Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is observed each May to recognizes the contributions and influence of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans to American history, culture, and achievements. The first Japanese immigrant arrived in the United States in May 1843 and the Transcontinental Railroad, constructed through the work of Chinese laborers, was completed in May 1869.
During Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, communities celebrate the achievements and contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans with community festivals, government-sponsored activities and educational activities for students.
WPBS is pleased to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month with a strong lineup of special programming:
Tuesday, May 3rd at 8 pm
Finding Your Roots: Reporting on Reporters – Host Henry Louis Gates, Jr. shows journalists Christian Amanpour, Ann Curry and Lisa Ling that the stories within their own family trees are every bit as compelling as the news stories they have been covering for the world.
Tuesday, May 10th at 9 pm
American Masters: Waterman-Duke: Ambassador of Aloha – Narrated by Jason Momoa, discover the inspiring story and considerable impact of five-time Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku.
Sunday, May 15th at 2 pm
Betrayed: Survivors of an American Concentration Camp – This is the story of a group of Japanese Americans and their incarceration by the U.S. government during World War II.
Sunday, May 15th at 3 pm
American Masters: Amy Tan-Unintended Memoir – Explore the life of the groundbreaking author of “The Joy Luck Club” in this intimate portrait.
Tuesday, May 17th at 10 pm
American Masters: Tyrus Wong – Discover the art, life and enduring impact of Tyrus Wong, the renowned Chinese-American painter behind Bambi and Rebel Without a Cause.
Sunday, May 22nd at 3 pm
Unsettled History: America, China and the Doolittle Tokyo Raid – A film that examines a key moment in American/Chinese history from the perspectives of the children of both the “Doolittle Raiders” and the Chinese villagers who aided in their rescue.
Tuesday, May 24th at 9 pm
American Experience: Plague at the Golden Gate – This film takes us back to turn-of-the-20th-century San Francisco, when a deadly outbreak of bubonic plague in the city’s Chinatown and the hunt to identify its source led to an all-too-familiar spate of violent anti-Asian sentiment.
