Via the Office of Diversity and Inclusion:May is Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, initially created as a week-long celebration to honor the identities, history, and culture of the AAPI community, then cemented in 1990 as a month-long celebration. The historical context of how this heritage month came to be is critical, but so is a deeper understanding of the diversity of communities and cultures that fall under the AAPI banner. As with other often-used umbrella terms, there is a tendency to minimize, blur, or miss out on the unique differences and experiences of cultural groups – all of which are actually assets to a community aspiring towards equitable practices and a full sense of membership for all. Too often in race dialogue we resort to only a black-and-white conversation that does not allow room for the voices and perspectives of our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community members, who have their own nuanced and racialized experiences. Part of our continued work is to broaden our view and take a more expansive approach to celebrating, supporting, and connecting across all communities of color. This is also a time to elevate and uplift the contributions to public health by Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders at Harvard and beyond.Learn more and explore stories in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.
