18 Asian American Men And Women Who Changed American History

The Great Book of Asian American Heroes: 18 Asian American Men and Women Who Changed American History

by Bill O'Neill

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7196 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	141 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE

Asian Americans have made significant contributions to American history, from politics to science to the arts. Here are 18 Asian American men and women who have changed the course of American history:

• Lucy Liu (born 1968) is an American actress, producer, and director. She is best known for her roles in the Charlie's Angels films, the Kill Bill films, and the television series Elementary. Liu is the first Asian American woman to star in a major American television series.
• Daniel Inouye (1924-2012) was an American politician who served as a United States Senator from Hawaii from 1963 to 2012. He was the first Asian American to serve in the United States Senate and the highest-ranking Asian American politician in American history. Inouye was a decorated World War II veteran who lost his right arm in combat. He was a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice.
• Patsy Mink (1927-2002) was an American politician who served as a United States Representative from Hawaii from 1965 to 1977. She was the first Asian American woman elected to the United States Congress and the first woman of color to serve on the House Education and Labor Committee. Mink was a strong advocate for equal rights for women and minorities.
• I.M. Pei (1917-2019) was a Chinese-American architect who designed some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the Louvre Pyramid in Paris, the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha, Qatar, and the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong. Pei was the first Chinese-American architect to win the Pritzker Architecture Prize, the highest honor in architecture.
• Maya Lin (born 1959) is a Chinese-American artist and architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The memorial is a black granite wall inscribed with the names of the more than 58,000 American soldiers who died in the Vietnam War. Lin was the first woman and the first Asian American to design a major national memorial.
• Yo-Yo Ma (born 1955) is a Chinese-American cellist who is considered one of the greatest cellists in the world. Ma has performed with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras and has won numerous awards, including 18 Grammy Awards. Ma is a strong advocate for music education and has founded several music programs for young people.
• Amy Tan (born 1952) is a Chinese-American writer who is best known for her novels The Joy Luck Club and The Kitchen God's Wife. Tan's novels have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 10 million copies worldwide. Tan is a strong advocate for Asian American literature and has founded several literary organizations.
• Chin-Ning Chu (1915-2012) was a Chinese-American physicist who made significant contributions to the field of nuclear physics. Chu was part of the team that developed the atomic bomb during the Manhattan Project. After the war, Chu continued to work in the field of nuclear physics and made important contributions to the development of nuclear energy.
• Wen Ho Lee (born 1939) is a Taiwanese-American nuclear scientist who was wrongly accused of espionage by the United States government. Lee was fired from his job at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in 1999 and was held in solitary confinement for nine months. Lee was eventually exonerated and the charges against him were dropped. Lee's case was a major scandal and raised questions about the treatment of Asian Americans in the United States.
• Julie Su (born 1967) is a Chinese-American lawyer and politician who currently serves as the United States Deputy Secretary of Labor. Su previously served as the California Labor Commissioner and the head of the California Department of Industrial Relations. Su is a strong advocate for workers' rights and has worked to protect the rights of immigrant workers.
• George Takei (born 1937) is a Japanese-American actor and activist who is best known for his role as Hikaru Sulu on the original Star Trek television series. Takei is a strong advocate for LGBT rights and has spoken out against the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.
• Kristi Yamaguchi (born 1971) is a Japanese-American figure skater who won the gold medal in the women's singles competition at the 1992 Winter Olympics. Yamaguchi is the first Asian American woman to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. She is also the first Asian American woman to be inducted into the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame.
• Michelle Wie West (born 1989) is a Korean-American golfer who is one of the most successful female golfers in history. Wie West won the U.S. Women's Open in 2003 when she was just 16 years old, making her the youngest winner in the tournament's history.
• Jeremy Lin (born 1988) is a Taiwanese-American basketball player who played for the New York Knicks in 2012. Lin became a global sensation during his time with the Knicks, leading the team to a seven-game winning streak. Lin is the first Asian American to be named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week in the NBA.
• Sandra Oh (born 1971) is a Korean-Canadian actress who is best known for her roles in the television series Grey's Anatomy and Killing Eve. Oh is the first Asian woman to win two Golden Globe Awards and the first Asian woman to be nominated for an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
• Awkwafina (born 1988) is a Korean-American rapper, actress, and comedian. Awkwafina is the first Asian woman to win a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy. She is also the first Asian woman to host Saturday Night Live.
• Chloe Kim (born 2000) is a Korean-American snowboarder who won the gold medal in the women's halfpipe competition at the 2018 and 2022 Winter Olympics. Kim is the youngest woman to win an Olympic gold medal in snowboarding and the first Asian American woman to win a gold medal in any snowboarding event at the Olympics.

These are just a few of the many Asian Americans who have made significant contributions to American history. These individuals have helped to shape the culture, politics, and economy of the United States. They have also helped to break down barriers and stereotypes and have inspired others to achieve their dreams.

The Great Book of Asian American Heroes: 18 Asian American Men and Women Who Changed American History

by Bill O'Neill

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	7196 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	141 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

FREE