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Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in the United States. It is a month-long event dedicated to celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of the Asian American community. While the term “Asian American” encompasses people from over 24 countries, who reside in the USA, it is still a nascent term. The Asian American community is diverse and varied, making significant contributions to American culture in numerous ways.
History of Asian Americans in the US
The history of Asian American culture dates back to the centuries since the first immigration of Asians to the USA. The assimilation process, however, hasn’t been easy, leading to several immigrant stories of second-generation Asian Americans and their families. Despite facing obstacles, Asian Americans in the USA have made an indelible mark on American culture.
AAPI Art- Contributions to Culture
Asian American art is still evolving, but the contribution to culture from the AAPI community is significant. There are several AAPI artists, movies, and games that you can explore. This article explores some of the recent contributions to Asian American culture.
Everything Everywhere All at Once
Directed by Daniels, Everything Everywhere All at Once is a science-fiction adventure with a story focused on a Chinese Asian American family. Despite being a sci-fi extravaganza, the film highlights the struggles of immigration and the stress encountered in parent-child relationships. Raymond Wong, portrayed by Ke Huy Quan, is the beating heart of the film and adds nuance to the characters.
Life is Strange: True Colors
Life is Strange: True Colors features an Asian American heroine, Alex Chen, as she solves the mystery behind her brother’s death. The game highlights a background of Chinese ancestry and her family dynamic, showcasing a different representation of Asian Americans’ experiences. The game is unique in not bringing up the character’s heritage every five minutes and yet manages to give it the required representation.
Overwatch 2
The diverse cast of Overwatch 2 features playable heroes from South Korea, Japan, Thailand, China, and India. The game includes appropriate hiring of voice actors and is a benchmark in ensuring that the characters’ backstories are three-dimensional and nuanced.
Moana
Moana is a movie that pays homage to Pacific island cultures, featuring a majority Polynesian cast. Disney worked in conjunction with historians, anthropologists, and linguists to ensure an authentic representation of culture, which sets it apart from typical Disney-style storytelling. The movie has a banging soundtrack and an excellent performance by Dwayne Johnson as the god Maui.
Turning Red
Directed by Domee Shi, Turning Red explores the dynamics of mother-daughter relationships between an Asian Canadian girl and her mother, who runs a temple in Toronto’s Chinatown. The movie showcases how Asian Americans’ representation should be nuanced but often aren’t. The film is humorous, heartfelt, and touches upon familial expectations.
Fast and the Furious Franchise
The Fast and the Furious franchise is known for its strong AAPI representation behind the camera. Justin Lin and James Wan are Asian American directors responsible for some of the franchise’s best and blockbuster entries. The franchise featured Han Lue’s inclusion, one of the most beloved characters appearing in the series, and paved the way for the community’s on-screen representation.
Celebrating AAPI
It is essential to celebrate and recognize the rich culture, heritage, and contribution of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to the USA. The above list highlights the recent contributions of AAPI artists, movies, and games, which is just a small representation of what the AAPI community has achieved.
FAQs
What is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is a month-long event dedicated to celebrating the culture, history, and contributions of the Asian American community.
What is the history behind Asian American culture in the USA?
Asian American culture dates back to the centuries since the first immigration of Asians to the USA. The assimilation process hasn’t been easy, and it has resulted in several immigrant stories of second-generation Asian Americans and their families.
What are some examples of recent contributions to Asian American culture?
Recent contributions to Asian American culture include the movie Everything Everywhere All at Once, the game Life is Strange: True Colors, the movie Moana, and the Fast and the Furious franchise.
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