May 27, 2010 | Yvonne Lim Wilson
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Asian Pacific American Heritage Month was created in 1978 by Congress to commemorate the contributions of people of Asian and Pacific Islander descent in the United States. May is an excellent month to get to know the diverse Asian American cultures and organizations in Austin.
This month, the Austin History Center presents a photo exhibit “Pioneers from the East: First Chinese Families in Austin” highlighting the contributions of the first Chinese families in Austin. The exhibit runs through October 17 at the Austin History Center, 810 Guadalupe Street.
Select photos beginning from 1910 and documents beginning from 1892 will be on display. The exhibit is curated by Esther Chung, the Asian American Neighborhood Liaison for the City of Austin. Since 2007, Chung has been collecting oral histories, photographs, letters and other documents related to Asian Americans and their history in Austin.
Chung shares her thoughts about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month as well as information about the photo exhibit in this interview for TODO Austin.
What was your inspiration for the exhibit?
It’s the first presence of Asians in Austin. It shows the kind of work they did. Because there were so few Chinese back then, they really had to assimilate. They felt they were American first and they had their Chinese heritage. It shows how people adapted to being Asian in Austin and integrated into our city. I know there are more stories that are hidden and yet to be discovered.
What are some interesting facts you discovered in researching Asian Americans in Austin?
Because of the Chinese Exclusion Act, they couldn’t readily borrow money from banks. They faced a lot of difficulties getting loans. They built these networks—we have the ledgers of these loans—and they lent money to other Chinese, even African Americans and Mexican Americans. It was a sort of first Chamber of Commerce, an informal way of advancing the growth of minority businesses in Austin.
What are your thoughts about Asian Pacific American Heritage Month in general?
The most important thing is it’s still being uncovered. It’s not been talked about for so long because it wasn’t valued. Before for APA heritage month I might have seen a show on T.V., but I never attended the festivals because I didn’t care. But now I see that we have to know how we got here and that only by looking through the entire history and knowing what’s been done can we know what to do to change things.
What is your goal with the exhibit?
What I love is when families come and see themselves and realize their lives meant something. When you elevate their significance in society, that pride will come out. When their names and contributions end up in textbooks, generations will learn about what Asian Americans did, that way it won’t just be a month. It will be every day.
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