Advocates Push for Asian American History in Arizona Schools

Advocates Push for Inclusive Curriculum to Reflect Asian American Contributions in Arizona

Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders, and Native Hawaiians have profoundly impacted Arizona’s history, yet their stories remain largely untold in the state’s educational system. From Filipino activist Larry Itliong’s collaboration with Cesar Chavez to the Japanese internment camps during World War II, their contributions are significant. However, a coalition of civil rights groups and nonprofits is calling for a permanent change in the curriculum to ensure these narratives are included.

Astria Wong, representing the nonprofit Make Us Visible, highlights the absence of Asian American history in her children’s remote learning curriculum in Arizona. Wong notes, “All these things will make us proud, being Asian, you know, and being Asian Americans. But all these things are missing.”

Wong emphasizes the urgency of this issue in light of the increasing hate crimes against Asian Americans, particularly during the pandemic. She asserts that understanding these histories can foster a more inclusive society, saying, “It’s not, you know, a novel idea. It is [an] idea that everybody [feels] that it’s important because when you know someone, you’re not going to hate them.”

She further points out that legislative action is crucial to preserving these educational standards regardless of changes within the education board. Wong states, “Basically, it’s the fabric of this country– is this different, multiculture, right? And Asian Americans being here – and so have Pacific Islanders and Hawaiians – they’ve been here for a long time, and I guess it’s only fair for them to have part of the history so that everybody understand and know that we are Americans.”

Efforts are already underway, as OCA Greater Phoenix, a longstanding local nonprofit, collaborates with educators to develop lesson plans that could be introduced within a few years. The initiative aims to integrate the rich histories of these communities into the classroom, offering students a broader and more inclusive understanding of American history.