Image via Complex Original
May was Asian Pacific American Heritage Month. Covering not only the Asian continent, but the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, the term Asian-Pacific is as diverse geographically as the contributions of Asian Americans are diverse in action and accomplishment. Whether it is in the arts, sciences, entertainment, or leadership roles, the Asian-Pacific experience is woven deeply into American culture.
May was chosen by Congress as the month to commemorate this heritage as it marks the immigration of the first Japanese to America on May 7, 1843, as well as the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869—an historic accomplishment that resulted from the efforts of many Chinese workers.
From these early, courageous steps of immigrants into a new and still growing country, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have continued to make significant cultural additions in various fields. Here, we take a look at 10 such individuals.
Maya Lin
Maya Lin’s art and sculptures manage to be both graceful and haunting. Her style is equally simple and meaningful. A Chinese American born in Athens, Ohio, her most well-known work is the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. Lin completed the memorial when she was just 22 years old. The memorial’s use of black granite slabs with the names of those who died during the Vietnam War etched in the stone is a powerful example of art saying a lot with a little. Lin, a Yale graduate, has work that can be found across the country. In 2009, she was awarded the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama.
Ellison Onizuka
Hawaii-born Ellison Onizuka became the first Asian-American astronaut with the Space Shuttle Discovery launch in 1985. As a child, he was an Eagle Scout and later participated in Air Force ROTC while studying aerospace engineering at the University of Colorado-Boulder. Prior to joining NASA, Onizuka was a member of the U.S. Air Force serving as a test pilot and engineer. Onizuka was killed in the Space Shuttle Challenger explosion. His legacy lives on with streets, awards, and grants named in his honor.
Chang-rae Lee
Korean-American novelist Chang-rae Lee has written about many Asian-American themes in his novels. Born in South Korea in 1965, his first book, Native Speaker, features a Korean American industrial spy. It won the PEN/Hemingway award and signaled Lee as a raising voice in American literature. His latest book is a dystopian future set in Baltimore. Lee currently teaches creative writing at Princeton.
Connie Chung
Born the youngest of ten children in Washington D.C., Connie Chung had politics in her blood at a young age. She studied journalism at the University of Maryland. In 1993, Chung became the first Asian-American nightly news anchor. She established herself as a trusted voice in journalism after years of working in broadcast news, bravely interviewing people in power and not unaccustomed to stirring up controversy. She was also only the second female to hold the news anchor position.
Yo-Yo Ma
By far the best known cellist, if not most recognizable figure in modern classical music, Yo-Yo Ma began his musical career at age 4. Born in Paris before moving to New York City at age 5, Ma’s parents were also musicians. Ma is able to play a variety of styles, from Bach to Philip Glass. He is a teacher and champion of classical music with boundless enthusiasm for the genre. Yo-Yo Ma has appeared on numerous television shows, from Sesame Street to The Colbert Report. He has also performed a duet with Condoleezza Rice at the 2001 National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal Awards, and was the first performer at the September 11th Memorial on the first anniversary of the attack.
I. M. Pei
Sometimes called the master of modern architecture, I. M. Pei, born in China in 1917, began his career at the University of Pennsylvania. He was swayed to leave his native China for Pennsylvania not only for the education, but because of his love of Hollywood movies. Pei was quickly disappointed in the school’s teaching rooted in classical traditions of architecture, and used his free time to learn all he could about emerging styles such as Bauhaus. Pei continued working his way up until his first designed structure was built in 1949. Then he courageously risked starting his own architecture firm, I. M. Pei and Associates. Pei’s buildings include the Kennedy Library, Boston’s Hancock Tower, and New York City’s Javits Convention Center.
George Takei
Born in Los Angeles to Japanese-American parents in 1937, though most fans prefer to think of him originating from space, the final frontier. Best known to Star Trek fans as Hikaru Sulu, George Takei has made a name for himself by working tirelessly for human rights causes and Japanese-American relations. While he’ll be forever associated with the multi-culture crew of the starship Enterprise, Takei is also a beloved figure on social media for his humor and outreach.
Michelle Wie
From Honolulu, Hawaii, Michelle Wie became the youngest golfer to qualify for a USGA amateur championship when she was just 10. She went pro at age 16, and currently has three LGPA championships. Wie has made attempts to join the men’s golf circuit proving she still has barriers she wants to knock down.
Jerry Yang
In 1994, Jerry Yang co-created Yahoo! with David Filo, helping to shape the Internet as we know it. Yang was studying electrical engineering at Stanford when he established what would because a technological giant. Born in Taipei, Taiwan, Yang is very active philanthropically. Since stepping away from Yahoo!, Yang has maintained an involvement in business as an entrepreneur, investing in companies that could turn out to be the next big thing.
David Chang
David Chang opened his first restaurant in 2004 and hasn’t stopped expanding since. Part of the new breed of “chefs as rock stars, Chang’s Momofuku restaurants are as recognizable for its food as its attitude—no reservations, no vegetarian options, and Crack Pies. Chang can be seen outside of the kitchen too, appearing on HBO, Top Chef, and hip-hop albums. He’s also launched the food publication, Lucky Peach.