Category Archives: History

Japanese American Internees – Then and Now Photographs

Photographer Paul Kitagaki Jr. has been tracking down Japanese American internees who were photographed in pictures like the one above by Dorothea Lange. He has constructed an exhibit called Gambatte! Legacy of an Enduring Spirit, which features pictures from the … Continue reading

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“Born Free and Equal”: Ansel Adams’ Book and Manzanar Photo Series

As a public official openly endorsed interning Syrian refugees just like Japanese Americans and a musical about the internment has opened on Broadway, the Washington Post has recently put up a montage of photos from famed landscape photographer Ansel Adams.  … Continue reading

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Review: “Allegiance” Brings Japanese American Internment to Broadway

The story of Japanese American internment comes to Broadway in this new emotional musical about the Kimura family, starring Lea Salonga, George Takei, and Telly Leung. The tale unfolds at Heart Mountain in Wyoming, following a family ripped from their … Continue reading

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8Books Review: “The Making of Asian America,” by Erika Lee

Erika Lee’s The Making of Asian America is a masterful work that surveys hundreds of years of Asian American history, taking an expansive view of both Asian and America, to the benefit of all. Lee investigates histories of race relations locally, … Continue reading

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Defining American Citizenship: The Story of Wong Kim Ark

As a child growing up in America, I thought of myself as not-American. In America, I was Taiwanese, I was Chinese, I was Asian. Though I pledged my allegiance to the American flag alongside my classmates of various ethnic and … Continue reading

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Seattle issues gesture of regret over 1800s anti-Chinese laws

I’ve blogged about apologies in from Congress as well as the State of California regarding the Chinese exclusionary laws. On Monday, August 3rd, 2015, the city of Seattle apologized as well: “The Seattle City Council approved a resolution Monday expressing regret for … Continue reading

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8Books Review: “Being Japanese American, 2nd Edition,” by Gil Asakawa

Gil Asakawa’s newest edition of his JA sourcebook, Being Japanese American is chock full of information and anecdotes to guide anyone through Japanese American life, questions, issues, etc. I should say, of course, that I am not Japanese American, but … Continue reading

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KQED: Stanford Project Unearths Personal Histories of Chinese Railroad Workers

Recently, the local National Public Radio affiliate station KQED’s program, Forum, hosted a discussion on the history of the Chinese railroad workers as the 150th anniversary of when Chinese workers began to work on the transcontinental railroad: “The Transcontinental Railroad … Continue reading

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8Books Review: “Between Mao and McCarthy,” by Charlotte Brooks

Charlotte Brooks’ new book, Between Mao and McCarthy, is an impressive scholarly tome on the evolution of Chinese American politics in the years after World War II. It looks specifically at the evolution of politics in New York and San … Continue reading

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AMC’s Hell On Wheels: How the Chinese Built America

The untold story of the Chinese immigrant experience during the construction of the Transcontinental Railroad. Back in 2011, when AMC launched its new television series Hell on Wheels about the construction of the First Transcontinental Railroad, there was some concern about “Do Chinese Pioneers … Continue reading

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Traveling Japan: August 6th, 70th Anniversary of Hiroshima Bombing

I thought it appropriate to post about my trip to Hiroshima, Japan on the actual 70th year anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima by the United States in World War II, August 6, 1945. Taking a day trip down … Continue reading

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October 25 in California is now Larry Itliong day

On June 30, 2015, California Governor Jerry Brown signed bill AB 7 making October 25 in California Larry Itliong day.  Who is Larry Itliong?  He was one of the key Filipino contributors, along with Phillip Vera Cruz (shown on the … Continue reading

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