Invisibility, silence, shame — these are words that have often enshrouded the Asian American identity. But all of that is changing. May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and it comes alongside a huge breakthrough for the AAPI community: Asians are stepping out beyond cultural expectations, letting their struggles be seen and heard and inviting others to join them in celebrating the fullness of who they are. And people all over the nation are responding, looking for ways to stand with them.
But this openness and solidarity will pass, as everything does, and this rare opportunity is coupled with an urgent and real call to stop the rising violence against the AAPI community.
What is AAPI Heritage Month and what is my role as a parent?
For those who are homeschooling, and any parents of school-age children, it is important to make the time to recognize AAPI Heritage month, an event designated by Congress in 1978 to honor, celebrate, and reflect on all that Asians and Pacific Islanders have overcome and contributed to American history. Here are nine homeschool lessons for AAPI Heritage Month.
Asian American violence and anti-Asian crimes: Lessons about racism today
How to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month respectfully (without cultural appropriation)
“We wish to see the fullness of who we have been, who we are, and who we can still be. We are more than what has been done to us.” – Theodore S. Gonzalves, Ph.D., Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center_
These lessons include crafts and other family fun activities that celebrate AAPI month in a respectful and relevant way.
7. Learn how to fold an origami crane.
According to Japanese legend, a person who folds 1,000 paper cranes will have their deepest wish granted. Try the art of folding an origami crane and learn about its significance through the story of Sadako Sasaki, a 12-year-old Japanese girl who contracted leukemia when the U.S. atomic bomb hit Hiroshima in 1945.
8. Explore these hands-on activities from the Japanese American National Museum.
From finger-print stamping to wearable crafts, each of these downloadable activities start with an artifact and guide you through creating your own version at home!
9. Have an AAPI Movie Night.
Grab some popcorn and cuddle up with your family in front of one of these award-winning films. “Storytelling through film is a powerful way to bridge the generations,” Agnes Chi, mom of two teenage boys, told Mom.com. “Movies like these stir up very real emotions, helping our kids to appreciate the sacrifices and contributions made by those in prior generations, which have created the freedoms they have today.” Chi recommends Go For Broke: An Origin Story, and American Pastime.
For a moving documentary, watch Far East Deep South, which explores the impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act on the Chiu family, available for free now through the end of May.
Also, Netflix and Hulu have created entire hubs dedicated to AAPI content.
However you celebrate, make sure you’re appreciating without appropriating.
“The key […] is to understand the culture you're borrowing from, including its history of oppression and marginalization,” Beth Dreher wrote for Good Housekeeping. She recommends asking yourself if what you’re doing is a result of a stereotype, or if you’re using something sacred to another culture in a flippant way.
