What does AAPI Heritage Month Mean to Me?

Did you know AAPI Heritage Month wasn’t officially recognized until 1992? That’s not so long ago. Yet, to me, it represents how far we've come. I remember growing up and constantly code-switching, hiding parts of myself because I felt ashamed of my Asian identity, not just as a child, but even well into college.

I remember the hurt of hearing “yuck” when I brought in egg tarts for my birthday. I remember throwing away lunches lovingly packed by my mom because they didn’t look like “American” sandwiches. I remember the embarrassment when friends recoiled at the sight of fish balls, seaweed, or tofu in our kitchen.

But what gives me hope — what makes this month meaningful — is how much has changed. I see kids proudly using chopsticks. I see freezers stocked with dumplings in mainstream grocery stores. I see hot pot restaurants thriving. And I live in a city, Boston, with a female AAPI mayor. Our Immediate Past National President is a Korean adoptee and a woman.

That’s not just representation — that’s progress.

Progress takes time, patience, and persistence — something every marginalized community knows all too well. So even though AAPI Heritage Month may be relatively new, it means so much more than a date on the calendar.

To me, it means we’ve earned visibility. It means we’re finally being seen, heard, and understood. And most of all, it means we no longer have to hide who we are.

Lynn Graham, CPCE

NACE Boston Past President

Co-founder of the NACE AAPI Caucus

DIA Committee Member