While the national celebration is historically known as Asian Pacific Heritage Month, there is a movement to call for the disaggregation of this name to officially recognize May as Asian and Asian American Heritage Month.
APIC (Asian Pacific Islander Coalition) Spokane, a local community organization dedicated to promoting empowering Spokane’s Asian, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities, writes on their website:
“Although May has traditionally been Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and currently recognized as Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Washington, APIC Spokane stands in solidarity with the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander community in their self-determination and national efforts to declare August as their Pasifika Heritage Month. While aggregation has contributed to solidarity between our communities, we also recognize that it has led to the erasure and harm of both of our wider communities.”
Find more resources and events on their website here.
The Library is showcasing local events and resources for the celebration of Asian and Asian American Heritage Month this May and supporting these communities year-round.
Events
May 6 @ 1pm | What’s Cooking with Juan Juan? Korean Bulgogi @ Shadle Park Library
May 6 @ 3pm | Spokane Taiko Drum Performance @ South Hill Library
May 21 @ 2pm | International Encounters: China @ South Hill Library
May 23 @ 5:30pm | Spokane Taiko Drum Performance @ Shadle Park Library
May 24 @ 12pm | Virtual Book Club: Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka | Register here
May 27 @ 2pm | FILM: Between the Lines: Asian American Female Poets @ Shadle Park Library
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