Learning Together During Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to recognize the history, contributions and cultures of people with roots across Asia and the Pacific Islands. The month was chosen with two milestones in mind: the arrival of the first known Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in May 1869, which was built in large part by Chinese laborers.

Across Boston and New England, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities have shaped neighborhoods, businesses, universities, hospitals, arts and civic life for well over a century. This guide offers practical ways to learn together during May, and to keep that learning going the rest of the year.

Start With a Wide Lens

“Asian American and Pacific Islander” covers an enormous range of people. It includes communities with roots in China, India, Vietnam, the Philippines, Korea, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Indonesia, Thailand, Hawaii, Samoa, Guam, Fiji and many more places. Each has its own languages, faiths, foods, histories and reasons for coming to the United States.

A good first step is to resist treating the month as a single culture. Instead, pick one or two communities to learn about more deeply, especially those that are part of your own city or town.

Learning Close to Home

Local history makes heritage months come alive. Many New England communities have stories worth exploring, from long-established Chinatown neighborhoods to more recent immigrant communities that have revitalized main streets and mill towns.

• Ask a librarian: Public libraries can point you to local history collections, oral histories and books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors for every age.
• Check local museums and historical societies: Many offer exhibits, walking tour guides or online collections. Look at their calendars for May programs.
• Walk your own neighborhood: Notice which businesses, places of worship and community centers serve Asian American and Pacific Islander residents, and learn how long they have been there.
• Read local news archives: Libraries often provide free access to newspaper databases where you can trace a community’s story over decades.

Ideas for Families With Children

• Borrow picture books and chapter books by Asian American and Pacific Islander authors and illustrators, and read one together each week.
• Look at a world map and find the places your library books are connected to.
• Cook a simple recipe from a cookbook by an author from that culture, and talk about the story behind the dish.
• Learn to say “hello” and “thank you” in a language spoken by neighbors or classmates.
• Attend a free public cultural event, performance or festival if one is offered nearby.

Starting a Short Book or Film Circle

A four-week circle is a manageable way for neighbors, coworkers or a faith group to learn together. Keep it low pressure and open to everyone.

1. Choose four works by Asian American or Pacific Islander writers or filmmakers, mixing fiction, memoir and history.
2. Ask your library about borrowing multiple copies or using its digital collection.
3. Meet for one hour each week, in person or online.
4. Use simple prompts: What surprised you? What did you recognize? What do you want to learn more about?
5. Close the final session by sharing one thing each person will keep reading or exploring.

Supporting Local Businesses and Artists

Learning and supporting go hand in hand. Eat at a family-run restaurant you have never tried, shop at a neighborhood grocery, buy work from a local artist, or attend a performance. Ask questions with genuine curiosity, tip well and leave a kind online review if you enjoyed the experience. Steady, year-round patronage means more to small businesses than a single busy month.

Remembering Pacific Islander Communities

Pacific Islander histories are often overlooked during this month, even though they are part of its name. Native Hawaiians, Samoans, Chamorro people from Guam, Tongans, Fijians, Marshallese and others have distinct cultures, languages and relationships with the United States. Some are tied to long histories of colonization and military presence across the Pacific.

• Look for books, music and films by Pacific Islander creators specifically.
• Learn about traditional navigation, which guided voyages across vast stretches of ocean using stars, waves and wildlife.
• Read about the history of Hawaii before and after it became a state.

Giving these communities their own attention keeps the month true to its full name.

Respectful Curiosity: A Few Guidelines

Curiosity is welcome, but how we ask matters.

• Avoid “Where are you really from?” Many Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have been in the United States for generations and hear this question as a suggestion that they do not belong.
• Do not expect one person to speak for a whole culture. Individuals have their own experiences and opinions.
• Learn names correctly. Ask how to pronounce a name and practice it.
• Listen more than you talk. When people share their stories, let them lead.
• Respect sacred traditions. Some customs, clothing and symbols carry religious or ceremonial meaning and are not costumes or decorations.

Standing Up for Neighbors

Learning also means paying attention to how neighbors are treated. If you witness harassment, safe bystander actions include checking in with the person targeted, staying with them, documenting what happened if it is safe, and helping them find support. In an emergency, call 911.

Keeping It Going After May

A heritage month works best as a beginning. Add authors to your regular reading list, keep visiting the businesses you discovered, follow local cultural organizations, and mark other important dates and holidays on your family calendar. Learning about your neighbors is not a one-month project; it is part of being a good neighbor.