Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2025

Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, (AANHPI) is celebrated throughout the month of May.  It originated in 1978 when Congress passed a joint resolution that became Pub. L. 95-419.  This law directed the President to issue a proclamation designating the week beginning on May 4, 1979 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week. Pub. L. 95-419 was amended in 1990 by Pub. L. 101-283  which expanded the observance of Asian/Pacific American Heritage week to the month of May in 1990.  Finally, in 1992, Congress passed Pub. L. 102-450 which permanently designated May of each year as “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.”

This informative CRS Report Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month Speech Resources: Fact Sheet provides excellent summary of both Public Laws and Proclamations pertaining to Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.  Although May is the designated month to commemorate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, it is not meant to be the only time of year. Find resources to learn, teach, experience, and reflect on AANHPI history and heritage beyond May.

 

Image courtesy of the Smithsonian