LibGuides: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Asian Americans Films

Videos by PBS

The Asian Americans Series filmed in 2020 by PBS and distributed by PBS, is found in our Films on Demand Collection.

It traces the story of Asian Americans, spanning 150 years of immigration, racial politics, and cultural innovation. It is a timely look at the role that Asian Americans have played in defining who we are as a nation.

Breaking Ground
In an era of U.S. expansion, new immigrants arrive from China, India, Japan, the Philippines and beyond. Eventually barred by anti-Asian laws, they become America’s first “undocumented immigrants.”
A Question of Loyalty
An American-born generation straddles their birth country and their familial homelands in Asia. Family loyalties are tested during WWII, when Japanese Americans are held in detention camps and brothers are on opposite sides of the battle.
Good Americans
During the Cold War years, Asian Americans are simultaneously heralded as a Model Minority, and suspected as the perpetual foreigner. It is also a time of ambition, as Asian Americans aspire for the first time to national political office.
Generation Rising
During a time of war and social tumult, a young generation fights for equality in the fields, on campuses and in the culture, and claim a new identity: Asian Americans. The aftermath of the Vietnam War brings new immigrants and refugees.
Breaking Through
At the turn of the millennium, Asian Americans have become the fastest growing population in the U.S. It is a time of tremendous change, as the country tackles urgent debates over immigration, race and economic disparity.

YouTube Videos

These selected videos located on YouTube come from a variety of sources and cover a wide range of Asian American Contributions, Experiences and History.

Asian American Heroes: Untold Stories
hile more than 21 million Americans today can trace their ancestry back to various parts of Asia, the stories of Asian American heroes are often left untold. During May, in honor of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we are recognizing and uplifting Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) women whose leadership, innovation, and creativity have made and continue to make vast contributions to our history.
Asian American representation and the changing face of comedy
ABC News' Zohreen Shah sits down with Asian American comedians Jo Koy and Margaret Cho during AANHPI heritage month to discuss growing AANHPI participation in the world of comedy.
Asian Americans Who Made Military History
Did you know that Asian Americans & Pacific Islanders have served in the United States military since the birth of our nation? We honor their service, sacrifice, and courage. Today, over 65,000 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders serve in the United States military. In fact, the story of AAPIs in service has been seen at every turn: at the birth of our nation, during the Civil War, in both World Wars, and current-day conflicts.
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As they have answered the call to duty, we must answer ours. How can we honor all heroes, past and present? Let’s provide care for our AAPI veterans—tending to our wounded warriors, providing quality health care, and addressing their unique needs.
Asian Americans | The Astonishing Story of the Men Who Built the Railroad
They were young men with dreams who helped build the Transcontinental Railroad. They blasted through mountains of granite and endured brutal conditions to lay tracks that connected the Pacific to the Atlantic. One of the most famous photographs of the 19th century commemorated the completion of the railroad. But the Chinese workers who had risked life and limb, were left out of the picture. #AsianAmPBS #APAHM