A new free digital textbook developed by the UCLA Asian American Studies Center is aiming to reshape how Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) history and cultures are taught in schools and universities across the United States.
The multimedia textbook, titled “Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook,” seeks to challenge long-standing stereotypes such as “model minority” and “perpetual foreigner,” which scholars say have contributed to the marginalization of AAPI communities in American history.
The project, which took years to complete and involved around 100 contributors including curriculum developers and illustrators, is designed to provide educators with a comprehensive and accessible resource for teaching AAPI experiences.
“Our presence, our practices, our cultural rituals and things like that are not deemed as ‘American,’” said Karen Umemoto, co-editor and director of the UCLA Asian American Studies Center. “The actual putting together of this textbook also became our fight for inclusion and represents our right to be seen, our right to speak.”
Co-editor Kelly Fong said the textbook will help students see themselves represented in mainstream educational materials. “Young people are going to have so many different opportunities to see themselves and their communities represented in this core text,” she said.
The textbook covers a wide range of AAPI histories, including migration, labour movements, community struggles and contributions across the United States, with additional chapters planned for future updates. It also includes multimedia content such as archival images and videos.
Researchers involved in the project said it gained added urgency during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw a rise in anti-Asian hate incidents across the United States. The development of the textbook was also shaped by broader discussions on racial equity and ethnic studies education.
“COVID, I think, was really one of the things that shaped the textbook the way that it did,” Fong said, adding that education can play a key role in addressing racism.
The textbook includes stories of lesser-known figures and communities, ranging from Vietnamese and Hmong Americans to Indigenous Hawaiians, as well as narratives of women such as Mamie Tape and civil rights leader Patsy Takemoto Mink.
However, scholars acknowledged that the project is launching amid growing political opposition to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives in education, particularly under Republican-led policies in several states.
Despite concerns that some schools may hesitate to adopt the material, educators involved in the project say it fills a long-standing gap in American history teaching and will serve as an important resource for teachers.
Education experts say the free textbook could be especially valuable because of its accessibility and university backing, even as debates continue over ethnic studies and DEI programs in schools.
The UCLA centre is now seeking additional funding to expand the project further, with plans to add more content on communities such as Tongan Americans and Taiwanese Americans in future updates.