OUSD Celebrates Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is a significant month for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities across the United States, and here in Oakland. The Bay Area is home to a large AAPI population with more than 27% of Bay Area residents identifying as Asian American or Pacific Islander. In OUSD alone, there are about 6,000 Asian and Pacific Islander students. In fact, the first Asian American studies curricula were established at San Francisco State University, U.C. Berkeley, and UCLA.

The observance of AAPI Heritage Month began with a week-long celebration in 1978, following advocacy efforts that spanned over a decade. It was expanded to a month-long celebration in 1992, emphasizing the importance of the month of May, which marks both the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the U.S. and the contributions of Chinese workers to the completion of the transcontinental railroad. This history underscores the deep roots and impact of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in shaping the nation and our local community.

Here are four individuals from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities who have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to American life.

Left to right, they are:

• Kamala Harris, First Asian American Vice President of the United States
• Duke Kahanamoku, Native Hawaiian 5-time Olympic medalist swimmer known for popularizing surfing
• Bruce Lee, Chinese American Martial Artist, Actor and Director
• Awkwafina, Chinese-Korean actress, rapper, and comedian

Here are resources that will help schools and families foster understanding and appreciation for the AAPI members of our community:

• This guide from OUSD’s Office of Equity offers resources and suggestions for ways in which our schools, families, and communities can celebrate and honor our Asian American and Pacific Islander students, families, and staff.
• Watch this episode of “Inside OUSD” featuring Asian & Pacific Islander Targeted Student Intervention Specialist John Lauti from our Office of Equity. He shares the meaning and purpose of Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and the challenges for these communities in Oakland.

We also want to share the voices of our staff members who share the importance of AAPI Heritage Month.
 

Lailan Sandra Huen (shown 4th from left)
Antiracist Learning Coordinator

Growing up in OUSD for 12 years, I had only one teacher who taught Asian American history – Mrs. Lee at Joaquin Miller, who had us study the Japanese Internment that impacted her family by reading and enacting 'Journey to Topaz'. Not learning the history of my own Chinese American community, which has been in Oakland for over 150 years, deprived me of a sense of belonging, identity, and purpose for many decades until I learned the history in college and through my own research in my family and Chinatown.

Today, I’m glad to see that schools all over Oakland teach about Fred Korematsu, Yuri Kochiyama, Larry Itliong, Malala Yousafzai, Haunani-Kay Trask, and Mary Tape during AAPI and Filipino Heritage Months and beyond. Our community is often invisible or forgotten in the conversation, so AAPI Heritage Month is an important time to shine a light on our over 45 communities here in Oakland. I've been honored to found our AAPISA programs which lift up Arab and Pacific Islander communities as well, promoting stories from these communities with our Ta'alam and Fananga literacy programs. Year-round, we've supported field trips to Angel Island and Marysville for elementary students to experience our history up close.
 

Claudia Hung-Haas
3rd Grade Teacher at Lincoln Elementary School
2024 Teacher of the Year

I was born in Hong Kong and immigrated to the Bay Area when I was 4 years old. As a child, I was identified by others as Chinese, which was conflicting because I did not want to be stereotyped exclusively by my race since I also felt very American. As the terms Asian American and Chinese American became recognized over time, I quickly embraced these because they truly spoke to my identity of being both American and Chinese.

For me, Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month is a time for our country to celebrate the successes and contributions of AAPIs as well as to teach and learn about the struggles and discrimination that AAPIs have faced. As an OUSD educator supported by the Alameda County Office of Education’s History Project and OUSD’s Office of Equity, I have invited guest speakers from diverse backgrounds to share their experiences including former Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, Dr. Weylin Eng, whose father was the first Asian American Oakland City Councilmember, and pioneering journalist William Gee Wong. Additionally, I have organized educational trips for our students to places like the Angel Island Immigration Station, and the Bok Kai parade in Marysville, funded by various organizations and private donors to help our students learn about significant aspects of Chinese American history and heritage.

While I appreciate that the month of May is chosen to recognize our heritage, I am also keenly aware that we should be doing this work year-round since it would be a daunting task to highlight so many different ethnicities and cultures in just one month. I am proud to be an AAPI educator in OUSD to represent and reflect our students' rich diversity and I strive to do my best to recognize our shared but different backgrounds as well.

Reading List

We have also curated a reading list featuring a variety of books suitable for different ages and reading levels that showcase the diverse experiences and perspectives of the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. All students are invited to explore these stories, available for free in our digital District Library on Sora.
 

Words to Make a Friend (Kinder - 2nd Grade)
Watercress (3rd - 5th Grade)
The Amulet Series (4th - 8th Grade)
Parachute Kids (4th - 8th Grade)
We Are Not Free (High School)

Lastly, this is a proclamation on AANHPI Heritage Month from President Joe Biden. He says in part, "From Native Hawaiians (NH) and Pacific Islanders (PI) whose ancestors have called their lands home for hundreds of years to Asian immigrants who have newly arrived and those whose families have been here for generations - AA and NHPI heritage has long been a part of the history of our great country and a defining force in the soul of our Nation."

Oakland Unified is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment where all students and staff from every background feel valued and respected. OUSD stands with the President in recognizing the profound contributions of the AAPI communities and will continue to draw strength from the rich histories and vibrant cultures of the AAPI communities that are an integral part of Oakland's identity.

We look forward to everyone at schools across the District taking part in the festivities and educational opportunities and we wish you all a happy Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month.