Perspectives on History: AAPI Voices in the American Story at the National Archives
Press Release · Monday, April 15, 2024

Washington, DC

In celebration of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, the National Archives presents “Perspectives on History: AAPI Voices in the American Story” on Wednesday, May 1, at 7:30 p.m. ET/4:30 p.m. PT. The event will feature leading voices in the AAPI community as they discuss the role historians and media have played in our nation's cultural storytelling and the impact AAPI voices have and will continue to have on that narrative in the future. 

“The American story is most fully told when we incorporate the voices of every community that makes up our great nation,” said Archivist of the United States Dr. Colleen Shogan. “As we celebrate Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, I’m glad we can come together to explore cultural storytelling and its effect on how we understand our nation's history.”

This conversation will be moderated by MSNBC/NBC journalist and author Richard Lui, with panelists:

• Stewart Kwoh, Founding President of Asian Americans Advancing Justice;  
• Dr. Karen Korematsu, Founder and President of the Fred T. Korematsu Institute; and 
• Gisela Perez Kusakawa, Executive Director of Asian American Scholar Forum.

“As the nonprofit partner of the National Archives, we are proud to provide vital support for programming that illuminates these powerful and lesser known stories from history,” said Rodney Slater, National Archives Foundation Board Chair. “This program illustrates the positive indelible impact the AAPI community has made and continues to make on our country—this story needs to be told.” 

Leading up to the event, the National Archives is featuring rare documents in the Rotunda recognizing the 442nd Infantry Regimental Combat Unit—the most decorated unit for its size and length of service—composed of 12,000 Japanese American volunteers.

The event will be held in the William G. McGowan Theater in the National Archives Building, located at 701 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC.

The program will be livestreamed on the National Archives YouTube channel. In-person attendees should use the Special Events entrance on Constitution Avenue at 7th Street NW. Metro is accessible on the Yellow and Green Lines at the Archives/Navy Memorial/Penn Quarter station. 

This program is made possible in part by the National Archives Foundation through the generous support of Verizon.

For press information, contact the National Archives Public and Media Communications staff at public.affairs@nara.gov.

About the National Archives
The National Archives and Records Administration is an independent federal agency that serves American democracy by safeguarding and preserving the records of our government so people can discover, use, and learn from this documentary heritage. The National Archives ensures continuing access to the essential documentation of the rights of American citizens and the actions of their government. From the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans, the holdings of the National Archives directly touch the lives of millions of people. The agency supports democracy, promotes civic education, and facilitates historical understanding of our national experience. The National Archives carries out its mission through a nationwide network of archives, records centers, and Presidential Libraries and online at www.archives.gov.

About the National Archives Foundation
The National Archives Foundation is an independent nonprofit that increases public awareness of the National Archives, inspires a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage, and encourages citizen engagement in our democracy. The Foundation generates financial and creative support for National Archives exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives, introducing America’s records to people around the U.S. and the world. Learn more at www.archivesfoundation.org.