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Birth of the Asian American Civil Rights Movement
Inspired by the African American civil rights movement and opposition to the Vietnam War, this movement started in the late 1960s and lasted throughout the 1970s. Asian American identity was shaped through grassroots activism. While protesting racism and exploitation, activists also firmly asserted their place in American society. -
U.S. government officially recognized “Asian or Pacific Islander” as a racial category.
The U.S. set official rules for tracking race and added “Asian or Pacific Islander” as a racial category, as well as Black, White, Hispanic, Native American, and Alaskan Native. -
Congress Passes Civil Liberties Act
President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, offering a national apology for the U.S. government’s World War II-era removal and incarceration of Japanese Americans into internment camps. The Commission stated that the wartime incarceration was not justified by military necessity but was instead the result of race prejudice and war hysteria. -
Undocumented Immigrant Inspires the DREAM Act
Tereza Lee learned she was undocumented while applying to music schools. She inspired the 2001 DREAM Act, which helps undocumented youth gain legal status. -
Anti-Asian Racism and Xenophobia during COVID-19 Pandemic
During COVID-19, anti-Asian racism increased, fueled by fear and misinformation. Hate crimes rose, worsened by terms like "Chinese Virus." Many groups and lawmakers demanded stronger protections for Asian communities.