HKS reflects on Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

During the Month of May, the HKS community observes Asian

American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, which recognizes and

honors the contributions and achievements Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

have and continue to make in the United States.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have contributed

significantly to American life, and yet many Americans are unaware of both

their achievements and the marginalization they have experienced throughout

history due to xenophobia, and institutional and structural racism. In recent

years, the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled a spike in anti-Asian hate and

violence. As a community, we must continue to work to combat racism,

gender-based violence, white supremacy, and other injustices that impact Asian

Americans and Pacific Islanders.

As AAPI Heritage Month begins, we want to highlight some opportunities

to learn more about AAPI histories, identities, and experiences.

WATCH: Previous HKS Events

Combatting Anti-Asian Racism and Misogyny: What is our

Local Community Doing?: This public discussion hosted by the Ash Center

highlights key challenges of racism, misogyny, and other discrimination faced

by our Asian and Asian-American community, the responses of local organizations

who have long sought to address such challenges, and what more needs to be done

in our own communities.

Protecting the Civil Rights of Asian-Americans: This event

hosted by the Institute of Politics examines how continued inflammatory rhetoric

around immigration and the coronavirus pandemic created an atmosphere that

emboldens people to perpetrate attacks on members of the AAPI community.

American Policy Review is the first nonpartisan academic

journal in the country dedicated to analyzing public policy issues facing the

Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Founded in 1989 and published by

graduate students at the Kennedy School, the journal provides a forum for

scholarship and publication on issues related to the Asian American community’s

political, social, and economic development.