Honoring Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month
May 2, 2025
Dear Brandeis Community,
During the month of May, we honor Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and it provides an opportunity for us to recognize and celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the history, culture and achievements of the U.S. It is also a time to honor the diverse cultures of the AAPI community as part of the fabric of American society. Moreover, we would like to raise our awareness about the experiences and challenges faced by the AAPI community, including discrimination, racism and xenophobia. This is even more important today as we see continuing acts of violence and hate for various underrepresented groups and populations.
This monthly observance started out as Asian Pacific Heritage Week in the late 1970s. The choice of May was significant as it marked the anniversary of the first-known immigration of Japanese people to the United States in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, which was built largely by Chinese immigrant laborers. Over time, the week-long celebration evolved into a month-long observance, and in 1992, the official name was changed to Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Since then, it has been recognized and celebrated annually in May, not just in the United States but also in other countries with significant AAPI populations.
At Brandeis, we celebrate AAPI Heritage Month as part of our commitment to fostering a welcoming community. The AAPI Timeline is one project in a series produced by students to preserve people of color's histories at Brandeis and featured on the Black Space Portal. Visit this new timeline to learn about the activities of the Asian American Student Association (BAASA), the Third World Coalition, and the work to establish Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Studies at Brandeis. This project also features ten issues of the Eastern Tide literary magazine, one of the more prolific student organization publications. Explore Brandeis Library books that spotlight various experiences within Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
We also offer courses in Asian American and Pacific Islander Studies, East Asian Studies and South Asian Studies, and minors are available in AAPI Studies and East Asian studies. Many of the course offerings allow for our students learn more about Asian societies, cultures, and languages.
In addition, please note that our Intercultural Center student clubs promote programming that is open to everyone throughout the year. Such events celebrate culture, food, and learning. These groups include: Brandeis Asian American Student Association, Brandeis Chinese Student Association, Brandeis Korean Student Association, Club Cantonese at Brandeis, Japanese Student Association, South Asian Student Association, Southeast Asia Club, Taiwanese Student Association and Vietnamese Student Association. Join them for a study break next week!
Study Break with Bubble Tea
May 6 from 2-4 p.m.
Intercultural Center (ICC)
We also encourage you to explore the following programs celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences in the Boston area:
AAPI Heritage Month Celebration
May 10, 2025
3 p.m.
The Lynn Museum
Boston Children’s Museum
Boston Children’s Museum is recognizing Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month between May 5 and May 26. Museum visitors are invited to attend and participate in a variety of music, dance, visual art making, and storytelling programs geared for children and their families.
Join us in honoring and celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to show our support for one another as well as the rich diversity of our Brandeis community.
In solidarity,
Aida Yuen Wong
Head of the Division of the Creative Arts
Nathan Cummings and Robert B. and Beatrice C. Mayer Chair in Fine Arts
Professor of Fine Arts and East Asian Studies
Howie Tam
Assistant Professor of English and AAPI Studies
LeManuel Lee Bitsóí
Vice President of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Associate Research Professor of Health: Science, Society and Policy