Vice President Kamala Harris swore in 23 members of the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders (PACAANHPI) on Feb. 3. As authorized by President Biden’s Executive Order 14031 in May 2021, the PACAANHPI was created within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)…
Tag: AAPI
New Jersey Set To Become Second State in the US to Require Teaching of Asian American History
In July 2021, Illinois set a historic benchmark and became the first state in the United States to require its public schools to teach Asian American history. And now, New Jersey is poised to follow in its footsteps with similar state education requirements. Tat Bellamy-Walker of NBC News reported that…
Sesame Street Introduces First-Ever Asian American Character, Ji-Young
As part of its continuing quest to create a diverse and inclusive environment for children, beloved PBS franchise Sesame Street introduced its first Black family (father and son Wes and Elijah Walker) earlier this year. And now, Sesame Street will soon be even more diverse and inclusive with the introduction…
New FBI Report Estimates Anti-Asian Hate in the United States Increased by 73% in 2020
We’ve known anti-Asian sentiment increased dramatically in the U.S. since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, but new government data quantifies just how shockingly severe that jump has been. Based on recently released FBI data, Sakshi Venkatraman of NBC News reported that “anti-Asian hate crimes increased more than 73% in…
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley Invokes Model Minority Myth, Tells Judicial Nominee Lucy Koh He Supports ‘Her People’ and ‘Their Work Ethic’
Even though he has had a Korean American daughter-in-law for more than four decades, Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley (who, at 88, is the oldest member of the Senate) still doesn’t appear to know how to avoid using racist or otherwise harmful language while at the Capitol. Kimmy Yam of NBC…
Florida County Named After Gen. Robert E. Lee Could Soon Be Renamed in Honor of Bruce Lee
Organizers in Lee County, Florida, are attempting to “rebrand” the place they call home originally named after notorious and racist Confederate General Robert E. Lee to now honor actor, martial artist and cultural icon Bruce Lee. Kynala Phillips of NBC News has reported that “in an effort to ‘eradicate’ racism…
Florence Pan Becomes First-Ever Asian American Woman Confirmed to DC Federal Court
In a positive sign of increasing diversity and representation in America’s court system, Florence Pan has been confirmed as the first-ever Asian American woman to hold a seat in the D.C. federal court system. Nate Raymond of Reuters reported that on Thursday, Sept. 23, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm…
Rep. Grace Meng and Sen. Mazie Hirono Demand Updates on COVID-19 Hate Crimes Law from Department of Justice
The COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act was signed into law four months ago, but little appears to have come from its passage so far. And now, two Asian American lawmakers are demanding updates from the Department of Justice on its progress and implementation. Cynthia Silva of NBC News reported that “Sen….
After 200 Years of White Men, a Woman of Color Is Guaranteed To Be Elected As the Next Mayor of Boston in Upcoming Election
Come November, Boston will be electing its first female mayor of color in the city’s nearly 200-year history. Who that mayor will be, however, remains to be determined by residents of the city in the upcoming election that features two women of color going head to head against each other…
FBI Reports Hate Crimes in the US Have Reached a 12-Year High
In a record no one wanted to see broken, the FBI has reported that the number of hate crimes in the United States has reached its highest point in more than a decade, with the majority of reported attacks targeting Black and Asian Americans. The finding comes from a newly…