May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. I guess it is to mark two dates: The first Japanese immigrants arrived in the United States on May 7, 1843 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad, a hard work by Chinese workers, on May 10, 1869. Amazing to think of Japanese people coming to US in 1843, late Edo period. That’s 10 years before Commodore Matthew Perry‘s visit to Japan with his “kurobune” ships (July 8, 1853). I was also amazed to hear the recent news about Japanese immigrants to Dominican in the 50′s and emigration policy then. It blows my mind how brave those people were. Besides, immigration is such a big issue right now…
When we visited Southern California this spring, we stopped by Japanese American National Museum in Little Tokyo in LA. But it was Monday and they were closed! I should have known — traditionally all Japanese museums and shops are closed on Monday… I was looking forward to go there for a long time, and I was joking with my wife, “maybe trip to this museum will solve my identity crisis.” But since I didn’t make it there I guess I will continue on with my crisis… All joking aside, I look forward to visit there someday again when my son is old enough to understand complicated issues like war and internment.
I was invited, and delighted, to the Inaugural Launch Event of Saffron Circle, Boston’s first Asian giving circle. From their website:
The Saffron Circle is a group of multi-generational Asians committed to positive social change in the greater Boston Asian community. We are working together to teach one another about the many issues affecting us, giving opportunities to strengthen our community, and ways to build a powerful unified voice of progressive Asian donors.
This sounds like a great orgaznization. It’s funded by The Boston Foundation. I would like to contribute/support to the cause. Nice to see other Boston based asian project starting up. Boston, after all, is a really diverse community.
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