including six women of Asian descent – were killed in those attacks. 

Stop AAPI Hate is an organization founded in March 2020, in response to the alarming escalation in xenophobia and bigotry resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. That group, established by the AAPI Equity Alliance (AAPI Equity), Chinese for Affirmative Action (CAA), and the Asian American Studies Department of San Francisco State, tracks and responds to incidents of hate, violence, harassment, discrimination, shunning, and child bullying against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States. 

Their most recent report shows that from March 19, 2020, to December 31, 2021, a total of 10,905 hate incidents against AAPI community members were reported to their organization. Of the hate incidents reflected in this report, 4,632 occurred in 2020 (42.5%) and 6,273 occurred in 2021 (57.5%).

In recognition of AAPI Heritage month, MacPhaidin Library would like to feature the following resources for AAPI community members and allies, and links to works by some prominent AAPI artists, scholars, and authors.

Local Support Resources for APPI Community members and their Allies

Resources Recommended by Stonehill College’s Counseling Services

  • Programs and events through the Office of Intercultural Affairs.   Watch your email for the weekly Intercultural Happenings bulletin or follow @scdiversity on Instagram.
  • Asians Do Therapy : A site dedicated to reducing stigma and increasing accessibility of mental health treatment for Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
  • The National Asian American Pacific Islander Mental Health Association, an organization providing resources, advocacy, and trainings to promote mental health and wellbeing of Asian and Pacific Islander communities.
  • Interested in mental health resources for Asian and Pacific Islander communities?  Please explore this resource directory on the Counseling Services Website. 
  • Counseling Services will be highlighting resources, information, and videos related to themes of mental health and wellness and the Asian and Pacific Islander communities on our Instagram account.  Follow them @stonehillcounselingservices! 

As you mark AAPI Heritage month, consider checking out some of the following resources in our collection.

Online Collections

Books in MacPhaidin Library’s Collection

 

 

For You