May is Asian Heritage Month. Unlike Black History Month, most media outlets don’t make such a big deal out of it. Instead, it seems that the media prefer to cover ethnic holidays such as the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival (which is usually during or right after Asian Heritage Month), Dwali and so forth. So why bother having Asian Heritage Month? To cover cultures that aren’t big enough? Just “because” of our so-called Multicultural policy? I don’t even know if the typical Asian Canadian, especially from the immigrant generation (which still make up the majority) would even know or care. You see posters around places like Pacific Mall, but it’s certainly less prominent than the decorations shoppers see around the Lunar New Year, the Dragon Boat Festival (which my family doesn’t even truly celebrate!) or the Mid-Autumn Festival (aka the Moon Festival). If you ask the typical Asian Canadian, he or she will identify with the family heritage(s) before the more general Asian identity.
So should there really be an Asian Heritage Month? Especially when other holidays/festivals are covered through out the year?
A
