Let's celebrate Asian and Asian American Heritage Month

May is the official month to celebrate the achievements of people who happen to be of Asian descent. Amazing isn't it? That many people think Asians can't do anything or that anything Asian is bad!! Hmm. Well, this post is going to show that it doesn't matter the race. Anyone can make history!!

Eric Shinseki

-The first man of Japanese ancestry to become the US Army's Chief of Staff

Sessue Hayakawa

-The first Japanese actor in the silent film era, whose success, talent and sex appeal rivaled then silent film legend Rudolph Valentino

Jerry Yang

-American-born Taiwanese engineer who created the Yahoo! search engine

Maya Lin

-Created the travelling Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall

Anna May Wong-The first actress of Chinese descent. Her career went from silent film to sound film to television, stage and radio

Noriyuki 'Pat'Morita-The first American of Japanese descent to star on own sitcom, Mr. T and Tina

Connie Chung-First woman of Asian descent to be a nightly news anchor

Daniel Inouye

-Senator for Hawai'i. He was a member of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team, whose motto was "Go for broke". This was the first all Japanese military unit in the US Army. Comprised of American-born Japanese men and Japanese men living in the US, who were all eager to prove their loyalty to the US, both of whom were in internment camps spread throughout the US. He was the recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor. He tragically died on Dec. 17, 2012 in Bethesda, Maryland from respiratory problems. He entered the House of Representatives in 1959, when Hawaii became a state and was elected to the Senate in 1963

Gyo Obata

-Designed the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

IM Pei

-architect who designed the triangular pyramid shape of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH

Steve Chen

-Co-founder of the site YouTube

Heather Fong

-The first woman of Asian descent to head a metropolitan police force. In her case, San Francisco, CA

Dale Minami

-Attorney who won the case of Korematsu vs.United States. This case revolved around Fred Korematsu, who disobeyed the Japanese internment orders during WWII

Bruce Yamashita

-Attorney/US Marine officer who exposed racial discrimination in the military

Ken Kashiwahara

-News anchor. He is the first Emmy-winning journalist of Asian ancestry

Ellison Onizuka

-First astronaut of Japanese descent who went up with the space shuttle Challenger. He sadly died during this

Sammy Lee

-First American of Asian descent to win an Olympic Gold Medal for platform diving in 1948 and 1952

Dr. Feng Shan-ho

-He was the Chinese General Consul who saved hundreds of thousands of Austrian Jews during the Holocaust. He saved these peoples' lives by issuing them visas to Shanghai, China, against his boss' orders

Yo-Yo Ma

-A world renowned violinist

Amy Tan

-An author. Most of her stories involve some aspect or another of her Chinese heritage

Duke Kahanamoku

-Known as the father of international surfing