Asian, Pacific Islander, Desi American
HERITAGE MONTH
2023
APIDA
Asian
A
What does APIDA stand for?
Desi
D
Pacific Islander
PI
American
A
People whose ancestry comes from countries within the continent of Asia
People from the countries of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh in South Asia
People who are native to the nations of the Pacific Islands
Citizens of the United States
Wait, isn’t May called “AAPI” Month?
This month has had a few different names!
In 1977, this month-long celebration originally started as 10 days in May that was designated, “Asian Pacific American Week” by New York representative Frank Horton. Today it is commonly called “AAPI Heritage Month.”
Today, some prefer to use the term “APIDA” because it distinguishes people from South Asian countries by adding the identity “Desi.” This refers to the people and history of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. This is important because it reminds people that this month is meant to celebrate cultures beyond East Asia.
Additionally, many people believe that it is unfair for both Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to be lumped together because Asian and Pacific Islander histories and cultures are very unique and different from each other.
How was APIDA Month created?
APIDA Heritage Month is an annual celebration that recognizes the historical and cultural contributions of individuals and groups of Asian and Pacific Islander descent to the United States.
The effort to officially recognize Asian American and Pacific Islander contributions to the United States began in the late 1970s, and took over 10 years to make it a permanent month-long celebration.In 1990, Congress expanded the observance from a week to a month. May was annually designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month in 1992 by President George HW Bush.
Why do we need APIDA Heritage Month?
Did you know…
Countries in Asia
There are hundreds of languages spoken, and different traditions and beliefs.
Pacific Island Nations
When we talk about Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the community is VERY diverse!
It’s important to be intentional about our language. When we say “Asian,” are we being inclusive of East, Southeast, South, and Western Asian people and experiences?
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Asia is the largest continent, covering 17.2 MILLION
square miles!
For comparison, North American is around 9.5 million square miles.
Remember:
Let’s recognize the diversity of the APIDA community
There is no “one way” to look
Asian or Pacific Islander
Asians and Pacific Islanders present in a range of skin tones and physical features.
APIDA Communities are JOYFUL
Loi Krathong from Thailand
Lunar New Year in multiple Asian countries
Ramadan in Western Asian and Muslim communities
Holi in Hindu communities
…and we still face many challenges
Get to know some APIDA changemakers
Click on each person’s name to learn more about them!
"Remember that consciousness is power. Consciousness is education and knowledge. Consciousness is becoming aware. It is the perfect vehicle for students. Consciousness-raising is pertinent for power, and be sure that power will not be abusively used, but used for building trust and goodwill domestically and internationally. Tomorrow's world is yours to build."