Honoring AANHPI Heritage Month
Honoring Asian American Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The history of Asian Americans is as broad, beautiful and brilliant as its diverse community.
Theme
This year’s theme for Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage month is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.”
Stats
Notably, according to the Pew Research Center, Asian Americans recorded the fastest population growth rate among all racial and ethnic groups in the United States, between 2000 and 2019. The Asian population in the U.S. grew 81% during that span, from roughly 10.5 million to a record 18.9 million.
In addition, according to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are over 24 million people living in the U.S. who identify as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and/or Pacific Islander.
History
Now, the history of North America is shaped by the stories of Immigrants from Asia, the Pacific and the Native People of the Pacific Islands.
Historically, some of the earliest Asian immigrants arrived from China, Japan, India, and Korea.
Due largely in part to immigration reforms, in conjunction with the U.S. civil rights legislation, brought even more beautifully diverse Asian groups of the vast Asian diaspora to the United States, such as the Vietnamese, Cambodians, Laotians, Indonesians, Hmong, and other peoples from South and Central Asia, the Philippines, Tibet, South East Asia, Pakistan, Indonesia, Hawaii and the beautiful Pacific Islands, which are the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, and American Samoa, which are along the western side of the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Asian Brilliance
Notably, from finding cures for diseases, mixed martial arts, fair labor pricing for farmers, fashion influences, helping to create and develop the expansive U.S. tech empire, to delicious cuisine and so much more, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders, have made brilliant, indelible and ground breaking, life changing impacts on American culture.
Diverse Asian Communities Living in Vermont
The U.S. Census Department reports, 1.9% of Vermont's population is Asian. That said, more people could identify as Asian, but instead have chosen to belong to a separate Census category that counts people of multiple races, which as a result, comprises another 2% of the Vermont population.
Now, when it comes to discrimination and racism in Vermont against the Asian Community, Vermont must do more. Due largely in part to the pandemic, racism towards the Asian Community has skyrocketed in the U.S. Stop AAPI Hate received almost 1,500 incidents of racism against Asian Americans. Also, let's not forget the inequitable wage gap for AANHPI women.
Moreover, discrimination against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is not limited to race. The U.S. Census bureau reports that there are 1.3 million Asian Americans living with a disability. Subsequently, in the U.S. 1 in 10 Asians live with a disability, they are routinely underserved and face discrimination, daily.
What Can You Do to Counter Racism and Discrimination Against the Asian Community? A lot!
Learn the differences in the community of Asian and Pacific Islanders
Create and support safe school environments for Asian students
Learn how to pronounce Asian names correctly
Create classroom activities for students to learn about Asian history, contributions and culture
Support access and opportunity for the AANHPI community
Donate to Hawaiian families displaced because of colonization
Follow and support Asian and Pacific Islander Activist
Learn the history about Queer Asian Activists
Support Fair Housing in Vermont
Celebrate and support the Asian community locally and abroad
Asian-American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Led Organizations Building A More Inclusive Outdoors
The Tibetan Association of Vermont
Chinese Cultural Events in Vermont
The Nepalese Student Association of the University of Vermont
The Japanese American Society of Vermont
Korean classes in Burlington Vermont
Southeast Asian Justice Organization
There are over 63 Asian Businesses in Vermont to follow and support
Diverse Asian Religious Celebrations
https://www.wayfairertravel.com/inspiration/cultural-holidays-festivals-in-asia/
https://www.visitsoutheastasia.travel/activity/south-east-asias-religious-festivals/
https://www.korea.net/AboutKorea/Korean-Life/Festivals
https://studycorgi.com/japanese-religion-festivals-and-national-traditions/
https://www.uwlax.edu/globalassets/offices-services/urc/jur-online/pdf/2005/dickie.pdf
De-Dee Loftin-Davis
Executive Director of Equity and Anti-Racism
South Burlington School District
South Burlington Vermont
Resources
https://downstreet.org/blog/asian-american-perspectives
https://www.accvt.org/celebrations-and-festivals
https://fapac.org/pressreleases/13056819
https://www.miekoozeki.com/in-the-media/11-4-22-bravelittlestate
https://time.com/5956943/aapi-history-milestones/
https://www.phansforracialequity.org/blog/red-hill