Explore centuries of Asian American and Pacific Islander histories and stories

Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook is the most comprehensive, scholar informed, online history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders that redefines the American narrative for high school, college and lifelong learners in order to open unlimited possibilities for building a just, multiracial, and democratic future.

Influential people & movements

Pivotal moments from Asian American and Pacific Islander history.

Patsy Mink
Queen Lili’uokalani
Larry Itliong

Influential people & movements

Pivotal moments from Asian American and Pacific Islander history.

Patsy Mink
Queen Lili’uokalani
Larry Itliong
Patsy Mink
Queen Lili’uokalani
Larry Itliong

Table of contents

The Multimedia Textbook on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders is a narrative change project that brings together distinguished scholarship, open access technology, and ethnic studies pedagogy to deepen public knowledge about who we are, strengthen students’ historical empathy, and bring Asian American and Pacific Islander stories into every classroom.

Foundations

Foundational chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Global Capitalism and Migration

War and Empire

Race, Power, and Identity

Community Building

Solidarities

Community Overviews

Community Overviews chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Arab Americans

Bangladeshi Americans

Burmese Americans

Cambodian Americans

Chamorros

Chinese Americans

Filipinx Americans

Hmong Americans

Indian Americans

Indonesian Americans

Japanese Americans

Kanaka ‘ÅŒiwi – Native Hawaiians

Korean Americans

Laotian Americans

LGBTQ+ Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Multiracial and Multiethnic Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Pacific Islanders

Pakistani Americans

Samoans

Taiwanese Americans

Thai Americans

Vietnamese Americans

Landmark Events

Landmark Events chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

9/11 and the War on Terror

Asian Exclusion: Aliens Ineligible for Citizenship

People & Movements

People & Movements chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Asian American Activism

Asian American Labor Movements and Organizing

Asian American and Pacific Islander Women and Feminisms

Chol Soo Lee

(De)colonialism and (De)militarization in the Pacific

Labor and Activism Filipino Farmworkers

Multiracial Youth Organizing

New York Chinatown’s Immigrant Garment Workers: Women in Action (1970-2001)

Patsy Mink

The Tape Family and Chinese American Civil Rights

Vincent Chin

Yuri Kochiyama

Culture & Everyday Life

Culture & Everyday Life chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in The Media

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the South

Disability and Illness

Oral Histories and Storytelling

Social and Cultural Change in Hawai’i

Foundational chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Global Capitalism and Migration

War and Empire

Race, Power, and Identity

Community Building

Solidarities

Community Overviews chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Arab Americans

Bangladeshi Americans

Burmese Americans

Cambodian Americans

Chamorros

Chinese Americans

Filipinx Americans

Hmong Americans

Indian Americans

Indonesian Americans

Japanese Americans

Kanaka ‘ÅŒiwi – Native Hawaiians

Korean Americans

Laotian Americans

LGBTQ+ Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Multiracial and Multiethnic Asian American and Pacific Islanders

Pacific Islanders

Pakistani Americans

Samoans

Taiwanese Americans

Thai Americans

Vietnamese Americans

Landmark Events chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

9/11 and the War on Terror

Asian Exclusion: Aliens Ineligible for Citizenship

People & Movements chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Asian American Activism

Asian American Labor Movements and Organizing

Asian American and Pacific Islander Women and Feminisms

Chol Soo Lee

(De)colonialism and (De)militarization in the Pacific

Labor and Activism Filipino Farmworkers

Multiracial Youth Organizing

New York Chinatown’s Immigrant Garment Workers: Women in Action (1970-2001)

Patsy Mink

The Tape Family and Chinese American Civil Rights

Vincent Chin

Yuri Kochiyama

Culture & Everyday Life chapters provide an invaluable insight into the experiences, both past and present, of Asian American and Pacific Islanders. From the impact of Western imperialism to the present-day struggles against racism and systemic inequity, as well as the ground work by the community and leaders towards a more equitable and just future.

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in The Media

Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the South

Disability and Illness

Oral Histories and Storytelling

Social and Cultural Change in Hawai’i

Stay in touch

Get the latest news on the multimedia textbook, information about chapter rollouts, teacher trainings, publicity and outreach.

Sign up for updates
Foundations and Futures Logo

The Asian American Studies Center acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and pay our respects to the honuukvetam (ancestors), ‘ahiihirom (elders), and ‘eyoohiinkem (relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.

© 2025 UCLA Asian American Studies Center

UCLA Institute of American Cultures Asian American Studies Center logo
Accessibility
Translate