Celebrating Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month

Posted April 1, 2024 in JMU Libraries News

JMU locally celebrates Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month in April. Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is observed nationally in May. Join us in celebrating and learning more about the contributions of Asian American & Pacific Islander communities, by exploring these resources:

Movies to Watch

Kanopy is an award-winning video streaming service that provides the JMU community with free access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films. Check out these great film collections in Kanopy for this heritage month:

• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — Influential Films
• Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — Important Documentaries
• Asian Americans on Screen

JMU Libraries Collections and Displays

• Oral Histories: Ang Buhay Sa Nayon – Life in the Valley
  This collection includes interviews, transcripts of the interviews, and photographs of seventeen individuals, most of whom are members of the Filipino American Community of the Shenandoah Valley, who arrived in the United States between 1963-2010.
  
• Book Display: Learn About Afghanistan
  We shared this book display in September 2021 to help highlight the history, heritage, culture, beauty, and complexities of Afghanistan, Afghan people, and members of the Afghan diaspora in the wake of the conflict following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in the region.
  
• Book Display: Contextualizing Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
  We prepared this virtual book display in response to the tragic murders in Atlanta in March 2021 and the subsequent increase in hateful acts against Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asian people in the United States. This online book display includes ebooks, print materials, and more from JMU Libraries.

What’s Happening at JMU?

The JMU Center for Multicultural Student Services (CMSS) invites all members of the JMU community to join these events: 

APIDA Faculty Caucus Panel & Lunch
Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 12-1:30 p.m.
CMSS, Student Success Center room 1312

DEEP Impact Dialogue: Celebrating APIDA Heritage Month 
Wednesday, April 17, 2024, 7-9 p.m.
Student Success Center room 1075 

The Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Caucus supports and advocates for the well-being of diverse APIDA communities at JMU and its surrounding communities.