As we turn the calendar page to June, I look back and take note of May’s holidays: Mother’s Day and Memorial Day. But May also holds a special significance for me. It is Asian Pacific Islander (API) Heritage month, a time for schools, communities, and federal and state agencies to recognize the accomplishments of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. Our contributions to society have led to advances in science, politics, business and entertainment.
When I recently spoke at Naval Station Everett and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California as part of their API Heritage Month festivities, I was struck by the thoughtful and willing participation of these agencies to learn more about API culture. This would not have happened 50 years ago. Thankfully, the world has changed.
In the mid-19th century, economic hardships brought the first significant wave of Chinese migrants to our state from California at the conclusion of the Gold Rush. Many immigrants worked in agriculture, fishing, mining and the timber industries. These sojourners endured blatant acts of discrimination and exclusion. In 1853, the Washington territorial Legislature barred the Chinese from voting. In the late 1920s, racism and a deteriorating job market led farmers of the Yakima Valley to drive out the local Filipino population. In 1937, the Washington Legislature tried to pass a law banning mixed race marriages. But perhaps the ultimate expression of fear came with the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War II. These early discriminations were intended to limit the API population of our state.
Fortunately, we have come a long way since the early days of segregation. The civil rights movement launched an aggressive campaign against hate and racism. People united in solidarity, overturned laws and changed their attitudes toward cultural diversity. Slowly, America began to embrace multiculturalism. It was the Rev. Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” speech that brought to the surface the dream of a society in which people are judged by the content of their character rather than the color of their skin.
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring the first weeklong celebration of API Heritage week. In 1990, it was extended to a month-long event. The month of May was chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States.
Here at home, APIs began to gain a political foothold. In 1962, Wing Luke was the first Asian-American elected official in the Pacific Northwest; in 1972, Gov. Dan Evans established the Asian Advisory Council, which was later renamed the Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs; and Gary Locke, our 21st governor, became the first Asian-American in U.S. history to be elected to a state’s highest office.
There is an old Chinese proverb, “If you are planning for a year, sow rice; if you are planning for a decade, plant trees; if you are planning for a lifetime, educate people.” To promote cultural awareness and understanding, I successfully sponsored and passed legislation to declare May of each year as Asian-Pacific Islander Heritage month in our state (SB 6622). The purpose of this bill was to enhance understanding and education about API cultures, allowing all people to have a better appreciation for each other. In 2002, Gov. Locke signed a bill I sponsored (SB 5954) that eliminates the word “Oriental” from state laws and revises other obsolete racial terminology. These small yet important steps create better understanding among all Americans.
For more than 150 years, Asians and Pacific Islanders have played a central role in Northwest history. Washington has embraced Asian culture and its communities. Diversity within a community creates a place in which all members feel valued and appreciated.
I am so proud to be an American. The preamble of the U.S. Constitution begins with three powerful words: “We the people.” This includes all Americans, regardless of color, ethnicity or nationality.
Author Henry David Thoreau wrote, “Things do not change; we change.” Washington, like America, learned the hard lessons of inequality. For this reason, I believe it’s important to recognize and celebrate the other faces of Americans who have contributed to our society. Many call our nation a melting pot; I choose to look at it as a tapestry. We are all of different color threads: black, white and many others. Each thread has individual strength, but woven together, we are a strong and beautiful piece of art.
Sen. Paull Shin, D-Edmonds, represents the 21st Legislative District. In 1992, he became the first Korean-American elected to a state Legislature.
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