Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month by Adding These Authors to Your Summer Reading List

Paying tribute to 12 female authors across the globe

Photo by Maud Beauregard on Unsplash

AAPI Heritage Month

In the United States, the month of May is widely celebrated as AAPI Heritage Month or, more inclusively, AANHPI Heritage Month. It’s a beautiful time to celebrate and recognize the unique contributions of Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians (NH), and Pacific Islanders (PI) to the history, culture, and achievements of our country.

The month of May was chosen as a symbol of strength, and to commemorate two important dates in history:

1. May 7, 1843: The arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S.
2. May 10, 1869: The completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was primarily laid by Chinese immigrants. These workers suffered physical abuse, received up to 50% lower wages than white workers, and were often given the most difficult and dangerous work (i.e., tunneling and handling explosives). According to reports, they worked 6 days per week and earned $26 per month in 1864. A combination of these harsh conditions, maltreatment on-site, and under-compensation ultimately led to an 8-day strike in 1867 — when 90% of the workers were Chinese.