Celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month on WFYI

Every May WFYI and PBS takes extra time to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month by shining a light on AAPI experiences and filmmakers. 

Enjoy this collection of films premiering this month on WFYI's schedule and streaming, as well as some gems to revisit. These documentaries celebrate the light and love in the diverse AAPI communities.

Documentaries that Amplify AAPI Voices

• Try Harder! WFYI and streaming premiere: May 2
  At Lowell High School, San Francisco's academic pressure cooker, the kids are stressed out. With a majority Asian American student body, high-achieving seniors share their dreams and anxieties about getting into a top university. But is college worth the grind?
• Waterman – Duke: Ambassador of Aloha WFYI and streaming premiere: May 10
  Narrated by Jason Momoa, watch this American Masters special to discover the inspiring story and considerable impact of five-time Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku. He shattered swimming records and globalized surfing while overcoming racism in a lifetime of personal challenges.
• Geographies of Kinship Streaming premiere: May 19
  This America Reframed documentary weaves together the complex personal histories of four adult adoptees born in South Korea with the rise of the country’s global adoption program. Raised in foreign families, each adoptee sets out on a journey to reconnect with their roots, mapping the geographies of kinship that bind them to a homeland they never knew.

Captivating Stories of Places & Politics

• A Tale of Three Chinatowns Streaming premiere: May 23
  Explore the survival of urban ethnic neighborhoods in three American cities: Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Boston. Through the voices of residents, community activists, developers, and government officials, the film looks at the forces altering each community and the challenges that go with them, including the pressing issue of urban development and gentrification.
• Plague at the Golden Gate WFYI & streaming premiere: May 24
  Follow the gripping story of the race against time to save San Francisco and the nation from an outbreak of bubonic plague in 1900. Two doctors used different methods to lead the seemingly impossible battle to contain the disease before it could engulf the country. Scapegoated as the source of the disease early on, the Chinese community fought back against unjust, discriminatory treatment.
• Chinatown Rising WFYI & streaming premiere: May 26
  Weaving together never-before-seen archival footage and photographs, Chinatown Rising reveals a deeply personal portrait of a San Francisco neighborhood in transition. Chinatown activists of the 1960s reflect on their years as young residents waging battles for bilingual education, tenants’ rights and ethnic studies curriculum that would shape their community and nation.

Cultural Explorations: Epic Songs, Microagressions & Egg Rolls

• Lea Salonga in Concert Streaming now!
  Captured in peak performance with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Tony Award-winner Lea Salonga performs the beloved songs she made famous throughout her Broadway career, as well as her signature songs from the animated movie blockbusters “Aladdin” and “Mulan” from the Sydney Opera House.
• A People’s History of Asian America Streaming now!
  Produced in partnership by the Center for Asian American Media and PBS Digital Studios, Athis series of short, dynamic and conversational episodes tells the history of Asian Americans through the microaggressions and stereotypes this community faces.
• Relish Streaming now!
  Chef Yia Vang takes us inside chef's kitchens as they serve up stories of cultural heritage through the universal language of food. A few great dishes that we recommend checking out on this series of shorts include Chinese dumplings, Cambodian inspired egg rolls, Sri Lankan curried lentils and Indian batata kachori.

WFYI Passport members can discover even more documentaries, dramas and journalism that explore the diverse experiences of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Learn more about this WFYI member benefit today!