The Association for Asian Studies is proud to participate in Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month during the month of May. Below, we have curated a list of resources from AAS publications, events, and other initiatives that focus on AANHPI history and culture, as well as linked to resources and events offered by other organizations this month.

We will continue to update the resources below throughout May 2024, so please share links to relevant articles, events, and other opportunities that will be of interest to AAS members by emailing Maura Elizabeth Cunningham, mcunningham@asianstudies.org.

Published by AAS

• Katherine In-Young Lee, “Ford and My Family” (#AsiaNow, June 9, 2023)
• James Carter, review of The Asian American Century, by Warren I. Cohen (Education About Asia, Fall 2007)
• Satu Limaye, “Why Southeast Asia Matters for America and the World” (Education About Asia, Spring 2015)
• Linda Menton, review of Pacific Nations and Territories: The Islands of Micronesia, Melanesia, and Polynesia, by Reilly Ridgell (Education About Asia, Fall 1997)
• Eiichiro Azuma, “The Challenge of Studying the Pacific as a ‘Global Asia’: Problematizing Deep-Rooted Institutional Hindrances for Bridging Asian Studies and Asian American Studies” (Journal of Asian Studies, November 2021)
• Christine R. Yano, “Global Asias: Improvisations on a Theme (a.k.a. Chindon-ya Riffs)” (Journal of Asian Studies, November 2021)

Readings, Podcasts, and Videos

• “Centering Asian Artists in the American Story” (National Gallery of Art)
• Susan Tate Ankeny, “This Chinese American Aviatrix Overcame Racism to Fly for the U.S. During World War II” (Smithsonian)
• Jonathan van Harmelen, “The ‘Nacirema’ Dream: The Story of an Asian American Studio” (Los Angeles Review of Books)
• “Corky Lee’s Chinatown” photo essay (China Books Review)
• In Search of Bengali Harlem documentary (streaming on PBS)
• Inheriting, a new podcast about Asian American and Pacific Islander families (NPR)
• Rajpreet Heir, “Some Other I Before Me: On Seeking Guidance From AAPI Memoirs” (Los Angeles Review of Books)
• “Books on the Chinese-American Experience” (China Books Review and Asia Society)
• Pawan Dhingra, “Expansion of Asian American studies fueled by racial attacks and activism” (The Conversation)

The PBS website offers a discussion guide and lesson plan to accompany its documentary film, Who Killed Vincent Chin?

The New Books in Asian American Studies Podcast has a large catalogue of episodes to explore.

Listen to a Spotify playlist of works by Asian American and Pacific Islander Composers from the Special Collections Division: Music of the Free Library of Philadelphia.

Visit the South Asian American Digital Archive and explore their collection of oral histories, teaching resources, and digital exhibits.

NPR team members have put together a list of AANHPI Heritage Month recommendations, from books to read and movies to watch, to food to cook and dancers to watch.

AANHPI Month Events

Asia Society locations around the world are hosting events throughout the month of May, some in person and other online. Check out the full lineup of talks, workshops, performances, and more at the Asia Society‘s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month page.

In Southeast Michigan, the Detroit Institute of Arts will offer AANHPI-focused film screenings, hands-on crafts, and performances throughout May.

“Catching Silhouettes: An Oral History Street Performance Project” (in-person event, May 2-18, New York, NY) hosted by Museum of Chinese in America

“Race in America: History Matters” (webinar; Wednesday, May 8 at 3:00 p.m. ET) — Norman Chen (CEO, The Asian American Foundation) will join the Washington Post talk about the organization’s latest index report surveying attitudes toward Asian Americans, work to combat anti-Asian hate and efforts to promote greater awareness of Asian American history.

Join the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Friday, May 10 for its Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration, starting at 5:00pm.

On May 18, the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles will host author Paula Yoo and writer Philip Chung for a conversation around the legacy of Vincent Chin on the 6th Annual National Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Day Against Bullying and Hate.

“Hello Auntie, Hello Uncle: Conversations with Our Elders” (exhibit, through February 23, 2025) at Seattle’s Wing Luke Museum

Many local libraries throughout the United States have AANHPI Month programming—check out the calendar of events at the library near you to see what’s planned!

In honor of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Bloomsbury/ABC-CLIO is offering full and open access to The Asian American Experience database, including more than 2,000 primary and secondary sources, historical inquiry activities, infographics, maps, timelines, and more.

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