Push For State To Require Teaching Of Asian American History In Public Schools – CBS Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A grassroots group known as ‘Make Us Visible’ is attempting to get Asian American historical past included in public colleges curriculum throughout the nation.

Mimi Chan is main the Florida initiative.

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“In my classes, I was probably one of one, maybe two Asian students,” defined Chan. “What really makes me proud is all the accomplishments we’ve made, how we’ve come together within this country.

Chan started a Change petition, which now has nearly 8,000 signatures.

“Florida doesn’t have the largest Asian American population, [but] if you’re American, you should learn. It’s even more important in places with less Asian Americans,” stated Chan.

Chan and different organized introduced this week that HB281 and SB490 have been filed with the Florida House of Representatives and Senate, pushed by Representative Anna Eskamani and Senator Linda Stewart.

High faculty college students like Julian Alexandre-Wang are additionally volunteering with getting the phrase out.

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“Trying to educate ourselves and others about our identity is very important,” stated Alexandre-Wang, who has confronted discrimination earlier than.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Asian hate incidents have surged throughout the nation. ‘Stop AAPI Hate’ reported greater than 9,000 hate incidents from March 2020 to June 2021.

Chan stated the harm and worry culminated with the spa shootings in Atlanta, the place eight folks had been killed. Six of them had been girls of Asian respectable.

“It was definitely a very challenging time, building up until that shooting,” stated Chan, who believes ignorance aligns with hate.

Chan is aware of getting this initiative required in colleges will likely be a problem.

“This is not a political bill. This is an education and public health bill,” she emphasised, hoping her fellow Floridians will perceive why it’s necessary.

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“To dispel the model minority myth, so we’re not constantly seen as perpetual foreigners,” stated Chan. “Learning about the fact that Asian Americans have such an integral part in building this nation into what it is today.”