AANHPI coalition gathers in Albany on Tuesday. Photograph: Workplace of State Sen. John Liu
Join our QNS e mail e-newsletter to get information, updates, and native insights delivered straight to your inbox!
State Sen. John Liu joined advocates, educators, New York State public college college students, and fellow elected officers on the New York State Capitol Tuesday to name for the inclusion of an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) curriculum within the state’s public faculties.
Liu, together with Manhattan Meeting Member Grace Lee, have co-sponsored the AANHPI curriculum invoice within the State Legislature, which requires the event of an AANHPI curriculum and an evaluation of current implementation efforts and useful resource gaps.
Liu and Lee joined members of the Representing and Empowering Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Group Historical past (REACH) coalition on the State Capitol on Tuesday to mark the coalition’s third annual advocacy day.
Fashioned in 2023, REACH goals to combat for inclusive AANHPI schooling measures in New York and consists of greater than 150 college students, dad and mom, educators and advocates, in addition to greater than 60 community-based organizations combating for a extra consultant and inclusive telling of historical past in New York State’s public faculties.
Tuesday’s rally featured representatives from a number of community-based organizations, together with the Nationwide Federation of Filipino American Associations, the New York AAPI Fee, We Belong Right here NY, the South Asian Authorized Protection Fund and Korean American Civic Empowerment amongst greater than a dozen others.
Liu mentioned Tuesday that the struggles of Asian-People have been “marginalized or whitewashed” from New York State school rooms “for too long”. He added that educating college students about Asian-American historical past would characterize a step towards addressing anti-Asian hate and discrimination.
“Public schools should teach Asian American history because it’s American history and so that we might finally begin to eradicate the anti-Asian hate that has become far too prevalent in recent years,” Liu mentioned.
Lee, in the meantime, mentioned the inclusion of Asian-American historical past in New York public college curriculums can be a significant step towards fostering higher appreciation and inclusivity amongst college students.
“By bringing to light the contributions, challenges, and resilience of AANHPI communities in the United States, we offer students a more complete and accurate portrayal of our nation’s history while inspiring them to build a more just and equitable future,” Lee mentioned in a press release.
A number of members of the REACH Coalition steering committee additionally spoke at Tuesday’s rally, together with Shreya Sunderram, who mentioned that historical past curriculums might both make Asian-American college students really feel invisible or assist empower younger college students.
Sunderram, who additionally serves as Ok-12 Director for the Localized Historical past Undertaking of the Asian American /Asian Analysis Institute, mentioned the AANPHI Curriculum Invoice is vital to creating New York State’s public faculties extra inclusive.
“It is my hope that every young person sees themselves represented in history classrooms, and that our classrooms become sites of liberatory memory work where we build connection, community, and belonging,” Sunderram mentioned.
Kenny Nguyen, Administrative Chair of the REACH Coalition and Advocacy Supervisor of Cease AAPI Hate, mentioned AAPI communities have been going through an “alarming” degree of hate because the Covid-19 pandemic, including that it’s vital to put money into long-term options, together with schooling.
“Stop AAPI Hate’s research shows that our communities believe teaching AANHPI history is one of the most effective ways to combat hate,” Nguyen mentioned.
Richard In, Government Director of Korean American Civic Empowerment and a member of the REACH steering committee, mentioned AANHPI historical past covers the contributions and histories of people and actions that helped form america.
“From fighting for American Independence to rallying support for women’s right to vote, and even serving as American diplomats and leaders of this nation, the AANHPI community has been here the entire time and have contributed to this country for centuries,” In mentioned on Tuesday.
