The School of the Art Institute of Chicago joins the nationwide observance of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. At SAIC, we honor the long and rich history of Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders (AAAPI) who are integral members of our community and who shape our collective culture. An umbrella term, AAAPI encompasses a vast diaspora of racial and ethnic communities spanning more than 40 countries and possessing distinct cultures, customs, religions, languages, histories, and experiences. Check the Multicultural Affairs webpage and Engage for more events and information.
This virtual pop-up library was curated by members of the SAIC community and Flaxman Librarians. It is a non-exhaustive list to help folks learn, explore, and celebrate AAAPI history, resources, and creators. Are there resources you would like to see included? We welcome you to email flaxman@saic.edu to suggest additions. This guide was last updated in spring 2023.
Highlighted Resource for Members of the AAAPI Community
Navigation
Embarking on self-education can be daunting. Where do you start? This section is a selection of resources to help if you are new to these topics. After checking these out, the sections below have resources to help you dig deeper.
Something Strong Within [Short film] by 
The Orange Story [Short Narrative Film] by 
Who Killed Vincent Chin? [Feature Documentary] by 
Who's Next? [Feature Documentary] by AAPI Civil Rights Heroes [Video Series from Advancing Justice - Asian Law Caucus]:
Audio
Books + Articles
The Eastern Origins of Western Civilisation by 
Yellow Peril!: An Archive of Anti-Asian Fear by 
America for Americans: A History of Xenophobia in the United States by 
Impossible Subjects: Illegal Aliens and the Making of Modern America by 
Representations: Doing Asian American Rhetoric by Collections + Guides + Other Resources
Audio
Books + Articles
Minor Feelings by 
The Next American Revolution: Sustainable Activism for the Twenty-first Century by 
Asianfail: Narratives of Disenchantment and the Model Minority by 
Racial Melancholia, Racial Dissociation: On the Social and Psychic Lives of Asian Americans by Collections + Guides + Other Resources
This is Home: A Refugee Story [Documentary] by 
Searching For Anna Mae Wong [Short Documentary] by Audio
Books + Articles
Disability Visibility: First-person Stories from the Twenty-first Century by 
How Does It Feel to Be a Problem? by 
Relationships among Asian American Women by 
Drawing New Color Lines: Transnational Asian American Graphic Narratives by 
The Legend of Auntie Po by Collections + Guides + Other Resources
Liquid Image [Video Art] by 
The Namesake [Feature Film] by Audio
Books + Articles
Envisioning Diaspora, Asian American Visual Arts Collectives by 
The Asian American Avant-Garde by 
War Baby / Love Child by 
Queering Contemporary Asian American Art by 
Moving the Image: Independent Asian Pacific American Media Arts by 
Screening Asian Americans by 
Asian American Literature by 
Patty Chang: the Wandering Lake by Collections + Guides + Other Resources
Connect: AAAPI Institutions, Organizations, and Services
Learn about SAIC's current Student Affinity Groups to find ways to connect at school!
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