The month of May was chosen to commemorate two significant events in history: the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869 (Golden Spike Day). The diversity and common experiences of the many ethnic groups are celebrated during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with numerous community festivals as well as government-sponsored
activities.
The pioneer period in Oregon for Asian Americans was 1850-1860. A small group of Cantonese-Chinese miners arrived in Oregon, and in the 1850s, these miners and handful of merchants settled in two different, but widely separated, parts of Oregon Territory. The first locations where they settled were in Josephine and Jackson counties; fewer went to Douglas and Grant counties. The next location was northeast Oregon, which became the doorway to the Inland Empire in the southeast corner of Washington Territory. Oregon Encyclopedia.
Japanese immigrants first came to the Pacific Northwest in the 1880s, when federal legislation that excluded further Chinese immigration created demands for new immigrant labor. Railroads, in particular, recruited Issei – or first-generation immigrants – from Hawaii and Japan. Nisei are second generation and Sansei are son or daughter of Nisei (third generation).
Thousands of Japanese workers helped construct the Great Northern, Northern Pacific, Oregon Short Line, and other railroads in the Columbia River Basin. By 1907, the Japanese comprised about 40 percent of Oregon’s total railroad labor force. These workers commanded higher wages from railroad
companies as the sugar beet industry began competing for their labor. Japanese Americans in the Columbia River Basin.
Let’s remember another celebration in May. This is Older Americans Month, established in 1963 to honor the legacies and contributions of older
Americans and to support them as they enter their next stage of life. The Administration for Community Living leads the observance and this year theme is “Age my way!” Check resources and more at ACL.gov.
Here are a few more celebrations in May:
- Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is a celebration of Mexican heritage as it commemorates the date that the Mexican army defeated the French army at the Battle of Puebla.
- Jewish American Heritage Month - Honors the history of American Jews and their accomplishments.
- May 17 – International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia (LGBTQ+): raises awareness for LGBTQ+ rights.
Lastly, the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council continues to look for more members to join.