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Asian Pacific American History 1971-1999 Following is a selected listing of noteworthy events from the beginning of the Asian American Movement to the present day (1971-1999). To jump forward to other decades, simply scroll down to the bottom links.
1980 The first convention of Asian Indians in North America is held at the Sheraton Center in New York. At this convention more than 80 Asian Associations across the USA and Canada decide to form a federating body called the National Council of Asian Indians in North America. New York Chinatown History Project is founded to document the historical and present-day experiences of New York City's Chinatown community. The New York Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association is established. President Jimmy Carter establishes a seven-member Commission on Wartime Relocation and Internment of Civilians to study long lasting legal and social implications of the uprooting of Japanese Americans during World War II. Over 32 organizations participate in the 2nd Annual Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival at Damrosch Park.
1981 Chinatown Health Clinic celebrates it's 10th Anniversary.
1982 The New York Asian Women's Center is founded. It is the first project on the East Coast is to organize women on the problems of battering and sexual assault in Asian communities. Japanese Americans testify at redress hearings held by the Commission on Wartime ReIocation and Internment of Civilians. New York City is one of the locations.
Chinatown rally of 15,000 Chinese garment workers on strike for new union contract.
1983 AALDEF organizes first Chinatown housing fair in New York City with bilingual legal rights pamphlets and skits. Korean-born Chol Soo Lee is finally acquitted of a San Francisco murder after being wrongly imprisoned for so many years.
1984 AALDEF and CSWA organize the First Annual Chinatown Labor Fair to celebrate the contributions of Chinese workers and inform them about their rights. The first exhibit of the Chinatown History Project is Eight Pound Livelihood: History of the Chinese Laundry Workers in the U.S. Over 56 organizations participate in the 6th Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival, Our Children Our Future at Damrosch Park.
1985 Roots to Reality: Asian Americans in Transition, a month-long visual and performing arts event co-sponsored by the Asian American Arts Alliance and Henry Street Settlement. Over 30 artists participate in exploring and celebrating the unique identity, history, and contributions of traditional and contemporary Asian American artists. Over 57 organizations participate in the 7th Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival, Peace, Participation and Progress: The Aspirations of Asian/Pacific Youth at Damrosch Park.
1986 The Asian American Arts Alliance and Henry Street Settlement collaborates once again to organize and present the second Asian American multi-disciplinary arts event Roots to Reality II: Alternate Visions featuring the best of new creative works by emerging and established Asian American artists. Basement Workshop closes. The Coalition Against Anti-Asian Violence forms at the first NYC-area forum on Violence Against Asians in America, attended by 250 people. Founding members include the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, Coalition of Labor Union Women-NY, Japanese American Citizens League-NY, Khmer Association in the US, Korean Americans for Social Concern Korean American Women for Action, Organization of Asian Women, Organizations of Chinese Americans-NY, Young Korean American service and Education Center. This forum leads to the formation of the Committee Against Anti-Asian Violence (CAAAV.) Due to the rapid expansion of the Asian American and the lack of high level representation in City government, the Asian community demands the creation of the Mayor s Office of Asian Affairs. Over 46 organizations participate in the 8th Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival at Damrosch Park.
1987 First formal signing of the Proclamation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Week in the White House. President Reagan is the first President to formally sign the Proclamation honoring the contributions and achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans. The Jersey Journal publishes a letter by a group called the Dot Busters, who want to rid Jersey City of Asian Indians. Racial incidents against Asian Indians follows, culminating in the murder of Navroze Mody by a gang of white youths in Hoboken, NJ. Murder charges are not brought against any of the assailants. Over 51 organizations participate in the 9th Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival at Damrosch Park.
1988 Student demands and community pressure forces Hunter College administration to explore the possibility of forming an Asian American Studies program. Over 52 organizations participate in the 10th Annual Asian/Pacific American Heritage Festival at Damrosch Park.
1989 The East Coast Asian Student Union (ECASU) holds its 11th Annual Conference, Asian Empowerment through Unity: A Challenging Future, at Hunter College, New York City. Gabriela Network, the NY chapter of the Philippine-U. S. women's solidarity network organization is founded to provide organizing, education, networking and advocacy around issues affecting the Filipino women here and in the Philippines, such as trafficking of women through the mail order bride industry, prostitution, and labor export. The Asian American Task Force, created by NYC Board of Education Chancellor Richard Green, issues a report calling for significant changes in how the Board of Education addresses the specific needs of Asian/Pacific American children. A. Magazine, The Asian American Quarterly is founded during the summer by a group of young Asian American professionals who felt a need for a publication that would raise issues, and concerns pertinent to the Asian American community, and celebrate the community's cultural and artistic accomplishments. Sakhi for South Asian Women is founded as the first South Asian women's organization in New York to break the silence around domestic violence in the South Asian community, which includes the following countries India, Pakistan, Bagladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. THE SEVENTIES • THE EIGHTIES • THE NINETIES HOME | THE COALITION | THE FESTIVAL | THE COMMUNITY | VOLUNTEERING | SPONSORSHIP | BOOTH RENTALS | STAGE PERFORMERS | ORGANIZATIONS LIST | APA HISTORY
All photographs courtesy of Corky Lee, Kitty Katz, Joseph Songco and various CAPA members |
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