City Schools celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, recognizing the history, cultures, and contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. This month offers an opportunity to recognize the positive influence of these communities on our city, our classrooms, and our country, while uplifting the voices, traditions, and stories that continue to shape our shared future.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month traces its roots to a weeklong observance first established by Congress in 1978. The May designation recognizes two significant milestones: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad in 1869, a project built in large part by Chinese laborers.
What began as a week of recognition grew through years of advocacy and community leadership. In 1990, the observance was expanded to a full month, and in 1992, May was officially designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Federial Asian Pacific American Council - Resources
Elementary School
Ten Blocks to the Big Wok — Ying-Hwa Hu
The ABCs of Asian American History — Renee Rutledge
Amazing — Maia Shibutani
I Dream of Popo — Livia Blackburne
Gibberish — Young Vo
Middle School
Parachute Kids — Betty C. Tang
Shining A Light — Veeda Bybee
This Is How I Roll — Debbi Michiko Florence
High School
The Tryout — Christina Soontornvat
We Are Here — Naomi Hirahara
The Best We Could Do by Thi Bui: An illustrated memoir of family history and refugee experiences
The Woman Warrior by Maxine Hong Kingston
The 1870 census indicates only two Chinese people living in Maryland. By 1900, over 540 immigrants had come to Maryland, most settling in Baltimore between Marion and Liberty streets, forming one of the city’s earliest Asian American communities. By the early 1900s, this area became known as Baltimore’s first “Chinatown,” though it was much smaller than those in cities like San Francisco or New York City. As the number of Chinese residents in the Baltimore area grew, they established organizations and businesses to provide social, economic, and political support for the growing community.
Created by City Schools with assistance from AI.