PEOPLE: May 2023 is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by presidential proclamation
AGN.News Team
May 1, 2023
WASHINGTON (AGN.News) – In 1990, Asian American Heritage Week was extended to a month after a bill was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush.
In 1992, two years later, Congress established May as the month to celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
May 2023 Honors Asian Americans
This month coincides with two key milestones. First, the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843. Secondly, the Chinese workers’ important role in building the transcontinental railroad which was concluded on May 10, 1869.
The 1992 Congressional bill passed by Congress and signed by the president designated May every year as Asian American Heritage Month.
In 2021, U.S. President Joseph Biden, by presidential proclamation, announced Native Hawaiians would be added to the annual May celebration.
Therefore, May is the annual Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Asians served in America’s military
For example, Joseph Pierce (his chosen name) was brought to the U.S. from China by his adoptive father, Connecticut ship Captain and Far East trader Amos Peck.
After the American Civil War began, Pierce enlisted in the U.S. Army on 26 July 1862 and was mustered into the Fourteenth Regiment, Company F of the Connecticut Volunteer Infantry that became part of the Second Brigade of the Third Division, Second Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac.
From 1862 to 1865, Pierce fought in pivotal battles of the war, fighting in major campaigns from Antietam to Gettysburg to Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Court House.
Pierce achieved the highest rank of any Chinese American to serve in the Union Army, reaching the rank of corporal. Pierce’s picture hangs in the Gettysburg Museum.
In 2007, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring the actions of Pierce and other Asian-Pacific Islander soldiers of the Civil War.
Asians, Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders
In 2021, the Asian population in the United States was 24.0 million. That represents an estimated 5.2 million people of Chinese (except Taiwanese) descent in the United States.
According to the U.S. Census surveys, this 2021 report of the number of people of Chinese descent who reported to the Census their ancestry represents the largest Asian group, followed by Indian (4.8 million), Filipino (4.4 million), Vietnamese (2.3 million), Korean (2.0 million), and Japanese (1.6 million).
There were 2.4% of Asian alone-or-in-combination military veterans in 2021. The report included 55.1% of 25 year old and older had a bachelor degree of higher level education in 2021.
The report indicated that 88.5% percent had a high school diploma or equivalency in 2021.
There were 612,194 estimated Asian-owned employer firms in the United States in 2020.
May 2023 Honors NHPI Americans
In 2021, Native Hawaiians residents in the United States totaled 680,353. Native Hawaiian population was the largest detailed Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander (NHPI) group, followed by Samoan (243,682), and Chamorro (142,516).
Of this group were 6.8% military veterans in 2021. There were 25.0% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander with a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2021.
Additionally, 89.9% of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islanders 25 year old or older had a high school equivalency in 2021. The number of Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander-owned employer firms in the U.S. in 2020 were 8,822.
The 2020 and the 2021 Census surveys related to population estimates, American Community Survey, and the 2021 Annual Business Survey for year 2020 provided data for this article.
May 2023 and Asian Americans
May 2023 will become a celebratory month for the many people of Asian ancestry. Other Americans and visitors to America will join in the celebrations.
Throughout this month of May, America give special recognition to all people of Asian descent, their culture, life experience, professionalism and for their lasting contributions to the growth and development of the United States.
This month will witness many celebrations and festivals as special tributes to all Asians, Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Americans of all social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds will be celebrating the great people of Asian ancestry.
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