The story of Asian Americans in the United States is one of profound transformation—from systemic exclusion and marginalization to active participation in building a more equitable society through solidarity and advocacy. Rooted in the founding promise of "all men are created equal," this journey reflects not just survival, but a deliberate push toward unity across racial lines, influencing broader civil rights landscapes. As America commemorates its 250th anniversary in 2026, highlighting this arc underscores how Asian American resilience has helped fulfill—and expand—the nation's ideals of belonging.

Roots in Exclusion: Barriers to Belonging

Asian immigration to the U.S. began in earnest in the mid-19th century, with Chinese laborers arriving during the California Gold Rush and to build the Transcontinental Railroad. Yet, from the outset, they faced virulent racism, culminating in the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act—the first and only U.S. law to explicitly bar immigration and naturalization based on race. This legislation not only halted Chinese entry but symbolized a broader "Yellow Peril" fear, extending to Japanese, Filipino, and South Asian communities through further restrictions like the 1924 National Origins Act. World War II exacerbated this with the internment of over 120,000 Japanese Americans, stripping them of rights and property in the name of national security. These exclusions fostered isolation, reinforcing the notion of Asian Americans as perpetual foreigners, denied citizenship and equal protections.

The Spark of Resistance: Early Activism and Pan-Asian Identity

Exclusion bred resistance. Landmark cases like United States v. Wong Kim Ark (1898) affirmed birthright citizenship for Asian Americans, chipping away at legal barriers. By the 1960s, inspired by the Black civil rights movement and global decolonization, Asian Americans coalesced into a pan-ethnic identity. The term "Asian American," coined in 1968 by activists Yuji Ichioka and Emma Gee at UC Berkeley, rejected fragmented labels like "Oriental" and fostered unity among diverse groups—Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, and more. This shift was amplified by the 1965 Immigration and Nationality Act, which ended quotas but also perpetuated stereotypes like the "model minority" myth, pitting Asian success against other minorities' struggles.

The Asian American Movement (1968–1970s) emerged as a grassroots force, demanding community control, cultural recognition, and social justice. Key to this was solidarity with other marginalized groups, recognizing shared oppression under white supremacy.

Forging Unity: Cross-Racial Alliances and Key Milestones

Unity became the movement's cornerstone, drawing direct inspiration from Black liberation. The slogan "Yellow Peril Supports Black Power" captured this ethos, as seen in events like the 1969 Third World Liberation Front strike at San Francisco State University, where Asian, Black, Latino, and Native students united for ethnic studies programs—the first of their kind in the U.S. Filipino farmworkers' Delano Grape Strike (1965–1970), allied with Cesar Chavez's United Farm Workers, secured labor rights and exemplified interracial labor solidarity.

Black-Asian alliances peaked in moments like the Original Rainbow Coalition (1968), led by Black Panther Fred Hampton, which included Asian groups like San Francisco's Red Guard Party for community patrols and services. Japanese American activist Yuri Kochiyama, a friend of Malcolm X, bridged worlds by hosting multiracial meetings in her Harlem home and advocating for Black political prisoners. These partnerships extended to anti-war efforts against Vietnam, where Asian Americans highlighted U.S. imperialism's impact on their homelands.

Tragedies also catalyzed unity. The 1982 murder of Vincent Chin—a Chinese American beaten to death by white autoworkers amid anti-Japanese sentiment—sparked the 80-20 Initiative and national campaigns against hate crimes, drawing support from Black leaders like Jesse Jackson. More recently, the #StopAsianHate movement post-2020 has intertwined with Black Lives Matter, addressing anti-Asian violence while confronting intra-community anti-Blackness.

Legacy and Ongoing Call to Action

From exclusionary laws to inclusive coalitions, Asian Americans have not only claimed their place in the American narrative but expanded it for all. This history challenges museums and curricula to reflect diverse truths, as seen in pushes for Asian American exhibits at the Smithsonian and ethnic studies mandates in states like California. Today, amid rising hate and policy debates, unity remains vital—evident in AAPI advocacy for voting rights, climate justice, and immigrant protections.

As we approach America250, this journey from exclusion to unity reminds us: True equality demands collective action. By amplifying these stories—through education, art, and policy—we honor the past and build a future where belonging is indivisible. Join the conversation: How has your community contributed to this promise?