Asian Pacific American Heritage Month — an annual celebration of the nation’s 22.2 million Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders — begins Friday, May 1.
About 48,000 Postal Service employees identify as being Asian, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. This represents approximately 7.6 percent of the USPS workforce.
The organization celebrates the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders through its stamp program. This year’s offerings include Year of the Rat, an entry in the newest Lunar New Year series, and stamps honoring Japanese American artist Ruth Asawa.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month is held in May primarily for two reasons: The nation’s first Japanese immigrants arrived May 7, 1843, and the transcontinental railroad was completed May 10, 1869. Most of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants.
The federal government’s Asian Pacific American Heritage Month website has more information.
