May is Asian American – Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
The commemoration honors the contributions and accomplishments of these Americans and observes their immigration in the 1800s, including the grueling work Chinese immigrant workers did to complete the transcontinental railroad in the 1860s.
In 1978, President Carter made it an annual week-long event, and then President George H.W. Bush extended the proclamation to include the full month of May.
The Pulse will feature short stories honoring a variety of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders throughout May.