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Celebrate Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month with Us

Join us in celebrating Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month! 

Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is celebrated in April at JMU and nationally in May as a time to celebrate the contributions of Asian American & Pacific Islander communities around the world. Keep reading for ways to celebrate and learn more about Asian/Pacific American history and identity.

Movies to Watch

Kanopy is an award-winning video streaming service that provides the JMU community with free access to more than 30,000 independent and documentary films. Check out three great film collections in Kanopy for Asian/Pacific American Month:

Top-rated movies include:

Title: Proof of Loyalty: Kasuo Yamane and the Nisei Soldiers of Hawaii; Pictured: A group of Asian American soldiers sitting in the grass, overlayed with 9 awards from film festivals
Title: To Be Takei: A Star Trek's Trek for Life, Liberty, and Love; Pictured: Two-tone drawn portrait of Takei
Title: Soul of a Banquet; Pictured: Cooked whole fish on a decorative plate with garnishes and hands holding brightly colored chopsticks
Title: Bad Rap; Pictured: Four Asian American faces in black and white wearing gold accessories on a black background

What’s Happening at JMU?

  • JMU’s South Asian Student Association is hosting a Mock Mehndi on April 24, 2026, 6-11pm. The event recreates the traditional South Asian wedding celebration with music, dance, and colorful decorations. Guests can expect laughter, dance performances, and delicious food while celebrating together. This event is open to the public.
  • JMU CMSS (Center for Multicultural Student Services) is hosting several events in April. 
  • The JMU ethnic caucus, APIDA (Asian, Pacific Islander, and Desi American), also supports and advocates for the well-being of diverse APIDA communities at JMU and its surrounding communities. Explore the resources available at the APIDA website.

Asian/Pacific American History and Heritage in JMU Libraries Collections and Exhibits

  • Oral Histories: Ang Buhay Sa Nayon – Life in the Valley
    This collection includes interviews, transcripts of the interviews, and photographs of seventeen individuals, most of whom are members of the Filipino American Community of the Shenandoah Valley, who arrived in the United States between 1963-2010.
  • Book Display: Learn About Afghanistan
    We shared this book display in September 2021 to help highlight the history, heritage, culture, beauty, and complexities of Afghanistan, Afghan people, and members of the Afghan diaspora in the wake of the conflict following the withdrawal of U.S. troops in the region.
  • Book Display: Contextualizing Anti-Asian Racism in the United States
    We prepared this virtual book display in response to the tragic murders in Atlanta in March 2021 and the subsequent increase in hateful acts against Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Asian people in the United States. This online book display includes ebooks, print materials, and more from JMU Libraries.

Join the National Celebration

Visit asianpacificheritage.gov to learn about even more ways to celebrate, learn, and connect during Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.