Quiz: Asian Pacific American Leaders
Who became the music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 1973?
- Ozawa was born in Shenyang, China, and attended music school in Tokyo. He will retire from the Boston Symphony Orchestra to lead the Vienna Philharmonic in 2002.
Who was the Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army?
- Shinseki was born in Hawaii and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy in 1965. He also holds a masters degree in English literature from Duke University.
Which Asian-American leaders were instrumental in establishing APA Heritage Month in 1977?
- Representatives Mineta of California and Horton of New York introduced a House resolution in June 1977. The following month, Senators Inouye and Matsunaga introduced a similar bill in the Senate.
Who was the first Chinese-American governor of the United States?
- Governor Locke was elected Washington's 21st governor in 1996. Governor Cayetano was elected Hawaii's 5th governor in 1994, and the first of Filipino ancestry. Governor Ventura was elected Minnesota's 38th governor in 1999.
Which Asian-American entrepreneur is co-founder and "Chief Yahoo" of his Yahoo! portal?
- Yang prefers the title of "Chief Yahoo," which evokes the playful nature of his successful Internet company.
Which leading sports figure describes himself as "Cablinasian," a hybrid of Caucasian, Black, American Indian, and Asian?
- For a complete history of the golf superstar's life and career, see the Tiger Woods Timeline.
Who was named Time magazine's 1996 Man of the Year for his breakthroughs in AIDS research?
- Dr. Ho is recognized as a leader in the fight against AIDS for his bold yet cohesive hypotheses about the incurable disease.
Which Asian-American fashion designer pursued a figure skating career for 15 years?
- Vera Wang made her name designing elegant wedding dresses.
Who is the Chinese-American architect who designed the glass pyramid of the Louvre?
- Pei's design for the Louvre met with great controversy in 1987. Pei also designed the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC, Boston's John Hancock tower, and Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Who became the first Asian-American woman appointed to a presidential cabinet?
- President Bush's secretary of labor, Elaine Chao, came to the U.S. at the age of eight without speaking a word of English. She served for a time as the director of the Peace Corps.
