Heads up. May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. If you're in Washington DC, the Smithsonian American Pacific American Center invites you to its upcoming exhibition, I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story, opening May 1 at the National Museum of American History.
Before the brave, before the proud builders and workers,
I say I want the wide American earth
For all the free.
I want the wide American earth for my people.
I want my beautiful land.
I want it with my rippling strength and tenderness
Of love and light and truth
For all the free."
- Carlos Bulosan
Taking Carlos Bulosan's poem as inspiration, this 30-banner exhibition explores and celebrates the history, culture, and literary works of Asian Americans in the United States, from the very first Asian immigrants centuries ago to the complex challenges facing Asian Pacific American communities today. The exhibition will then travel to museums and cultural institutions across the country.
The Smithsonian kicks off Asian Pacific American Heritage Month on May 4-5 with a family festival, with presentations by writers and artists, family activities such as arts and crafts, gallery tours, conversation with curators, and a scavenger hunt. Here are some more details:
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Family FestivalFor further information, visit the Smithsonian's Heritage Month website.
Saturday May 4
I Want the Wide American Earth
11:30am — 4pm
National Museum of American History
Sunday, May 5
Paikbot Family Day
11:30am — 5pm
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Kogod Courtyard
The whole family is invited to celebrate the Smithsonian kick-off event for the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a family festival and the opening of a 30-banner exhibition I Want the Wide American Earth: The Asian American Story. The banner exhibition explores and celebrates the history, culture, and literary works of Asian Americans in the United States.
Please join us by watching and listening to presentations by local writers, a spoken word artist, and participate in family activities such as arts and crafts, gallery tours, conversation with curators, and a scavenger hunt.
Local writers featured include Wendy Wan-Long Shang (The Great Wall of Lucy), Eugenia Kim (The Calligrapher's Daughter), and Scott Seligman (The First Chinese American: The Remarkable Life of Wong Chin Foo). Reggie Cabico, considered as one of the innovators of spoken word and theater, blending storytelling and slam poetry in live performances, will also take the stage.
