Welcome to the Asian and Pacific Islander American Heritage Month library guide for May 2024!
Asian and Pacific Islander Americans have been fundamental, albeit often unrecognized in the history books, participants in and builders of the American experience. In order to bring more recognition the achievements of individuals with this identity, the U.S. Congress established Asian/Pacific American Month in May 1992. Today, there are around 25 million people who identify as Asian in the United States, with the greatest populations identifying as Chinese (except Taiwanese), Asian Indian, Filipino, Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese. Almost 2 million people identify as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander American, with the largest groups being Hawaiian, Samoan, and Chamorro.
Asian Americans are Americans who descend from people originating from any of the 48 countries in Asia.
Map of Asia
Credit: World Atlas
Countries in Asia:
Pacific Islander Americans are those who originate from any island in the Pacific Ocean and identify as American, whether through naturalization or as citizens of the state of Hawai'i or the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Map of Pacific Island Nations
Credit: Pacific Research & Discourse
Countries and Territories in the Pacific Islands