AAPI Leaders & Trailblazers
This Needham(MA)-raised astronaut of South Asian heritage has gone on historic space missions
Sunita Williams
Largest country in South Asia
India
A popular Japanese dish made with rice and raw fish
Sushi
Disney movie featuring a Polynesian heroine
Moana
What year was AAPI Heritage Month officially recognized in the U.S?
1992
First Asian American woman to anchor a national weekday news broadcast
Connie Chung
This country is home to Mount Fuji
Japan
This Korean side dish made from fermented vegetables is served with many traditional meals
Kimchi
An example of a K-pop group known for global influence
BTS, BLACKPINK, TWICE, EXO, SEVENTEEN
First Japanese American U.S. Senator
Daniel Inouye (Hawaii)
This Pakistani-born activist became the youngest Nobel Peace Price winner after advocating for girls' education
Malala Yousafzai
This language uses Hangul script
Korean
One of the traditions of this holiday include the exchange of red envelopes filled with money for good luck
Lunar New Year
A romantic comedy set in Singapore based on Kevin Kwan’s novel
Crazy Rich Asians
This World War II event involved the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans in camps
Japanese American internment
First Indian-American woman in Congress
Pramila Jayapal (Washington)
Traditional tea ceremony culture is strongly associated with this country
China
This Filipino noodle dish is traditionally eaten for long life and celebrations
Pancit
Actor known for “Everything Everywhere All At Once”
Michelle Yeoh
Landmark U.S. law protecting civil rights after WWII discrimination
Civil Liberties Act of 1988
Japanese American civil rights leader and WWII veteran advocate
Fred Korematsu
This Southeast Asian country is known as the “Land of Smiles”
Thailand
This Indian festival, often called the "Festival of Lights," celebrates the triumph of light over darkness
Diwali
Netflix show about Korean survival games
Squid Game
May was chosen to commemorate these two pivotal events in AAPI history
(1) the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843
(2) the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which relied heavily on Chinese immigrant labor