The month of May is officially recognized in the United States as APIDA Heritage Month. “APIDA,” which stands for Asian Pacific Islander Desi American, comprehensively represents the wide range of backgrounds held by Asian Americans. APIDA Heritage Month, as an observance, is dedicated to appreciating the entire diverse spectrum of Asian culture.

However, APIDA Heritage Month goes beyond observing only the positives of the Asian American experience. A key part of it is acknowledging the struggles and hardships that are ever-present in American society. 

Of all marginalized groups, Asian Americans saw the highest percent increase in hate crimes in the United States between 2020 and 2021, according to data collected by the FBI. Events such as the recent Monterey Park shooting, carried out on Lunar New Year, have become increasingly frequent, as targeted attacks against Asian Americans become more common.

The COVID-19 pandemic added a large amount of fuel to the anti-Asian rhetoric already present in America. Influential figures, like former President Donald Trump, were responsible for spreading anti-Asian hate. By referring to the COVID-19 virus as the “Wuhan virus” and promoting anti-Chinese conspiracy theories, government officials created a maelstrom of rumors and hate that affected not only Chinese Americans but all Asian American citizens. 

Organizations, like Stop AAPI Hate, seek to undo this harm. Created directly in response to the pandemic-related rise in anti-Asian violence, Stop AAPI Hate has been working to provide factual research and analysis about anti-Asian hate as well as striving to change the narrative of this issue.

At the University of Denver, student-led organizations have been doing their own work to increase the visibility of the APIDA community on campus. The Asian Student Alliance (ASA), as well as the South Asian Student Alliance (SASA) regularly host events with the goal of sharing and educating the DU campus on the full range of Asian cultures. 

ASA’s “Taste of Asia” event on May 5 reflected these values. Held on Campus Green in front of Sturm Hall, the food-based event featured dishes from East Asian, South Asian and Pacific Islander cultures. With an enormous turnout of students of all cultures, ASA was able to reach a large audience and promote knowledge and appreciation of Asian culture on DU’s campus.

Likewise, SASA frequently hosts events like Bollywood Movie Nights to share South Asian culture with the DU community. These events tend to attract large audiences from all over DU and effectively facilitate cultural exchange among students.

ASA and SASA will continue to host events throughout the rest of APIDA Heritage Month, including ASA’s “eXpressions” event fast approaching on May 19. This event will be a talent showcase for DU’s APIDA community and promises to be the biggest event ASA has hosted thus far.

With organizations like ASA, there are ample opportunities to experience and appreciate Asian American culture at DU. Attending events like these is a great way to educate oneself about Asian culture, therefore disrupting the cycles of misinformation and hate present in America today. One of the best ways to combat racism, xenophobia and bigotry in our world is to seek to understand those who are different from ourselves. 

To learn more about APIDA Heritage Month Events at DU, see ASA’s and SASA’s Instagram pages.