A New York congresswoman is leading a push to preserve Asian American history and culture at the national level, calling for a new museum in Washington, D.C.

The idea is warmly embraced by Suki Terada Ports, a Japanese American activist and longtime New Yorker who has often found herself at the intersection of New York and American history.

What You Need To Know

  • Congress recently approved legislation by Rep. Grace Meng, establishing a panel to explore the idea of building a museum in the nation’s capital devoted to Asian American heritage and history

  • The idea for the museum is warmly embraced by Suki Terada Ports, a Japanese American activist and longtime New Yorker

  • Ports’ life has been defined by activism. Her drive, she says, stems from her own upbringing during WWII, when her mom - a native of Japan - was put essentially under house arrest

Congress recently approved Queens Rep. Grace Meng’s legislation, setting up a commission to explore the idea of building a museum in the nation’s capital devoted to Asian American heritage.

“Even as an Asian American kid growing up in New York City, I really didn’t learn too much about the contributions and even the trauma that Asian Americans have faced,” Meng said.

Ports, 87, said a museum like this is long overdue.

“I couldn't be more pleased that maybe I might see the cornerstone laid before I'm put down under a cornerstone,” she said.

Ports’ life has been defined by activism in her community. Her drive, she says, stems from her own upbringing during World War II.

At the time, the U.S. sent many Japanese Americans to internment camps out west. She and her family avoided the camps, but Ports says her mom, a native of Japan, was placed essentially under house arrest, forbidden from leaving Manhattan.

It was not until Ports grew older that she truly understood what had happened.

“My mother said to my sister and me, ‘You two had better do something to help other people, because you're lucky you didn't get put into a camp and locked up,’” she said.

She has spent her life since fighting for change. One example of that activism: her work to preserve Morningside Park half a century ago.

Columbia University was planning to build a gym there, but she and colleagues intervened. They argued the gym would split up the community, and contribute to racial segregation with planned separate entrances for students and for local residents.

Ports and her colleagues won out, and the park is now home to a pond, a waterfall, and quite a few turtles.

“It makes me feel so good to have you enjoying it,” Ports told a group of young adults sitting near the pond during a recent visit to the park.

Wanting to make sure that the history of the Asian American experience is preserved, Ports is cheering Meng’s push for a national museum.

The National Mall is already home to many museums – the newest of which was opened in the last decade, focused on African American history and culture.

Two other museums are already in the works: one devoted to American Latinos, and another to women’s history.

“I want to make sure that future generations of our students, of both Americans and visitors alike, are able to learn about the contributions of Asian Pacific Americans to this country’s history,” Meng said.