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May 2006 Spotlight: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Asian Pacific American Heritage Month celebrates the history, customs and contributions of people of Asian Pacific descent in the United States. The holiday was first established in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter recognized the holiday during the first ten days of May. This month was chosen because it marked two important events in U.S. history: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants in 1843 and the completion of the Transcontinental Railroad in 1869. In 1992, President George H.W. Bush extended the holiday to encompass the entire month of May.

The Asian Pacific region is culturally diverse, and so are the lives and traditions of those who have immigrated to America, including the Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Laotian and peoples of more than 20 other ethnicities. According to the Census Bureau, in 2004 there were an estimated 13.1 million people living in the U.S. who identified themselves as Asian or of Asian descent, as well as approximately 943,000 who identified themselves as Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander. Join us in celebrating the rich and diverse legacy of Asian Pacific Americans, in such SIRS Discoverer articles as:

Discoverer WebFind: Asian Heritage Heritage Month

In May, SIRS Discoverer WebFind celebrates the vast contributions of Asian and Pacific Islanders to the United States and the world. Students can learn about the ancient ritual of the Japanese tea ceremony, gain a deeper understanding of the struggles and triumphs of Chinese-American immigrants, view colorful examples of Hmong flower cloth, and much more. This month, Discoverer WebFind features the best Web sites available for students who wish to explore Asian Pacific heritage. Here are just a few of the featured sites: