Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Join the Library in May to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and explore histories, cultures, and achievements with reading recommendations, films, and more.
It's been over three decades since Congress established Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The May timing of the celebration corresponded with two historical milestones: the arrival in the U.S. of the first Japanese immigrants in May 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, in which Chinese workers played a pivotal role, in May 1869.
In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded the observance to include Native Hawaiians.
Kansas City, Missouri, didn't officially participate until 2021 and now celebrates with events like the annual Taste of AAPI Food & Cultural Festival in the West Bottoms.
In the Kansas City metro, the AANHPI community makes up about 3% of the population. But these numbers are growing with an influx of residents with Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Lao, and Japanese heritage.
Programming
Some highlights at the Library include the Central Library's Film Vault featuring AANHPI movies from the 1970s to the 2020s for all ages, including Hunt for the Wilderpeople, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom, and Rush Hour.
Teens ages 16 and up are invited to the Waldo Branch on May 14 and May 28 for Hallyu Nights from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Celebrate K-pop artists with DIY photo cards, button making, snacks, and music.
Signature Events Archives
On May 18, 2023, Jackie Nguyen, founder of Café Cà Phê, highlighted an installment of the Library’s four-part series on how to make entrepreneurship in Kansas City more inclusive, diverse, equitable, accessible, and liberating – more IDEAL for all.
Kanopy Steaming
Browse a wide variety of movies featuring AANHPI experiences and stories on your computer or mobile device with Kanopy.
Reading Recommendations
Explore books, films, and other digital resources that highlight AANHPI stories, experiences, and history.
