HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES-2005-033 Asian Pacific American History Month~~S ~Dd ~ -o X33
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ~~
Asian Pacific American History Month Proclamation
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Americans constitute a large and growing portion of the United
States, North Carolina and Orange County population with the Triangle as a gateway for Asian
American emigration and immigration; and
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Americans played important roles in the Civil Rights Movement,
the Labor Movement, the Women's Suffrage Movement and every other movement for
progressive social change; and
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Americans across the United States went to bed hungry, lost
land to the tax collector, worked to exhaustion and ill-health, faced pain and relocation, blasted
the tunnels for the railroad, stooped over the short-handled hoe, and fought for a democracy
that did not include them; and
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific Americans from the Philippines in the Triangle area were part of
the first identified and subordinated migrant farm workers in North Carolina; and
WHEREAS, Asian Pacific American experiences and contributions are systematically
excluded from the history of our nation and state; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Human Rights and Relations Commission and Department
were instrumental in the development and creation of the first Pan-Asian advocacy organization
in the State; and
WHEREAS, without regard to their education or economic status, Asian Americans
continue to be denied equal opportunity in employment, housing and public accommodations;
and
WHEREAS, despite the many generations Asian Americans have been citizens of the
United States and without recognition of their accomplishments or sacrifices for this country,
they continue to be viewed as perpetual foreigners;
NOW, THEREFORE, We, The Board of County Commissioners of Orange County, North Carolina,
do hereby proclaim May 2005 as ~~ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN HISTORY MONTH" in
Orange County and challenge our citizens to celebrate multiculturalism in our County by
encouraging citizens to embrace our diversity.
THISTHE 19TH DA Y OFAPRIL, 2005.
~~
Moses Carey, Jr., Chair