New Digital Guide Brings Asian American Stories into Every Classroom

A team from UCLA’s Asian American Studies Center has launched a free online textbook that puts the histories of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders into the hands of teachers across the country. The project, called “Foundations and Futures, ” was built by around 100 people—including writers, designers and historians—over several years. Its goal is to give students a clearer picture of AAPI lives, from everyday struggles to major achievements. The book covers a wide range of communities: it talks about Vietnamese refugees, Hmong activists, Native Hawaiians and even the New York Taxi Workers Alliance. It also includes stories of women who made a difference, like a Filipina farmworker and an 8‑year‑old Chinese American girl who won the right to attend public school. By telling these personal tales, the creators hope students will feel empathy for people who have faced discrimination.The project began as a response to rising anti‑Asian hate during the COVID pandemic. The team decided that education could help fight racism, so they added videos and photos to make the content engaging. They also timed the launch with California’s law that made ethnic studies required for high‑school graduation, which helped them secure funding. Despite a political climate that sometimes criticizes diversity, equity and inclusion programs, the textbook remains free and tied to a respected university. Teachers who want extra material on marginalized histories can use it right away. The authors are now looking for more private money to add new chapters about Tongan and Taiwanese Americans, among others.