College Celebrates its Second Asian Pacific American Heritage Month
May is traditionally National Asian Pacific American (APA) Heritage month in the United States, a time to celebrate the Asian and Pacific Islander history and culture in the United States. The celebration originally began in 1978 when a Joint Resolution signed by President Jimmy Carter designated the first 10 days of May to Asian/Pacific Heritage Week. In 1990 President George H. W. Bush expanded the celebration to the entire month.
In the Fall of 2006, the pioneer class of Asian American History at the College of William and Mary began organizing the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage. The APAH Steering Committee opted to celebrate in March and April since final examinations commenced in May. 2009 marks the second year APA Heritage is celebrated at William and Mary.
Asian Studies Initiative dedicates this year’s celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage month to the College of William and Mary’s first ever Asian American student, Arthur Matsu, ’28.
In March 2009, the College received a donation to its initiatives in Asian American and Asia Pacific Studies from the 7 Society in the amount of $777.77 in honor of Arthur Matsu.
Events include:
March 16, 2009 - Lecture: Zainah Anwar: "What Islam, Whose Islam? From Misogyny to Equality"
March 17, 2009 - Lecture: Zainah Anwar: "Challenging History and Tradition: Women and Islamic Law"
March 18, 2009 - Lecture: Dr. Hassan Al Barari: "Is there a Chance for Middle East Peace?"
March 20, 2009 - Performance: Yellow Rage: Spoken Poetry
March 25, 2009 - Lecture: Akbar Ahmad: "American Identity and the Challenge of Islam"
March 27, 2009 - Lecture: Professor Engseng Ho: "Indian Ocean Islam: World Religion and the Shaping of Transregional Space"
March 28, 2009 - Presentation: Panel Discission: "Middle Eastern Studies: Transregional Issues and Multi-contextual Applications"
April 5, 2009 - Workshop: Wahyu Roche & Ening Rumbini Workshop, Beginning Gamelan class
April 5, 2009 - Workshop: Wahyu Roche & Ening Rumbini Workshop, Intermediate Gamelan class
April 5, 2009 - Performance: "Wayang Kali" - original dance shadow puppet theatre from Indonesia
April 6, 2009 - Workshop: Balinese Dance Workshop with I Made Sidia
April 7, 2009 -Workshop: Sundanese Dance Workshop with Ening Rumbini
April 7, 2009 - Performance: Indonesian Music and Dance with the William and Mary Gamelan and guest performers Ening Rumbini and Wahyu Roche
