As kids, we are told America is the great melting pot, the land of the free where no one is discriminated against. At age 4, George Takei discovered how false this statement was when he woke up to find his family was being forced to leave their home, jobs, and most belongings behind and was sent to a detention center with other Japanese Americans. George's family did nothing wrong and had been in American more than one generation. They just happened to be Japanese American in 1942, when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese, which gave America license to give into racial prejudice, fear, and hate. George's family, and all other Japanese Americans, lost everything when their finances and homes were seized. In this graphic novel, George shares his family's experiences and how this event dramatically changed the lives of all American citizens with a Japanese heritage. America vowed never to let prejudice and fear win again. Read this book to learn about one of America's greatest mistakes, so we are not sentenced to repeat it again. This is an essential story to read as we continue to detain more people at our border. George Takei, who went on to become famous for his role as Captain Sulu in Star Trek, has become a human rights activist whose words inspire empathy and kindness. Becker's black and white images mirror George's innocence as a young child who is protected by his parents as they deal with a horrific reality. The reader will mimic George's move from innocence to anger as he realizes what has happened to his family and all other Japanese Americans. This is a moving introduction to a terrible event in American history, and it should be incorporated into all American history classes. Highly, highly recommended!
They Called Us Enemy by George Takei
As kids, we are told America is the great melting pot, the land of the free where no one is discriminated against. At age 4, George Takei discovered how false this statement was when he woke up to find his family was being forced to leave their home, jobs, and most belongings behind and was sent to a detention center with other Japanese Americans. George's family did nothing wrong and had been in American more than one generation. They just happened to be Japanese American in 1942, when Pearl Harbor was bombed by the Japanese, which gave America license to give into racial prejudice, fear, and hate. George's family, and all other Japanese Americans, lost everything when their finances and homes were seized. In this graphic novel, George shares his family's experiences and how this event dramatically changed the lives of all American citizens with a Japanese heritage. America vowed never to let prejudice and fear win again. Read this book to learn about one of America's greatest mistakes, so we are not sentenced to repeat it again. This is an essential story to read as we continue to detain more people at our border. George Takei, who went on to become famous for his role as Captain Sulu in Star Trek, has become a human rights activist whose words inspire empathy and kindness. Becker's black and white images mirror George's innocence as a young child who is protected by his parents as they deal with a horrific reality. The reader will mimic George's move from innocence to anger as he realizes what has happened to his family and all other Japanese Americans. This is a moving introduction to a terrible event in American history, and it should be incorporated into all American history classes. Highly, highly recommended!
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AuthorMs. Smith has been the librarian at Washington HS in Sioux Falls, SD, since 2005. She enjoys reading, watching K-Dramas, Harry Potter and hanging out with her family. Archives
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