In 2020/21 we have seen a dramatic increase in verbal and physical attacks against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI), accompanying a rise in racist rhetoric that scapegoated China for the coronavirus pandemic. Anti-Asian discrimination and racism have a long history in the U.S. and tend to worsen during periods of tension and fear. Listen to a former professor of Asian American studies and learn about the history of anti-Asian violence in the U.S. and how today’s situation parallels the past.
A teaching idea for this moment is to listen to this podcast and have your students reflect if they believe divisive speech can lead to violence.
We’ve compiled a Listenwise story collection that features a variety of stories about the experiences and contributions of Asian and Pacific Americans, addressing topics such as exclusionary immigration policies, sword fighting traditions, and representation of Asian Americans in Hollywood films. For Asian Pacific American Heritage Month and beyond that month explore podcasts that highlight the challenges and triumphs of Asian Pacific Americans and learn about their cultural heritage.
Listening to podcasts featuring authentic voices can connect students to specific moments in time and promote understanding of others’ perspectives. Our podcast lessons below can be flexibly integrated into instruction in a variety of ways. Use these podcasts to help students learn about the generations of Asian and Pacific Americans who have shaped and enriched America’s history.
Listenwise Stories
Culture & Identity
- Asian Americans in Film
- Diversity in New Comic Book Characters
- Eddie Huang: Cultural Identity and Food
- Amy Tan’s Valley of Amazement
- Chinese New Year Brings Red Envelopes with Cash
- China Embraces Marathons
- Super Wealthy Children in China Learn Empathy
- Chinese Oreo Cookies
- Japanese Sword Fighting: Kendo
- Making Lunch in Japan is High Stakes
- Jhumpa Lahiri’s American Identity
- Diwali Celebrates Family
U.S History
- Entering the U.S. During the Chinese Exclusion Act
- The Human Impact of the Chinese Exclusion Act
- U.S. China Trade Relationship Shaky
- The Creative Art of Coping in Japanese Internment
- What Japanese Americans Lost During WWII Internment
- U.S. President Visits Hiroshima
- US Lifts Arms Ban on Vietnam
- North Korea and U.S. Agree to Historic Meeting
- History of Racism Against Asian Americans
World History
- Japanese Emperor Steps Down
- Japan’s Emperor Tradition About to Change
- Japan’s Apology to China
- China: A Peaceful Empire?
- Looking Back at Beijing’s Tiananmen Square Protest, 25 Years Later
- A Democracy Advocate in China and Author of Wolf Totem
- Confucius and Chinese Culture
- China’s One Child Policy Ends
- Ancient Chinese Coins Reflect History
- Convenience Economy Clutters Up China
- Chinese Foot-binding
- Mao Zedong and the Cultural Revolution
- Revising Genghis Khan’s Legacy as Leader of the Mongol Empire
- Two Koreas, One Conflict
- South Korea Impeaches Its President
- Surviving the Cambodian Killing Fields
- A Khmer Rouge Survival Story
- Justice Delayed: The Cambodian Genocide
- Nobel Peace Prize Winner Aung San Suu Kyi
- Where to Bury a Former Philippine Dictator
- India-Pakistan Relations
- Trouble between India and Pakistan Dates Back to Partition
- The Island of Stone Money
Politics & Society
- First DACA Rhodes Scholar
- North Korean Figure Skaters
- Who Can Call Themselves Brown?
- Debate: Should Race Be Considered in College Admissions?
- Race-Conscious Admissions Allowed at Harvard
- Debate: Should One Test Determine Students’ Academic Futures?
- Indian Companies Anxious Over Visa Access
- Caste System in Modern Day India
- Child Brides in India
- Press Freedom Around the World
- Debate: Should houses of worship decide who may enter?
- Rohingya Refugees Trying to Make a New Life
- Immigrant Entrepreneurs
- Debate: Should Women Be Allowed to be Religious Leaders in any Faith?
- Dangerous Cave Rescue of Teenage Boys
- Debate: What Helps Students Learn Best? A Lesson from China
- China Shapes the Way It’s Seen by the World
Other High-Quality Educational Resources
- Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Library of Congress
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month – National Park Service
- We are Not A Stereotype – Smithsonian Institution
- Asian American Racial Justice Toolkit – A collection of resources from grassroots organizations hosted by Asian American Pacific Islanders for Civic Empowerment.
- Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage and History in the U.S. – National Endowment for the Humanities
- The Story Behind Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – TIME
- Asian Reflections on the American Landscape: Identifying Asian Heritage – National Park Service
- Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – Teaching Tolerance
- I Am Asian American – Learning for Justice
- PBS Stories on Asians and Pacific Islanders – PBS
- Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center – Smithsonian Institution
- Collections on the Transcontinental Railroad – Smithsonian Institution
