Every day we appreciate having opportunities to connect people with stories that reflect their own experiences. Darien is a better place to call home thanks to our Asian American and Pacific Islander neighbors, colleagues, and friends. The Library celebrates year-round the vibrant cultural heritage of AAPI members. We are honored to be part of the continuous process of building a more inclusive community together.
History of AAPI Heritage Month
The United States celebrates Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in May each year. The month-long celebration highlights the AAPI community's "significant role in the creation of a dynamic and pluralistic America, with their enormous contributions to our science, arts, industry, government and commerce" (Proclamation 4650 by President Jimmy Carter, 1979). The celebration was then extended to a month in 1990 by President George H.W. Bush via Public Law 101-283.
Visit Darien Library through the month of May to view our AAPI Heritage Month book displays.
Timeline of First Immigrants
- 1587: Filipinos in (the future) California
- 1635: Indians in Jamestown, Virginia
- 1778: Chinese immigrants reached (the future) Hawaii
- 1778: Native Hawaiians in (the future) Oregon
- 1806: Japanese in (the future) Hawaii
- 1884: Koreans
- 1898: Chamorros in California and (the future) Hawaii
- 1912: Vietnamese in New York
- 1920: Samoans in (the future) Hawaii
Adapted from Wikipedia and is not a comprehensive list
Gordon Hirabayashi
Japanese American Hirabayashi was a civil rights activist and sociologist who resisted the Japanese American internment camps during World War II. His sentencing and prison conviction was overturned in 1987.
Vicki Draves
Filipino-English American Draves won two gold medals at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London in addition to her five United States diving championships. She was the first Asian American to win gold.
Kalpana Chawla
Indian American astronaut and engineer Chawla was the primary robotic arm operator on Space Shuttle Columbia and was aboard during the 2003 disaster. She was the first woman of Indian descent in space.
Music
Songs curated by Karyn.