Karen Chee's Guide for Celebrating Heritage Month

'Late Night with Seth Meyers' writer offers some helpful DOs and DON'Ts for white people.



As you may know, May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. To celebrate the occasion properly, Late Night with Seth Meyers recently invited writer Karen Chee to share a short list of helpful Dos and Don'ts for white people who would like to join in on the Heritage Month fun.

For instance, the first one on her list is a microagression classic: "Don't ask me where I'm really from!" Unfortunately, people still need to hear this one. "Because when I say I'm from a suburb of San Francisco, I can tell you're disappointed," Chee says. "Asian American people are descendants of many different countries, which is just a polite way of saying number two. Don't say 'Ni Hao' to me."

Ah, the ni hao. Check out the full segment:

Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2015

Watch a video message from the White House and read President Obama's proclamation.



It's May. Happy Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! Of course, around here, that's pretty much every month. But I appreciate the dedicated thirty-one day gesture, America. Let's celebrate.

In June 1977, Reps. Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y. Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian-Pacific Heritage Week. Twelve years later, the week was extended into a month-long celebration. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. And here we are.

Here's a video message from Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific Center:

Spoken word by Jason Chu: "A Thousand Names"

Here's another spoken word piece by rapper/poet Jason Chu, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and in memory of the struggle and legacy those who came before -- "their names, their stories, their journeys." Our history: A Thousand Names.

President's Proclamation of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2013

It's May! And that means it's Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month -- so says the President of the United States of America. Of course, as I always say, every month is AAPI Heritage Month around here. Get your heritage on.

Originally established as "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week" in 1978, then expanded and later designated "Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month" in 1992, this month is a celebration of the culture, traditions and history of the Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the United States.

Here's the official proclamation by President Obama:

Hangout for Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, May 1, 12:00pm ET

In case you didn't know, May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. To kick things off, I've joined forces with the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center for a very special Google Hangout happening Wednesday, May 1 at 3:00pm EST.

Come join in on a Hangout with Lisa Ling, journalist, writer and host of Our America with Lisa Ling; Kiran Ahuja, Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders; Konrad Ng, Director of the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center; moderator Gautam Raghavan, Associate Director of Public Engagement at the White House. And me! Here are some details about the Hangout:

HBO's East of Main Street: Milestones celebrates life, death and everything in between

For folks who have enjoyed East of Main Street, HBO's documentary series celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, here's the trailer for this year's series, "Milestones," directed by Jonathan Yi. Rather than profiling personalities, celebrities or cute kids, as in previous years, the fourth season gets a glimpse of moments from our community -- life, death, and everything in between. Take a look:

I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story, Opening May 1

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.