It has been almost 50 years since the United States government established that Asian-Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders and their accomplishments should be recognised annually across the nation.

What started as just one week in May has evolved over the decades into a month-long tribute in cities big and small.

The nature of celebrations has also evolved. Asian-American and Pacific Islander or Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is not just about showcasing food and fashion, but hard subjects like grief and social justice.

“I think the visibility and increased participation of organisations in Asian Pacific Heritage Month activities is also an indication of the increasing voice of Asian-American and Pacific Islanders in civic life more generally,” said Karen Umemoto, director of the Asian-American Studies Centre at the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).

“And also an indication of the spaces that we’ve come to collectively enter to be able to create those.”