Celebrate AAPI Heritage Month in NJ with Bollywood music, lantern festival and more
When then-President Barack Obama signed Proclamation 8369 shortly after taking office in 2009, it established May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
The designation culminated an effort to honor the influence and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans that dated back to the mid 1970s. That's when congressional staffer Jeanie Jew, an Asian American, approached Rep. Frank Horton of New York with the idea of designating a month for Asian Pacific Americans.
Eventually, resolutions were introduced in the House and Senate and President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution in October 1978 to mark the first 10 days of May as "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week."
May is a pivotal month in the community's history. In May 1843, the first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States. In May 1869, the golden spike was driven into the first transcontinental railroad, a project accomplished with Asian laborers.
In New Jersey, 10% of the population is Asian American. Throughout this month, there will be events (most free, some with a cost) celebrating the Asian American and Pacific Islander community and culture in the Garden State.
One of the local organizations that will be celebrating the month is AAPI Montclair. The group, formed in 2021 by several Montclair residents to deal with anti-Asian hate, will host several events. Amber Reed, the president and co-founder of AAPI Montclair, said this month serves as a reminder of what Asian Americans bring to the world around them.
Heritage Month is an opportunity "to engage everyone in celebrating AAPI contributions to the culture and AAPI creativity," Reed said. "It shouldn't just be a month that's celebrated by Asian Americans. It's something for everyone, the same way that Black History Month should be celebrated by everyone."
Archana Athalye is the founder of the North Jersey-based South Asian performing arts school Kulture Kool, which will be part of two events for AAPI Heritage Month. She said the month is important to young people, who get to participate in events and learn about their culture.
"This has been a great experience for especially young students to try to find their identity and identify with their contribution or their community's contribution to their larger society," Athalye said.
Diversity festival: Secaucus festival celebrates North Jersey diversity with food, art, music
More: Silent no more, these NJ moms turned an anti-Asian slur into a movement | Mary Chao
Here is a listing of upcoming events for AAPI Heritage Month:
May 1
Test your knowledge of Asian American and Pacific Islander history and culture by joining a trivia contest on Zoom from 7 to 8 p.m. It's organized by the Englewood Public Library.
May 3
A Zoom lecture and workshop arranged by the Hoboken Public Library features photographer Andria Lo and writer Valerie Luu, who created the book "Chinatown Pretty."
Stay healthy while celebrating with the "Bollywood Workout," which will take place at the Talium Tae Kwon Do studio in Cedar Grove starting at 8:15 p.m. Registration costs $20. Presented by AAPI Montclair, Kulture Kool and BollyX.
May 4
The Jewish Federation of New Jersey in partnership with the Anti-Defamation League and Kaplen JCC on the Palisades presents "A Community Celebration," from 6:30 to 8 p.m., at the Kaplen JCC on the Palisades in Tenafly. There will be a panel discussion with representatives from the Asian and Jewish communities in North Jersey, followed by individual discussions.
May 6
Soma Cross-Cultural Works in collaboration with the Maplewood Division of Arts & Culture hosts a celebration of Holi, the traditional Indian festival of colors, at Memorial Park Amphitheatre in Maplewood from 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $6 to $15.
May 13
U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez will host his second annual Asian American and Pacific Islander Celebration at Fort Lee High School from noon to 3 p.m.
The "Hooray for Bollywood Family Concert," at NJPAC in Newark at 2 p.m., will feature the New Jersey Symphony playing music influenced by India's Hindi-language film industry, known as Bollywood. Athalye, of Kulture Kool, will host the program, which includes several dancers from the school. Tickets range from $10 to $20.
May 17
Author Ava Chin will join a conversation with novelist and playwright Marina Budhos about Chin's new memoir, "Mott Street: A Chinese American Family's Story of Exclusion and Homecoming." The event is at Watchung Booksellers in Montclair from 7 to 8 p.m. and is co-sponsored by AAPI Montclair.
May 20
The nonprofit organization Surati will hold the Hudson River Color Walk at Pier A Park in Hoboken from 9 a.m. to noon. That will be followed in Jersey City by the Surati Holi Hai Color Festival at Montgomery Street from noon to 8 p.m. Registration and tickets with various prices are required for both events.
The Newark Museum of Art will hold its Community Day: Global Asia program from noon to 5 p.m. It will feature traditional and contemporary music, dance and artmaking activities from various countries such as Korea, Japan, India and the Philippines.
May 21
AAPI Montclair will hold its third annual Lantern Festival for Justice and Remembrance in Edgemont Park in Montclair from 6 to 9 p.m.
Ricardo Kaulessar is a culture reporter for the USA TODAY Network's Atlantic Region How We Live team. For unlimited access to the most important news, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.
Email: kaulessar@northjersey.com
Twitter: @ricardokaul
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: AAPI Heritage Month events in North Jersey: Where to celebrate
