Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American & Pacific American Heritage Month – a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander individuals and communities in the United States. In this blog, you can find information on ways to support and celebrate the AAPI community.
Standing Against Hate
According to Stop AAPI Hate, an organization whose mission is to advance equity, justice, and power by dismantling systemic racism and building a multiracial movement to end anti-Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) hate, a total of 10,905 hate incidents against AAPI persons were reported from March 19, 2020 to December 31, 2021. Although this does indicate a recent rise in attacks, discrimination against the AAPI community isn’t new or isolated; it has deep roots in systemic racism and white supremacy. The Sno-Isle Food Co-op condemns these attacks and stands in solidarity with our Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander community members.
Ways to Support
One way we can support Asian/Pacific American folks in our community is by regularly patronizing AAPI-owned restaurants, businesses, and by buying from AAPI makers and artists. You can also support AAPI business by buying Asian American and Pacific Islander owned brands. Here are some of the AAPI owned brands we carry at the Co-op.
Our downtown neighbors at Schack Art Center Gallery Store are celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with the 2022 spring collection of “Cranes for Peace” Washi Origami Cranes by WA-based Casion Jewelry. The “Cranes for Peace” fundraising campaign uses art to promote awareness while also supporting the end of harassment and violence against AAPI people. A portion of each purchase is donated to Stop AAPI Hate. For more information on this fundraising campaign and Casion Jewelry, visit their website here.
Ways to Learn More
Book Lists
You can also check out Everett Public Library’s collections of books by Asian and Pacific Islander authors. From graphic novels to sci-fit to high fantasy- there's something for everyone in these lists. You can see them here.
Visit the Seattle Asian Art Museum
The Seattle Asian Art Museum is a museum of Asian art at Volunteer Park in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, United States. Part of the Seattle Art Museum, the SAAM exhibits historic and contemporary artworks from China, Korea, Japan, India, the Himalayas, and other Southeast Asian countries.
What are some ways you honor this month?