Bridging Histories and Shaping our Future: In Celebration of Asian, Desi, Pacific Islander American Heritage Month

The origin of the celebration of what we now describe as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage dates back to the 95th Congress (1978-79) and a set of joint resolutions for a week-long celebration instituted by the Administration of then President Jimmy Carter in 1978. President George H.W. Bush expanded the celebration to a full month in 1990. On May 1, 2009, President Barack Obama signed Proclamation 8369, earmarking the month of May of each year as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Subsequently – on April 30, 2021 – President Joe Biden signed Proclamation 10189 to reconstitute the month of May as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. 

The expanding nomenclature for the month of May reflects the expansive nature of the distinct groups, which are known as Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander. In many respects, the pan-ethnic category of Asian American represents hundreds of diverse languages, dialects, ethnic groups and geographical regions. Despite its unifying name, the group constitutes an amazing diversity, with important differences in educational attainment, health status, religion and socio-economic status, just to name a few. Indeed, at the last U.S. census count, Asian Americans of Chinese ancestry and Asian Indians constituted the most populous groups, with Asian Indians experiencing the most rapid population growth. At the approach of the November 2024 elections, Pew Research has indicated that the Asian American share of the voting age population has seen a remarkable increase since 2020, with almost 15 million Asian Americans, including a large share of naturalized citizens, eligible to exercise their vote.

Meanwhile, at the UO, we refer to the month as Asian Desi Pacific Island American Heritage Month to more accurate reflection of the community’s diversity. “Desi" refers to the people and culture of the Indian subcontinent and South Asia, including the nations of Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan. ADPI Heritage Month, as a result, is an opportunity to learn more as well as to celebrate the diverse tangible contributions that Americans of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ancestry have made across a wide variety of fields. 

Very impressively, there are several University of Oregon departments and broader community organizations that provide an excellent array of opportunities for all of us to learn more about Asian American culture, including: the Asian American Council of Oregon, Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, the Department of East Asian Languages and Literatures, the Asian Studies Program, the Department of Religious Studies and the Yamada Language Center. Scholars and faculty of Asian descent are playing leadership roles in UO’s Center for the Study of Women and Society as well as Religious Studies, Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administration, the Graduate School, Global Studies, the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation, and Foundation Relations, just to name a few. Furthermore, the ADPI Strategies’ Group works diligently to build community on campus and beyond. In terms of transparent student success, students of Asian descent are more likely than any other racial or ethnic group to complete BA degrees in either four or six years.  

Many ADPI student groups are currently hosting annual cultural festivals during the month of May. Here's a list of some related student, campus, and community cultural events that we encourage you to attend:

With a theme of “Bridging Histories, Shaping Our Future”, The White House Initiative on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (WHIAANHPI) has encouraged Americans to “…reflect on our rich heritage and storied past. From Indigenous Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities, whose wisdom and knowledge helped to shape this country and continue to guide us today, to the immigrants and refugees who came to our shores in search of better opportunities, to the trailblazers who paved the way for progress across generations – our communities’ journey has been one of tragedy and triumph, adversity, and resilience.” 

As lifelong learners, let us join together with our ADPI students, faculty and staff to educate ourselves, while also celebrating the diverse cultures and immense ADPI contributions to the University of Oregon, America and the world at large.

References:

https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/01/10/key-facts-about-asian-american-eligible-voters-in-2024
https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2024/03/27/1-in-10-redefining-the-asian-american-dream-short-film/

by Yvette Alex-Assensoh, Vice President for Equity and Inclusion, May 2024