Advocates and lawmakers gathered at the New York State Capitol on Advocacy Day to push for legislation integrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) history into New York public school curricula. The Representing and Empowering Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (REACH) Coalition supports Senate Bill S3334 and Assembly Bill A4638, which would require schools to teach AANHPI history and civic impact.
According to State Senator John Liu, the legislation aims to fill a void in education where AANHPI contributions and struggles have been overlooked. “For far too long, the contributions and struggles of Asian Americans have been marginalized or whitewashed entirely from our classrooms, leaving a void in our understanding of our nation’s true history,” said Liu. Assemblymember Grace Lee added that integrating AANHPI history is a vital step toward fostering inclusivity and helping students appreciate the diverse fabric of American society.
Community members, educators, and students from across New York lobbied for the bill, participating in 18 meetings with state lawmakers. As described by the REACH Coalition, the legislation aims to promote inclusivity and combat harmful stereotypes that have persisted in American discourse. It also emphasizes involving the community in developing and implementing the curriculum at the district and school levels.
Stop AAPI Hate, one of the supporting organizations, highlights the importance of long-term solutions like education to combat hate. “It’s critical to invest in education that tackles racism at its root and prevents acts of hate from happening in the first place,” said Kenny Nguyen, Advocacy Manager of Stop AAPI Hate.
Advocates believe the curriculum would provide students with a more complete understanding of American history while helping to build a more equitable future. The proposed curriculum would include the experiences of AANHPI communities in the Northeast, their cultural contributions, and how they intersect with other marginalized groups, offering students a deeper appreciation of the nation’s diverse history.
As described by the REACH Coalition, this initiative is a response to the rise in anti-Asian hate incidents and serves as a tool to promote cross-cultural understanding and solidarity among students of all backgrounds.
AsAmNews is published by the non-profit, Asian American Media Inc.
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