Asian Pacific American Heritage Month @ Anderson Afternoon

Come Celebrate Asian culture this Thursday

This Thursday May 8, the Asian Management Students Association (AMSA) is proud to sponsor Anderson Afternoon in celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Continuing with the tradition that was successfully organized for the past two years, AMSA is partnering with all the Asian identity clubs at Anderson (GCBA, JABA, KBSA, and SABA) to co-host authentic cuisines and cultural demonstrations from China, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, and Thailand.

We have many exciting performances including:
- Chinese Student and Scholar Association: “Chinese Folk Dance” offers a great insight into Chinese culture through its colorful and skills displays of dance and costume.
- UCLA Bruin Bhangra: Bhangra and Punjabi culture come to Anderson through an energetic dance performance by the popular Bruin Bhangra Team.
- UCLA Thai Smakom: “Kinaree” – This dance has been adapted from Manohra, a southern style and the oldest surviving Thai dance drama.
- …and MORE!!

So why was Asian Pacific American Heritage Month established? This month long celebration was originated by a congressional bill in 1977 to celebrate the contributions that Asians and Pacific Islanders have made in the U.S. Originally, this was a week long celebration commemorating the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was built mostly by Chinese laborers, on May 10, 1869. In May 1990, this holiday was expanded to a month long celebration and is marked with festivals, government-sponsored activities, and educational events for students.

How can you celebrate APA Heritage Month? With the diverse culture of LA, there are many venues you can go to:
- The Los Angeles Asian Pacific Film Festival: This 24th annual celebration runs from May 1 – 8, 2008 with films ranging from comedy and drama to documentaries and shorts. http://www.vconline.org/
- Japanese American National Museum: Located in Little Tokyo in Downtown LA, this museum features exhibitions which chronicle over 130 years of Japanese American history. http://www.janm.org/
- Chinese American Museum: Housed inside the oldest surviving Chinese building in Southern California, this museum hosts exhibits and educational resources to foster a deeper understanding of Chinese Americans and to preserve their rich cultural legacy. http://www.camla.org/
- Thai Community Development Center: This organization serves to empower Thai immigrants in the Los Angeles area by providing workshops, business and entrepreneurial counseling, and health and housing resources to improve their standard of living and economic self-sufficiency. http://www.thaicdc.org/

There are many more organizations and events you can explore. I encourage everyone to take advantage of LA’s diverse heritage and discover something new in honor of this month. See you on Thursday @ Anderson Afternoon!