May was selected to celebrate the heritage of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States because of two very important anniversaries in Asian American history: the immigration of the first Japanese person to the United States and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which in the Western portion of the United States, was laid down mostly by Chinese immigrants. The term, “Asian American and Pacific Islander” includes the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia. There are many ethnic and cultural subgroups within this broader term, each with their own languages, histories, traditions, and struggles.

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Thank you, Rasmussen University, for sharing this information. We appreciate your dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all that you do.