Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Celebrate with your library by reading a book recommended by the library’s Asian Pacific Heritage Team. The library is also hosting live and on-demand events and programs.
Events and Programs
Residual Trauma: The Island of Dokdo
Video available online from May 1 to 30
Watch selected scenes from the documentary Land of My Father (아버지의 땅) and hear a discussion with filmmakers Matthew Koshmrl and Christina Sun Kim. The film is about two individuals who take on the establishment in an attempt to change accepted historical narratives about the Japanese occupation of Korea.
Vietnamese Bilingual Storytime & Cultural Crafts
Video available online from May 2 to June 2
Join Trần Thị Minh Phước for fun and educational activities. Children and their families will sing songs, hear stories, learn greetings and numbers in Vietnamese, and create a beaded dragonfly. A limited number of dragonfly craft kits will be available at these locations starting April 25: Augsburg Park, Brooklyn Park, Edina, Franklin, Oxboro, and Washburn.
Writer to Writer: Ed Bok Lee and Kevin Yang
May 4, 7-8:15pm
Join writers Ed Bok Lee and Kevin Yang in a conversation about their writing, lives and mutual admiration. Lee and Yang will reflect on their identities as Asian American artists living in Minnesota and creating art for themselves versus creating art for their communities. They will also explore writing in different languages.
Dial-A-Story for Adults
May 11-17
Call 612-543-8851 to hear a staff member read "The White Umbrella," a short story by Gish Jen about a twelve-year-old Chinese American girl who longs for a certain white umbrella.
Author Talk: Paula Yoo
Thursday, May 19, 7-8 p.m.
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the murder of Vincent Chin, whose death galvanized the Asian American movement. Paula Yoo's From a Whisper to a Rallying Cry details Chin's life, as well as the subsequent trial that failed to bring his killers to justice. Join us for an online talk with Yoo, who will discuss her writing journey and share exclusive photographs from her research. A limited number of giveaway copies of the book will be provided to attendees of the event.
Book lists