More Than a Moment: AAPI Heritage Month
The Enduring Impact of AAPI Communities on American and Global Culture
Each May, AAPI Heritage Month offers a moment of reflection, an opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. But the truth is, the influence of AAPI people extends far beyond a calendar date. From Silicon Valley to Seoul, from Hollywood to Honolulu, AAPI communities have long shaped the cultural, economic, and creative fabric of both the U.S. and the world.
Let’s explore just how deep and wide that impact runs and why it deserves to be celebrated not just in May, but every day.
AAPI Influence on American Culture: Quiet Power, Loud Legacy
Food, Fashion & Film
From sushi and pho to boba and birria ramen, AAPI foodways have become an essential part of the American culinary landscape. Yet it’s not just about flavors, it’s about storytelling. Restaurants, food trucks, and home cooks are preserving history through recipes while also innovating for the next generation.
In fashion, designers like Prabal Gurung, Phillip Lim, and Vera Wang continue to influence runways with global sensibilities. Meanwhile, AAPI streetwear and beauty aesthetics, from K-beauty to Desi glam, are reshaping mainstream standards.
Films and TV shows such as Everything Everywhere All at Once, Minari, Beef, and Pachinko represent a shift in storytelling, using humor and strong emotions to examine the human experience while delving deeper into themes of trauma and immigration.
Business and Innovation
AAPI entrepreneurs and leaders have long been behind some of the world’s most influential innovations. From Sundar Pichai at Google to Lisa Su at AMD, and from small business owners to Fortune 500 execs, AAPI professionals continue to redefine what leadership looks like in a multicultural America.
And let’s not forget the rise of AAPI-led brands in wellness like Yina, Golde, Tatch; tech brands like Canva, Reddit; and media like Nguyen Coffee Supply and Gold House. These aren’t just brands, btw — they’re ecosystems of culture.
——
AAPI Global Culture: A Two-Way Mirror
The Korean Wave and Beyond
What started as "Hallyu" (the Korean Wave) has become a global cultural phenomenon. Bands like BTS and Blackpink, along with K-dramas, have fans all over the world. This trend is more than just fandom; it represents a change in South Korea's influence. Once hyper-focused on geopolitics, South Korea is now shaping global music, fashion, and beauty.
Japan’s influence remains ever-present, from anime and gaming to minimalist design and wellness philosophy.
Meanwhile, Bollywood continues to dazzle with spectacle, while increasingly crossing over into Western markets and hybrid collaborations.
Southeast Asia & the Diaspora’s Renaissance
Filipino creatives in dance, music, and design are gaining global traction, especially through digital platforms like TikTok and YouTube. Thai tourism, Vietnamese coffee culture, Indonesian streetwear, and Malaysian film are all seeing renewed global interest, thanks in part to a younger, digitally native diaspora that’s telling its own stories unapologetically, and of course due to technology and storytelling.
Not Just Representation — Reclamation
AAPI people are not just contributing to culture; they are redefining it. That includes pushing back against erasure, combating anti-Asian hate, and breaking down the myth of the “model minority.”
Today’s AAPI creators, activists, scholars, and influencers are reclaiming narratives and building power, often at the intersections of race, gender, class, and queerness. From movements like #StopAsianHate to visibility campaigns across media, there is a growing call to action: representation must come with equity, voice, and visibility.
——
Looking Ahead: Where To Go From Here
Conclusion
The future of American and global culture is undeniably multicultural, and AAPI voices will continue to be at the forefront. But it’s not enough to celebrate that influence during heritage months alone.
We must support AAPI-owned businesses, platform AAPI voices in leadership and media, and ensure inclusive storytelling in every industry. This is how we move from moments to movements.
