15 AAPI Heritage Month Trivia Questions
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the history, culture, and contributions of AAPI communities in the United States. It is a time to honor the struggles and achievements of the AAPI community, and to recognize the diversity and richness of AAPI cultures.
To celebrate AAPI Heritage Month, we've put together 30 AAPI Heritage Month trivia questions that will test your knowledge of AAPI history, culture, and achievements. From the first Asian American to win an Oscar to the history of Asian American activism, these questions are sure to challenge your knowledge of AAPI history and culture.
What are some fun facts about AAPI month?
Before we dive into the trivia questions, let's take a moment to appreciate the significance of AAPI Heritage Month. Here are a few fun facts that you might not know about AAPI Heritage Month:
AAPI Heritage Month was first celebrated in 1978, when President Jimmy Carter signed a proclamation to recognize the contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders to American culture and history.
May was chosen as AAPI Heritage Month because it marks the anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843.
AAPI Heritage Month is celebrated in May in the United States, but it is also celebrated in Canada in June, and in Australia and New Zealand in October.
There are over 23 million AAPIs in the United States, representing over 50 different ethnic groups and speaking over 100 different languages.
AAPI Heritage Month trivia questions
Now, let's get to the fun part: the AAPI Heritage Month trivia questions! Test your knowledge of AAPI history, culture, and achievements with these 15 trivia questions:
Who was the first Asian American to win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor? (Answer: Haing S. Ngor: Haing S. Ngor was a Cambodian American actor who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the 1984 movie "The Killing Fields". He was a survivor of the Cambodian genocide and used his platform to bring attention to the atrocities that occurred in his home country.)
What was the name of the first Japanese American to serve in the United States Congress? (Answer: Daniel K. Inouye: Daniel K. Inouye was a Japanese American who served in the United States Congress for nearly 50 years. He was a World War II veteran who lost his arm in combat and went on to become one of the most influential politicians in Hawaii's history.)
Which Asian American actor played the lead role in the movie "Crazy Rich Asians"? (Answer: Henry Golding: Henry Golding is a British Malaysian actor who played the lead role of Nick Young in the 2018 movie "Crazy Rich Asians". The movie was a critical and commercial success and is often credited with helping to usher in a new era of representation for Asian Americans in Hollywood.)
Which Pacific Islander was the first player of Polynesian descent to win the Heisman Trophy? (Answer: Marcus Mariota: Marcus Mariota is a Samoan American football player who won the Heisman Trophy in 2014 while playing for the University of Oregon. He went on to become the second overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft and has since played for the Tennessee Titans and the Las Vegas Raiders.)
What was the name of the first Chinese American woman to become a lawyer in the United States? (Answer: Mary Tape: She immigrated to the US in 1872 and settled in San Francisco. In 1881, she applied to attend Hastings College of the Law but was denied due to a school policy that barred Chinese students from enrolling. With the help of her husband and a lawyer, she sued the school and won the right to enroll.)
Which Asian American actor played the lead role in the TV series "Hawaii Five-O"? (Answer: Jack Lord: Jack Lord was a Japanese American actor who played the lead role of Steve McGarrett in the original "Hawaii Five-O" TV series from 1968 to 1980. The show was one of the first to prominently feature Asian American actors in lead roles and helped to break down stereotypes about the Asian American community.)
Which Pacific Islander was the first woman to win an Olympic gold medal for the United States in track and field? (Answer: Betty Cuthbert: Betty Cuthbert was an Australian athlete of Papua New Guinean descent who won four Olympic gold medals in track and field. She was known as the "Golden Girl" of Australian athletics and is considered one of the greatest sprinters of all time.)
What was the name of the first Asian American to serve as a United States Cabinet Secretary? (Answer: Norman Y. Mineta: Norman Y. Mineta was a Japanese American politician who served as the United States Secretary of Transportation and the United States Secretary of Commerce. He was also the first Asian American to be appointed to a presidential cabinet position.)
Which Asian American journalist was the first to anchor a national network news program in the United States? (Answer: Connie Chung: Connie Chung is a Chinese American journalist who was the first Asian American to anchor a national network news program in the United States. She has worked for several major news outlets, including CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN.)
Which Pacific Islander was the first player of Samoan descent to win a Super Bowl MVP award? (Answer: Troy Polamalu: Troy Polamalu is a Samoan American football player who won the Super Bowl MVP award in 2009 while playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He is widely regarded as one of the best safeties in NFL history and was known for his hard-hitting style of play.)
Who was the first Asian American to win a Pulitzer Prize for Fiction? (Answer: Jhumpa Lahiri: Jhumpa Lahiri is an Indian American author who won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000 for her debut collection of short stories, "Interpreter of Maladies". She has since published several critically acclaimed novels and is considered one of the most important writers of her generation.)
What was the name of the first Japanese American to serve on the United States Supreme Court? (Answer: Justice S. James "Jim" Otake: He was appointed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986 and served until his retirement in 2005. Otake was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and his appointment was a significant moment for Japanese Americans and Asian Americans in the legal profession.)
Which Asian American actor played the lead role in the movie "The Farewell"? (Answer: Awkwafina, whose real name is Nora Lum, played the lead role in the movie "The Farewell." The film, which was directed by Lulu Wang, tells the story of a Chinese American family who decides not to tell their matriarch that she has been diagnosed with cancer. Awkwafina's performance in the film earned her critical acclaim and established her as a leading Asian American actor in Hollywood.)
Which Pacific Islander was the first woman to serve in the United States Army as a four-star general? (Answer: General Ann E. Dunwoody: In 2008, Dunwoody was promoted to the rank of four-star general, becoming the first woman to achieve that rank in the history of the U.S. military. She retired in 2012 after 37 years of service.)
What was the name of the first Chinese American to win a Nobel Prize in Physics? (Answer: Tsung-Dao Lee: In 1957, Lee and his colleague Chen Ning Yang won the Nobel Prize in Physics for their work on the violation of parity in certain subatomic processes. Lee became the youngest Nobel laureate in physics at that time)
Why should you celebrate AAPI Heritage Month at work?
Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month at work is an important way to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace. By recognizing and celebrating the achievements of AAPI individuals, we can help to break down stereotypes and promote understanding and respect for different cultures.
In addition, celebrating AAPI Heritage Month can help to create a more welcoming and inclusive workplace environment for AAPI employees. By acknowledging the contributions of AAPI individuals, we can help to create a sense of belonging for AAPI employees and promote a culture of respect and inclusivity.
Here are a few ways to celebrate AAPI Heritage Month at work:
Host a cultural event or celebration to honor AAPI history and culture.
Highlight the achievements of AAPI individuals through a social media campaign or internal newsletter.
Provide resources and educational materials to help employees learn more about AAPI history and culture.
Invite AAPI employees to share their personal stories and experiences with the rest of the team.
Partner with local AAPI organizations to support their work and promote greater understanding and inclusivity.
Host an AAPI Heritage Month trivia event with Bar None Games
AAPI Heritage Month is an important time to celebrate the history, culture, and achievements of AAPI communities in the United States. By learning more about AAPI history and culture, we can promote greater understanding and respect for different cultures, and help to create a more inclusive and welcoming workplace environment for all employees.
Trivia can be a great tool to educate your team about the history of the AAPI community while also promoting team building and having fun. As an AAPI-owned small business, Bar None Games would love to host an engaging AAPI Heritage Month virtual event for your team.