In the United States, the month of May is annually celebrated as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AAPIHM) to commemorate the traditions, histories and cultures of the different communities. President Jimmy Carter set forth the beginning of AAPIHM in 1978 as a week-long celebration at the beginning of May and in 1992, the month of May was officially declared as AAPIHM by the United States government. This month was chosen to honor the first immigration of Japanese people to the country and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, since both took place in the month of May in the 19th and 20th centuries. The celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage is vital to understanding the deep presence they have in American society.
While school is out for many students in May, the university has its own student organization that celebrates AAPIHM during the school year called Asian Kaleidoscope Month.
What is Asian Kaleidoscope Month?
Like Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Asian Kaleidoscope Month (AKM) first started as Asian Awareness Week in 1992, predating the creation of the Asian Student Union the following year, which is now known as the Asian American Student Union.
The first events hosted by Asian Awareness Week in 1992 were five events held both in the morning and evening hours on campus, some even bringing in UF’s then-president John V. Lombardi to make opening comments. Asian American Awareness Week quickly turned into a month of celebrations, going by different names like Asian Awareness Month, Kaleidoscope Month and Asian Kaleidoscope to the current name.
Now, Asian Kaleidoscope Month is a program that falls under the umbrella organization of the Asian American Student Union, alongside two other programs and five sub-organizations that partake in AKM’s events.
Until recent years, AKM and its variations have been held in the months of October or November. For the past three years, however, programming for this month and its events have been pushed back to the Spring semester due to lack of budget allocated to the program, COVID-19 pushing online participation and other reasons.
Through AKM’s programming, not only are Asian cultures celebrated and uplifted; social issues are also tackled in ways that celebrate the complexity of Asian lives and cultures.
In the past, AKM has invited notable Asian and Asian American speakers like Japanese American actor and activist George Takei and singer Will Jay. Just last year, Asia Jackson, an actress and content creator known for her hashtag #MagandangMorenx was a speaker. This hashtag was used by Filipinos to embrace their brown and tanned skin despite the long history of colorism in the Philippines. UMI, a notable singer-songwriter, also headlined AKM’s recent Closing Ceremony just last year.
AKM Programming in the Month of March and April
This year, AKM has five big events and several small events in collaboration with other organizations in and out of AASU. The first event, which happened in January earlier this year, was held by AKM. It was a fun night filled with different kinds of games, like board games and Nintendo’s “Super Smash Bros,” alongside the First-year Leadership Program (FLP) and the Korean Undergraduate Student Association (KUSA), both under AASU. A bonus: All events held by Asian Kaleidoscope Month are free to the public to attend! To stay updated with future events, follow @UFAKM on Instagram.
The big events to be held through March and April are the following:
Opening Ceremony – Thursday, March 3
With the theme of Innovate, the Opening Ceremony kicks off the month-long celebration with performers from the Asian and Asian American community and external organizations.
Mystery Event – Wednesday, March 16
Annually, Mystery Event creates a unique event that has ranged from open mic nights workshops around social issues.
Food Festival – Saturday, March 19
With the help of other student organizations inside and outside of AASU, AKM puts on a large event that symbolizes the importance of cultural foods. Every organization represents different dishes in Asian countries of their choosing free to the public.
Mx. AASU Pageant – Wednesday, March 30
Contestants of Asian and Asian Americans that have immense leadership qualities and contributed to the values of AKM and AASU through speeches, talents and possibly dance competition to win the next titles of Mx. AASU Pageant.
Closing Ceremony – Sunday, April 10
In April, AKM wraps up and holds their annual Closing Ceremony with more performers from students, organizations and others!
Asian Kaleidoscope Month is a way for Asians and non-Asians at the University of Florida to celebrate the vast diversity of identities, cultures and heritage. While there have been times of struggle for programming to persist on campus, AKM has stood to commemorate the Asian community no matter what. Make sure to check out these events and join in on the celebration!