At its regular meeting May 13, the Multnomah County Board of Commissioners proclaimed May 2021 as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. The designation, which is recognized nationally, spotlights the contributions of Asians, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders to society.
As pointed out in the proclamation, May was selected as Asian, Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPIs) Heritage Month “to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese citizen, Nakahama Manjiro, to the United States on May 7, 1843.” May also marks the anniversary of the completion of the first Transcontinental Railroad, on May 10, 1869 — an accomplishment due in no small part to “the back-breaking labor of nearly 20,000 Chinese immigrants” in the United States.
The proclamation, which was brought forward by Commissioner Lori Stegmann and Commissioner Susheela Jayapal, seemed particularly poignant given the recent rise of anti-Asian violence across the country, as well as the harrowing toll COVID-19 has had on the AANHPI community in both direct and indirect ways.
“I’m excited to celebrate our diverse communities this month. Communities that have enriched our County and our country’s culture,” said Commissioner Stegmann. “But I would be remiss if I did not recognize the dark shadow that hate crimes against AANHPI communities has cast across this year’s proclamation.”
Commissioner Jayapal also shared her thoughts leading into Thursday’s presentation.
“As an Asian American, I look forward to and appreciate this proclamation every year,” said Commissioner Jayapal. “It gives us a chance to celebrate our stories, recognize just how diverse our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander communities are and to reaffirm our place and space in the United States.”
Among the invited guests was Oregon Deputy Secretary of State Cheryl Myers. She spoke about her experience being orphaned in Korea and then immigrating to Portland at 3 months old after being adopted into a white family. Myers told the Board that throughout her life she’s experienced harassment, bullying and race-based micro- and macro-aggressions.
“And yet,” she said, “persisting was the only option I saw.”
Myers said she hopes the challenges and painful incidents of the last year “provoke a time for deep introspection and renewed learning opportunities for everyone to investigate the many ways that increased inclusion and acceptance will positively change our world.”
Tafiko Salu of the Department of Community Justice’s Juvenile Services Division also spoke as a panelist. Salu spoke about his experience as one of the very few Pacific Islanders employed in the unit. With more than 20 years in the department, Salu reflected on the stereotyping he’s been subject to because of his Samoan heritage.
“Polynesian men are branded with stereotypes such as being big, strong physically, like a workhorse,” said Salu. “This is offensive to me. When we are viewed in this manner, it can lead to exploitation.”
But thanks to the encouragement given to him by his mentors and County colleagues Kalisha Stout and Larry Turner, Salu said he feels empowered to speak out and name the trauma he’s experienced over the years. He also said that within the organization, departments need to admit when mistakes are made.
“A corrective action of acknowledging people’s pain and fear must be acknowledged, so we can recover together.”
Working as a COVID-19 contact tracer with Multnomah County over the last year, Jonathan Cruz saw clearly and directly how important it is for the County, as a public health authority, to build trust in the AANHPI community.
“I received a case for a 3-year-old Samoan child who had been diagnosed with COVID,” Cruz said Thursday. “When I spoke to her mother, I had found out that all seven members of the household were diagnosed as well.”
The mother told Cruz that she hadn’t known what to do before the contract tracing call because no one else — not even her doctor — reached out with guidance.
“I’m not a doctor, but I know that relationships are also a medicine that treats and heals,” said Cruz. “And in this instance, the doctor failed to provide her with the medicine she needed.”
The final presenter was Mālō Ala’ilima, executive director of UTOPIA PDX, a nonprofit run by and for queer and trans Pacific Islanders in Portland. Ala’ilima said they’d lost five members of their family — including their nephew and oldest brother — during the pandemic. Their tragic losses reflect the immense devastation that COVID-19 brought to the Pacific Islander community especially.
Ala’ilima does believe, however, that the pandemic has laid bare at least one truth about Pacific Islander identity:
“You are probably used to Pacific Islanders being misidentified as a subgroup of Asian Americans. But in fact, we are a unique collection of cultures and peoples that are not Asian,” said Ala’ilima.
“That is why when you look at the disaggregation of COVID-19 data of Asians and Pacific Islanders, there are very different narratives on how each group has been impacted by this pandemic.”
Ala’ilima stressed that they stand in solidarity with the Asian community against hate and “honor both Asian and Pacific Islander early organizers.” They acknowledged that “with progress there are iterations in how label designations or classifications evolve.”
Ala’ilima concluded by reciting a Samoan proverb that highlights the beauty and power of connection, a theme that has emerged throughout the public health crisis.
“We are from different parts of the forest, but connect in one cause.”