During the month of May, Asian Americans (22.2 million) and Pacific Islanders (1.6 million) and their contributions and influence on American history, culture and achievements are applauded. While the title would seem to refer to a mere two categories of peoples, their countries of origin cover perhaps a third of the globe.
The U.S. census Bureau classifies Asians as persons “having origins of any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the India subcontinent,” including (but not limited to) China, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Korea, India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. People from Central Asia may or may not see themselves as Asian due to their nearness to Europe. Persons whose origins in Armenia, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and many additional countries are part of the Arab League organization. Asian origins may suggest family ties in East, South , Southeast, Central, and West Asia.
Pacific Islander origins suggest kinship to the original peoples of Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia.
Thus, it is wise to listen to how the individual speaks of his or her origins and accept them accordingly. Culture is a large influence in self-identity. Using a globe or a map of the world, find the countries below.
The writer found this exercise to be a most enlightening exercise.
East Asian: A person of Chinese, Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Mongolian descent.
South Asian: A person of Indian, Bangladesh, Sri Lankan, Nepal, Pakistani descent.
Southeast Asian: A person of Filipino, Cambodian, Vietnamese, Lao, Indonesian, Thai, or Singaporean descent.
Central Asian: A person of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan descent.
West Asian: A person with descent from the peoples of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Cyprus, Georgia, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Yemen.
Pacific Islander: A person with origins in the original peoples of Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia.
Source: Please see the second link on the Reflection page.
Reflection
History: The American Dream
https://www.pbs.org/articles/2021/05/celebrate-asian-american-pacific-islander-heritage-month-2021/
Origins:
https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/life/a35711434/asian-american-pacific-islander-difference-aapi/
Important Asians and Pacific Islander;
- The Honorable Kamala Harris, The Vice President of the United States of America.
- Eric Yuan, founder of Zoom in 2011 to bring people together in a video environment.
- Chloe Zhao, director, writer, and producer.2011 received Academy Award for Best Director for her film, Nomadland. First woman of color, first Chinese woman and second woman to be given this award.
- Kristiana Kahahauwila, author, This is Paradise (publisher, Hogarth).
- Ajaypal Singh Banga, president and CEO of Mastercard.
- Kathy Jetnil-Kijiner, author, Jaltok: Poems from a Marshallese Daughter (publisher, University of Arizona).
- Joy Cherian, First Asian head of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Dorothy Watson Tatem, D.Min., ACC
Senior Associate
Next Step, LLC
Cassandra W. Jones, Ed.D.
CEO & President
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