We know the life, legacy, and dream of Grace Lee Boggs and Queen Lilliuokalani. But, do we know the life, legacy, and witness of Rev. Linita Uluave Moa and Rev. Colleen Kyung Seen Chun?
Join us in May for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month as we learn more about less well-known historical figures across the United Methodist Church, U.S. culture, and internationally!
In terms of firsts, I was the first single clergywoman to adopt three children. My favorite biblical passage is Mark 10:27: Jesus looked at them and said, “For mortals it is impossible, but nor for God; for God all things are possible.” Through God, my life has been a miracle.”
Rev. Colleen Kyung Seen Chun, first Korean woman received into full membership as an Elder in 1983 California-Pacific Annual Conference
Emily Kau’i Zuttermeister (1909-1994) was a hula master originating from the tradition of her Hawaiian culture. Zuttermeister was raised by her maternal grandparents – a traditional practice of the time in which parents give their children to the mother’s parents to raise. She was raised with the old Hawaiian culture – growing plants for food and learning their medicinal uses as well as learning how lauhala weaving when it rained. Emily, at the encouragement of her husband Karl Zuttermeister, learned traditional hula traditions and chants from her uncle, Sam Pua Ha'aheo. Emily opened her own school for hula in 1936 teaching and mentoring many young dancers including her own daughters, Noenoe and Kuuipo,and granddaughter, Hauoli. Emily was honored as a Living Treasure of Hawaii as well as honored for her numerous contributions and service to the Hawaiian community (Emily Kau'i Zuttermeister | National Endowment for the Arts).
Kevin Lionga Aipopo was born in Tacoma, Washington to Randall and Leafatulagi Henderson. Aipopo, who identifies as a Black American and Samoan storyteller, poet, and community advocate, leads the 350 Pacific movement. The movement, led by Pacific Islanders, focuses on environmental justice and climate change that has specifically affected the Oceanic peoples and their communities. Aipopo incorporates activism into his storytelling and poetry engaging from a Black, Indigenous, Queer and Trans Samoan lens. This intersectional lens has allowed Kevin to create spaces of solidarity to “interrogate systems of power, challenge normalcy, and uplift voices within their communities” (Kevin Aipopo — Pacific Cooperation Foundation). Below is an excerpt from Aipopo’s poem titled “As I am”:
Born a child of two Oceans: Navigators and Storytellers molded from Brown skin, brown eyes, thick hair, and Thicker thighs.
Confined to an inbetweeness; Bleeding soil, stolen and scarred:
The space that separates my Mother’s ocean from my father’s ocean.
Dr. Kalpana Chawla (1962-2003) was the first South Asian-American woman in space. Dr. Chawla emigrated from India to the United States in 1982 after receiving her degree in aeronautical engineering from Punjab Engineering College in India. Subsequently, Dr. Chawla earned her masters and doctoral degrees in aerospace engineering from the University of Texas at Arlington and the University of Colorado-Boulder, respectively. She was selected as an astronaut by NASA in 1994. Dr. Chawla traveled on her first space mission in 1997 uttering the words “You are just your intelligence” while in space. She was chosen for her second space mission in the Space Shuttle Columbia in 2000. Dr. Chawla was one of two women in the crew and the only woman of color. Dr. Chawla died on February 1, 2003, along with six other crew members, after the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. Numerous awards and honors have posthumously been given to Dr. Chawla in honor of her scientific achievements.
Philip Vera Cruz (1904-1994), Filipino immigrant labor activist, worked closely with Cesár Chavez and Delores Huerta in shaping the farmworkers’ labor movement – primarily for immigrant workers. When Cruz was younger, he worked in the California fields for long hours in harsh weather conditions. This experience inspired Cruz to fight for better wages and working conditions for all migrant workers – especially Filipino Americans whose presence was, sometimes, overlooked. Cruz was a key leader in the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) who organized a grape strike in California to gain equitable wages for Filipino workers. Cruz was also central in the merging of AWOC with the United Farm workers which created solidarity in the farmworkers’ labor movement between Mexican and Filipino farmworkers. Cruz remained committed to his activist work in his later years when, at 87 years old, he marched to protest the acquittal of the police officers who beat Rodney King.
Further References:
Emily Kau’i Zuttermeister:
- Emily Kau'i Zuttermeister | National Endowment for the Arts
- Twelve Asian American and Pacific Islander Women to Know | Smithsonian American Women's History Museum
Kevin Lionga Aipopo
Kalpana Chawla
- Kalpana Chawla: The First South Asian American Woman in Space | National Air and Space Museum
- Kalpana Chawla: Biography & Columbia Disaster | Space
Philip Vera Cruz
- Thirteen Famous Asian and Pacific Islander Immigrants < The Immigrant Learning Center (ilctr.org)
- Pioneer Philip Vera Cruz (1904-1994) | Institute for Public Relations (instituteforpr.org)
AAPI Book and Video Resources:
BOOKS
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Zauner, Michelle. Crying in H Mart. S.L., Picador, 20 Apr. 2021.
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Catherine Ceniza Choy. Asian American Histories of the United States. S.L., Beacon, 2022.
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Lee, Julia. Biting the Hand. Henry Holt and Company, 18 Apr. 2023.
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Peter, Joakim, and James Skouge. Coconut Ratz and Kung Fu Cowboys. 20 Nov. 2018.
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Thomas, Nicholas. Voyagers : The Settlement of the Pacific. New York, Basic Books, 2021.
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Anthony Christian Ocampo. The Latinos of Asia : How Filipino Americans Break the Rules of Race. Stanford, California, Stanford University Press, 2016.
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
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Rutledge, Renee Macalino. The ABCs of Asian American History: A Celebration from A to Z of All Asian Americans, from Bangladeshi Americans to Vietnamese Americans. Bloom Books for Young Readers, 4 Apr 2023.
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Chu, Eugenia. Brandon Goes to Hong Kong (Xiānggǎng 香港). Eugenia Chu, 16 Mar. 2021.
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Shibutani, Maia, et al. Amazing: Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Who Inspire Us All. Penguin Young Readers Group, 2023.
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Ilima Loomis, and Kenard Pak. 'Ohana Means Family. New York, Holiday House, 2020.
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Lazo Gilmore, Dorina, and Kristi Valiant. Cora Cooks Pancit. New York, Shen’s Books, An Imprint Of Lee & Low Books Inc, 2017.
VIDEOS
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The History of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - YouTube
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Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month: Stories, Facts, History &… | PBS
Originally published by the General Board of Religion and Race. Republished with permission by ResourceUMC.