Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, (South Asian) Desi Heritage month RESOURCES

We celebrate the broad, layered, colorful diversity within the Asian community this Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, (South Asian) Desi Heritage Month. We acknowledge that #AAPI can exclude other Asian ethnic groups and has the tendency to center East Asians. We grieve that colorism (the prejudice against people with darker skin in the same ethnic/racial group) exists within our Asian community and neglects and mistreats our relatives with darker skin and elevates those with lighter skin. We will continue to stand in solidarity with our Asian sisters and brothers who experience discrimination. And, we honor our ancestors’ fierce resilience and courage to come immigrate in hopes of a better life and preserve through racial exclusion laws, annexation, internment camps, colonization, and resettlements after wars while preserving our culture, language, and dignity even when others told us to assimilate. We thank and celebrate you.

Here’s a few non-exhaustive recommendations for celebrating, learning, and supporting our Asian relatives. Enjoy!

  • SUPPORT:

    Continue to support small, Asian-owned businesses especially those who have experienced vandalism through Anti-Asian Hate Crimes.

    ADVOCATE:

    • American Born Chinese (Disney+)

    • Chang Can Dunk (Disney+)

    • Finding O’hana (Family Friendly)

    • Pachinko (Apple TV)

    • Everything, Everywhere All at Once (in Theaters)

    • The Namesake (South Asian)

    • Blue Bayou (Asians living in the South, Immigration)

    • Gook (LA Riots: Black/Asian relations)

    • Google, stay curious, and keep learning!

  • History

    • RISE: A Pop History of Asian Americans from the 90s until Now (Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang)

    • The Making of Asian America: A History (Dr. Erika Lee)

    • The Chinese Must Go: Violence, Exclusion, and the Making of the Alien in America (Beth Lew Williams)

    • Strangers from a Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans (Ronald Takaki)

    • The Color of Success: Asian Americans and the Origins of the Model Minority (Ellen D. Wu)

    Racial Identity, Repair, and Justice

    • Yellow: Race in America Beyond Black and White (Frank Wu)

    • Racial Conflict and Healing: An Asian-American Theological Perspective (Dr. Andrew Sung Park)

    • Becoming All Things: How Small Changes Lead to Lasting Connections Across Cultures (Michelle Ami Reyes)

    Mental Health

    • Permission to Come Home: Reclaiming Mental Health as Asian Americans (Dr. Jenny Wang)

    • What My Bones Know: A Memoir of Healing from Complex Trauma (Stephanie Foo)

    Asian Women Theology and/or Identity

    • Struggle to Be the Sun Again: Introducing Asian Women’s Theology (Dr. Chung Hyun Kyung)

    • Invisible: Theology and the Experience of Asian American Women (Dr. Grace Ji-Sun Kim)

    • Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation (Dr. Cindy S Lee)

    • Heart of the Cross (Dr. Wonhee Anne Joh)

    • Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning (Cathy Park Hong)

    • More Than Serving Tea: Asian American Women on Expectations, Relationships, Leadership and Faith (Nikki Toyama-Szeto, Tracey Gee, Jeanette Yep, Kathy Khang, Christie Heller de Leon, Asifa A. Dean (eds))

    Marriage, Faith, Mutuality, and Intersectionality of Race and Gender

    • Choosing Us: Marriage and Mutual Flourishing in a World of Difference (Gail Song Bantum and Brian Bantum)

    Activism

    • The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-First Century (Grace Lee Boggs)

    • Living for Change (Grace Lee Boggs)

    • Raise Your Voice: Why We Stay Silent and How to Speak Up (Kathy Khang)

    • Honoring the Generations: Learning with Asian North American Congregations (M. Sydney Park, Soong-Chan Rah, Al Tizon (eds))

    Children’s Books

    • Children’s Picture Books on Story, History, or Identity

      • Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us

      • I am an American: The Wong Kim Art Story (History of Asian Americans)

      • American Desi (South Asian)

      • Eyes that Kiss the Corners (Chinese)

      • O’hana Means Family (Native Hawaiian)

      • Hiromi’s Hands (Japanese)

      • A Different Pond (Vietnamese)

      • The Angel of Santo Tomas (Filipino)

      • Name Jar (Korean)

    Click Here for more books.

    • Children’s Chapter Books

      • American Born Chinese

      • Front Desk

      • Mindy Kim series

    • Asian-Americans Who Inspire Us

    • @asianfeed : A media publication amplifying Asian stories

    • @veryasian.co: Shining a light on Asian experiences through advocacy and celebration

    • @nextshark : The leading source for Asian American News

    • @nbcasianamerica : News, features, videos and more that aim to elevate Asian American and Pacific Islander voices across the U.S.

    • @Goldhouseco : Leading API changemaker community, fighting together for socioeconomic equity