Art is all around us. So are artists. People tell their stories through movies, music, and more. May is a time to celebrate the stories of the AAPI community. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have made hit films and written smash songs.
Mulan became the first Asian Disney princess in 1998. The film was based on a Chinese legend. Lilo and Stitch came out in 2002. The movie showed off Native Hawaiian culture. Traditional hula dancing is in the film. The filmmakers studied a real hula performance. The animators then drew the hula to match the movements.
Moana swam into theaters in 2016. The movie celebrates Pacific Islanders. Moana’s story is based off Polynesian . Moana takes to the sea to save her home!
Many AAPI actors have broken through barriers. Anna May Wong is one. She was the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood! George Takei was on the TV show Star Trek. He was born in 1937. His parents were Japanese American. The Takeis were forced into Japanese in the 1940s. In 2019, Takei wrote a book about his experience.
Other books have told of AAPI . For example, Gene Luen Yang wrote a graphic novel in 2006. It’s called American Born Chinese. The story explores harmful Chinese stereotypes and racism. The book is becoming a show as well! It comes out on May 24.
Author Andrea Wang wrote a children’s book. It’s called Watercress. The story follows a Chinese girl. She learns about her heritage through eating. Jason Chin drew the pictures for the book. It won the Caldecott Medal in 2022!
People in the AAPI community have made their mark in music as well. Cello player Yo-Yo Ma was born in 1955 to Chinese parents. The musician has impressed the world with his string work. George Helm Jr. lived from 1950 until 1977. The musician was dedicated to his Hawaiian roots. He spent his life protecting the land and its people.
Olivia Rodrigo is a big star. The singer wrote on every track from her 2021 album, Sour. Rodrigo spoke about her background on Disney in 2017. “My heritage is a part of who I am,” she said. “I’m part Filipina.”
Rodrigo said proudly: “I am an Asian Pacific Islander.”
Updated May 9, 2023, 5:01 P.M. (ET)
By Alexa Tirapelli
