According to 2021 census data, there are 24 million people of Asian descent living in the United States, as well as 1.7 million people who are Native Hawaiian or come from other Pacific Islands.
The annual celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans began as a week-long observance in 1978, and extended to the full month of May in 1990. President George H.W. Bush officially designated the month of May as Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1992, and it was later renamed Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2009.
Why We Celebrate in May
May commemorates two significant points in time for Asian and Pacific Islander migration to the United States.
The first was in 1841, when 14-year-old fisherman Manjiro was rescued by a whaling ship after drifting away from his home in Japan and brought to the island of Oahu, where he took an interest in whaling. William Whitfield, the ship's captain, adopted Manjiro, renamed him John Mung, and brought him to his hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, on May 7, 1843. Manjiro is considered to be the first Japanese immigrant to the United States and was referred to as the country’s first ambassador to Japan.
The second major event occurred on May 10, 1869, with the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the majority of which was built by Chinese immigrants.
How to Celebrate in Madison
- Asian-American Celebration Night at East High School
- Free Family Night: Asian Pacific Heritage Celebration at Madison Children’s Museum
- Hmong-Lao Veterans Day in Wisconsin
- Learn about AAPI heritage from PBS Wisconsin
Madison Minutes’ Hayley Sperling contributed to this article.
