Ballad Health recognizes Asian Pacific American Heritage Month

Diversity & Inclusion

They came to America from countries such as China, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, Vietnam, Pakistan and islands scattered throughout the Pacific Ocean.

They came as refugees, children of refugees, political exiles or through adoption as babies or young children. They joined their American husbands in the U.S. as war brides and came as war orphans. They were recruited for agriculture and construction work. They fled to our shores to escape economic and other hardships in their own countries and to seek refuge from genocide and foreign occupation of their homeland. They sought education and came as students.

While most first-generation Asian immigrants sought safety and opportunity for their families, history proves Asian Americans also brought strong work ethics, intellect, creativity and other contributions that continue to shape major portions of our country’s history, often without recognition.

The first immigrants helped develop the West as they served as contract laborers in agriculture, the Northwest timber industry and road and railroad construction.

The last spike was hammered to complete the Transcontinental Railroad in May 1869, thanks to the efforts of many Chinese workers who helped build it. The first Asian immigrants arrived from Japan in May 1843. These two milestones compelled Congress to designate May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as a time to celebrate the contributions of all Asian Americans.

Today, the Asian population is the fastest growing race group in the U.S.; it’s almost doubled since 2000. But the diversity Asians and Pacific Islanders bring to our country is immense. The languages, cultures, traditions, cuisines couldn’t be more different among Asian American groups. Yet, the most common misconception among non-Asian Americans is that all Asians are the same.

The second most common stereotype is that all Asian Americans are foreigners, which sometimes has led to racial discrimination and worse. Despite coming from generations of American-born ancestors, many Asian Americans still are asked, “So, where are you from?”

How much do you know about Asian American heritage in the U.S. and about the culture and racial struggles they continue to experience? Here are some ways to find out more:

 

Ask questions

Dine at an Asian restaurant and tell us about what you learned.

While you’re there, talk to the owners or your server and ask about their story. Send a few words about your experience and at least one fact you learned about the culture you didn’t know to us at balladhealthnews@balladhealth.org. We would like to share a list of our team members’ favorite local Asian restaurants and a bit about them.

Talk to an Asian American friend.

Ask about their experiences growing up, their family culture and what it’s like to be Asian American living in the U.S.

 

Listen to music and stories

Akiko Fujimoto, Music Director of the Mid-Texas Symphony, conducts powerful performances such as this excerpt from Brahms Symphony No. 1. https://akikofujimoto.com/media/

BTS, the K-pop (Korean pop music) boy band rising in popularity in the U.S. and the world is known for their socially conscious music and stands on bullying and mental health. Learn more about BTS here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyxOLHlFaoc  Listen to one of their songs:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVvAfMeoIWc

Storyteller Alton Takiyama-Chung tells the true story of Japanese American soldiers who rescued a Jewish boy in Germany during World War II. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny7_ACkA5Bc

Yo-Yo Ma, celebrated cellist, performs “Over the Rainbow” from “Songs of Comfort and Hope” with pianist Kathryn Stott.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03GpPfOsFkQ

Nancy Wang and Robert Kikuchi-Yngojo team up as Eth-Noh-Tec, to perform music, dance and stories of Asian folktales, urban legends and more. Watch their performance of “Monkey Moon.”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWQOvvAHgNY

*Alton Chung and Eth-Noh-Tec often perform locally at the National Storytelling Festival and the International Storytelling Center in Jonesborough. Watch for news of future performances.

 

Attend an online event/view a video

Culinasia: The Future of Asian Food in America

Verona Quartet: Stravinsky, Beethoven, and Reena Esmail’s “Ragamala”

Yamanaka & Company: An Asian American Story

‘Love Is a Beautiful Ingredient’ To Overcome Racism: A Conversation with Chef Ranjan Dey

Asians Rock – What’s Your Story?

  • Video highlighting the diversity of the Asian population in society today. Actors Sandra Oh and George Takei along with other notable Asian Americans around the country illustrate how they identify as Asian American and what it means to them to claim that identity.
  • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWey0hhi3Dw

 

Watch a movie

George Takei’s Allegiance

  • The historical Broadway musical, turned into a film version, is written by George Takei (better known as Star Trek’s Dr. Sulu) and based on his family’s experience in a Japanese American internment camp during World War II. (Streaming only on BroadwayHD.com)

Asian Americans

  • This five-episode PBS documentary series shares intimate personal stories that explain the history, identity, contributions and challenges experienced by Asian Americans.
  • https://www.pbs.org/show/asian-americans/

Be Water

  • A 2020 documentary about the life and legacy of Bruce Lee, Chinese American martial artist, martial arts instructor, actor, director.

Crazy Rich Asians

  • In this romantic comedy, an Asian American New York native experiences culture shock when she accompanies her boyfriend to his home country of Singapore for his best friend’s wedding. (Based on the book by Kevin Kwan.)

Kapaemahu

Minari

  • Follow the story of a Korean family who moves to Arkansas in the 1980s to start a farm, based on the life of writer Lee Isaac Chung. Yuh-Jung Youn was the first Korean actor to win an Oscar for her role. She was awarded Best Supporting Actress at the 2021 Academy Awards.

The Namesake

  • When an Indian family moves from Calcutta to New York they delicately balance a life that honors their native traditions while blending into American culture.

 

Read a book

Read one of these books recommended on websites Asian-Nation (asian-nation.org/index.shtml) and Asia Society (asiasociety.org).

Nonfiction

Fiction

  • A River of Stars by Vanessa Hua, about first-generation immigration
  • Sour Heart: Stories by Jenny Zhang, about first-generation immigration
  • Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng, about intergenerational dynamics
  • The Wangs vs. The World by Jade Chang, about intergenerational dynamics
  • Number One Chinese Restaurant by Lillian Li, about intergenerational dynamics
  • What We Were Promised by Lucy Tan, about wealth
  • The Unpassing by Chia-Chia Lin, about poverty
  • Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear by Lensey Namioka, a children’s book

 

Learn more

For more information about Asian American culture, contributions and history in America, visit the following sites for performances, lectures, history, stories and more.

 

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