Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month began as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week in 1977, and in 1990, Congress extended the observance to a month. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush annually designated May as the first “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month." May was chosen in significance to the first Japanese immigrants who arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843, and for the completion of the first transcontinental railroad built with Chinese immigrants' contributions on May 10, 1869.
This year, the Martin L. King Jr. Recreation center will celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Month on Saturday, April 22, at 1 p.m. Michael Raisinghani, CEO of Raisinghani Group Inc., and a tenured Professor of Management Information Systems in the MBA at Texas Woman's University College of Business is the keynote speaker. The celebration’s theme will be ‘’Advancing Leaders Through Opportunity” and will feature musical selections from Sunny Side Music Denton and will feature various artists.
Asian American and Pacific Islanders have a rich history. This history was filled with resistance, sacrifice, and triumph. Through stories, music, and the arts a piece of history is commemorated. The lives of the people will be remembered and their contributions celebrated.