June 13, 2022
Cited article by Brahmjot Kaur, NBC News
HRRC celebrates the creation of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture Act. While the Commission is just now signed into law, this is a considerable step toward recognizing and sharing the long history of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community in the United States. We encourage the Commission to include those from the AAPI community in developing and establishing the new museum.
Article Summary
President Biden signed a law on June 13, 2022 laying the foundation for the National Museum of Asian Pacific American History and Culture. This law creates a commission that will research and formulate a plan to enable the creation of a museum dedicated to the AAPI community in Washington, D.C. Notably, this museum will not avoid discussing the problematic history of America. Plans are already in place to include the Chinese Exclusionary Act, the internment camps for Japanese Americans, the murder of Vincent Chin, discrimination of South Asian Americans after 9/11, and the very recent increases in violence against Asian Americans during the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Commission will have eight members with backgrounds in museum planning and expertise in AAPI history and culture. The law passed unanimously in the House, and was co-sponsored by 120 Democrats and Republicans. It is being heralded as a step toward preserving and honoring the history and culture of Asian Pacific Americans, as well as providing valuable education to the troubling history of the community.