HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 04-19-2005-6cORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: April 19, 2005
Action Agen a
Item No. -;~:
SUBJECT: Asian Pacific American History Month
DEPARTMENT: Human Rights and Relations
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Milan T, Pham, 960-3877
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To proclaim the month of May as Asian Pacific American History Month,
BACKGROUND: In June 1977, Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Y,
Mineta of California introduced a House resolution that called upon the President to proclaim
the first 10 days of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. President Jimmy Carter
signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10, 1979 as the first Asian Pacific American Heritage
Week, In 1990, President George H. W, Bush expanded the celebration to the entire month.
Public Law 102-450, approved on October 23, 1992, designated May of each year as National
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. May was chosen for the observance to commemorate
the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in May 1843. "Asian Pacific
American" is a political appellation that encompasses many ethnic groups with diverse
backgrounds, histories, languages, and cultures.
Asian American activists and advocacy organizations have long attempted to get government to
recognize the importance of reflecting Asian Americans in American history by declaring the
month Asian Pacific American History Month, The term gives expression to cultural, linguistic,
and ethnic diversity while recognizing common experiences and important contributions to
American History, Asian Pacific American History Month recognizes and celebrates the
collective accomplishments and contributions of Asian Pacific American communities,
In Orange County, Asian Americans constitute almost 5% of the County's population. A
substantial percentage (29,9%) of Asian Americans are limited English proficient, The County's
new Limited English Proficiency Coordinator will be addressing the issues of service to the
Asian Pacific American community as well as the Hispanic community,
The Department, in collaboration with the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium,
Hmong National Development, Advocacy for North Carolina Asian Pacific Americans, the North
Carolina Chapter of the National Association for Asian American Professionals, Asian Pacific
Americans for Progress, the North Carolina Chinese Business Association and others, will host
a state wide Asian Pacific American Leadership Summit,
On Saturday, May 21, 2005 from 8:OOa.m. - 5:OOp.m. at Brier Creek Community
Center, the Department and other national and local agencies will host a statewide
leadership summit on Asian Pacific American issues and leadership responses, All local
government elected officials will be invited to attend, Attendance will be capped at 75
individuals. RSVP is required to the Department of Human Rights at 501 W. Franklin St,
Chapel Hill, NC 27516.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with approval of the proclamation,
RECOMMENDATION: The Manager recommends that the Board aprove the Proclamation
and authorize the Chair to sign it on behalf of the Board,
ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Asian PaciFc 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 far 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.
THISTHEI9THDAYOFAPRIL, 2005.
Moses Carey, 7r., Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners