May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage month. Recognize and value the experience of Asian-Pacific Americans by incorporating these Teaching Tolerance materials into your lessons.
Culture in the Classroom is a professional development resource that challenges us to consider how the “model minority” stereotypes, even though they are positive, can work against individual students.
Vietnamese Americans: Lessons in American History offers an entire curriculum that examines the complex experience and identity of this unique culture group.
The Teaching Tolerance article, “In Our Own Words,” gives voice to Asian-American students who talk about the challenge of living in two cultures.
Also, the Library of Congress, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Park Service and Smithsonian offer valuable websites on Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month. They include links to exhibits and historical images as well as lessons and guides for teachers.
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As an Asian-American myself,
As an Asian-American myself, I would be more than happy to contribute my experience, story, or opinion on this matter.
Why should the history of
Why should the history of this particular minority be relegated to a month? Is there going to be a Caucasian history month or is every month that doesn't honor a minority white history month? As Morgan Freeman said about Black History month: "You're going to relegate my history to a month? I don't want a black history month... Black history is American history."
You have it wrong. The intent
You have it wrong. The intent behind an Asian American history month or Black history month is not to relegate a group's history to one month but to focus on that group's history during a month in which major historical happenings of that group occurred. There is no Caucasian history month because people of color's history are underrepresentd in history books and other institutions of American life. People of color need their specific histories memorialized throughout the year yes but with a focus on a particular month because America still needs to become more sensitized to our contributions that America doesn't yet recognize.
Your comment is ignorant.
Your comment is ignorant. EVERY month, in the U.S. is "white history" month. We live in a society that systematically (through media, culture, education, etc.) devalues the histories and contributions of non-Europoean groups. Get real...