During the month of May, Americans pay tribute to generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success. At no time have these Americans needed to see the country acknowledge and celebrate the rich heritages thousands of years old and the people who have shaped United States history.
People like Maya Lin, the architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial; Amar Bose, billionaire chairman and founder of Bose Corporation; Bruce Lee, martial arts superstar; Cristeta Comerford, White House Executive Chef; Minoru Yasui, World War II-era lawyer who fought the legality of the incarceration of Japanese Americans during the war (posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom) and countless others of Asian or Pacific descent have contributed significantly to U.S. culture, business, and history.
Asian-Americans are the nation’s fastest-growing racial group, and for the last year have suffered considerably in an ever-present racist atmosphere. According to the New York Times, in 2020 reported hate crimes against people of Asian descent in New York City jumped 833 percent from 2019. Encourage booksellers to show their support more than ever with a variety of ideas for promotion during this holiday.
Asian American and Pacific Islander History Month:
Asian American Fiction
Asian Regional Cooking
Asian American Penguin Classics
