May is AAPI Month, or Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. AAPI Heritage Month celebrates the contributions and influence of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islander Americans to the history, culture, and achievements of the United States. May is designated for AAPI Heritage Month to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants to arrive in the United States on May 7, 1843. To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, here are some ways you can celebrate:
Visit the Birmingham Museum of Art’s gallery on the Theatrical Arts of Asia
What: https://www.artsbma.org/exhibition/theatrical-arts-of-asia/
Where: Birmingham Museum of Art ( 2000 Reverend Abraham Woods Jr Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35203)
When: until November 2024
Visit the Japanese Garden
What: https://bbgardens.org/gardens/japanese-garden/?text=Japanese%20garden
Where: Birmingham Botanical Gardens (2612 Lane Park Rd, Birmingham, AL 35223)
When: Daily from 7 am to 6pm
Buy from Asian American businesses
Educate yourself by reading books and articles and listening to podcasts on AAPI History
Immerse yourself in illustrious culture by making a traditional AAPI dish or ordering from a restaurant
-Damon Melton, Highlands School Student DEI Liaison