Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Month
By Whitney Aragaki
The Federal Asian Pacific American Council announced the theme of this year’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is “Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity.” The year 2023 is definitely showcasing what it means to seize opportunity. This is a key moment in our liberation journey to continue seeking opportunities while holding the door open for others.
Growing up as an Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) millennial, I can distinctly recall the mere handful of media representations that mirrored a fraction of my ethnic identity. The only avatar to select in the early days of social media was the iconic Disney princess Mulan, and most of the literary references of the AAPI experience centered around Amy Tan's classic novel, The Joy Luck Club. Fast forward to this year, I am admittedly impressed with AAPI representation in the media. From the amassing success of the 2022 film Everything Everywhere All At Once, to the upcoming Adele Lim-directed comedy film Joy Ride, stories of the typical AAPI experience are now available for wide audiences.
I approach this excitement cautiously. While I try not to indulge a deficit mindset ingrained from years of yearning for familiar characters, I hope for the success of AAPI stories to encourage more diverse stories to be told that embrace the American experience. The recent castings of a live-action Disney movie Lilo and Stitch also ensure that Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander stories are also held to similar accord.
This movement must permeate beyond media and entertainment. We as AAPI individuals and allies must also embrace, seek and fight for leadership opportunities in science, technology, economies, and politics. It is our time to shatter the bamboo ceiling and demonstrate the benefits of AAPI leadership. It is our intersectional experiences that challenge the status quo and raise the bar for equity, and we shall continue to be in solidarity with all folx toward our innovative and inclusive futures.
