Learning Asian American Histories

When the phrase Asian American was created — in 1968, according to activists and academics — it was a radical label of self-determination that indicated a political agenda of equality, anti-racism and anti-imperialism. Asian American was an identity that was chosen, not one that was given.

A look at the long history of Asian Americans and its role in shaping US identity. The essay also looks at the push-pull factors that have helped define demographic trends in the United States to present day and also covers some darker periods of American history, including the Congressional Exclusionary Act restricting immigration based on race and the Japanese American Internment during WWII. From the Asia Society’s Center for Global Education.

Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate personal stories, the series casts a new lens on U.S. history and the ongoing role that Asian Americans have played.

This resource raises the stories of more than 20 Asian Americans and notable events that highlight Asian American participation in civil rights movements and BIPOC solidarity. Consider these stories as starting points for you and your students to do further research.

How white supremacy tries to divide Black and Asian Americans — and how communities work to find common ground. As you read this text, respond to the following questions: 

• What do I notice? How do my identities (i.e. race, social class, gender, language, sexual orientation, nationality, religion, or ability) impact what I notice and the assumptions I have? How am I positioned (relative to privilege and oppression)? 
• What are the issues and causes surfaced in this text - systemic, historical, superficial, etc.? 
• What do I want to learn more about?

Many histories of Asian Americans begin in the 19th century. However, there are centuries of history of Asians in the Americas that came before. This timeline covers nearly 600 years of history and places Asian American history in the context of race and capitalism in the United States. It starts with the early Atlantic slave trade in the 15th Century, tracing the rise of modern nation-states, and covering events that have affected people across racial boundaries, and is a great tool to augment other Asian American history resources. To start out with this extensive timeline:

• Read the Introduction and How to Use this Timeline
• Check out some of the events covered in the 1441-1860 section and consider how they expand your understanding of Asian American history. Here are just a few to start:
  • 1587: Under the command of Spanish captain Pedro de Unamuno, “Luzonians,” the first Filipinos in the Americas, arrive in North America at Morro Bay, California (today San Luis Obispo), on the galleon ship Nuestra Señora de Esperanza.
  • 1778: Chinese crew aboard British ships reach the Kingdom of Hawai’i, which became known to the people of China as Tan Heung Shan, or “the sandalwood mountains,” due to the sandalwood trade between Hawai’i and China.
  • 1784: The first U.S. trading ship arrives in Calcutta.
  • 1790: The Naturalization Act reserves the right of naturalized citizenship to “free white persons.” The Act is widely used to exclude certain groups of Asian immigrants until the early 1950s.
• Then, dive into the rest of the timeline to further build your knowledge.