About the Book
The true story of two immigrant families,
their struggle against racism, and the kindnesses
that helped them toward a brighter future.
The Kindness of Color
The Story of Two Families behind Mendez, et al. v. Westminster, the 1947 Desegregation of California Public Schools.
The Kindness of Color tells the true story of two immigrant families who came to Southern California for better lives, only to face their own separate battles against racism in the midst of World War II. One family came by land from Mexico and the other by sea from Japan. Little did they expect their paths would meet and lead to justice and desegregation for all the school children of California in Mendez, et. al v. Westminster (1947) - seven years before Brown v. Education (1954).
Despite the discrimination and racism the Mendez and Munemitsu families encountered, there was one thing that helped them persevere. Acts of kindness by friends, neighbors and strangers encouraged their hearts and souls, opened paths to solutions, and created communities of support and kindness. This is the family story behind the case, highlighting the beauty and power of the Kindness of Color that made the landmark case possible.
The book tells the story of how racism against the Japanese-Americans led to Tad Munemitsu leasing his family farm to Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez during the forced evacuation and internment of 125,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II. When the Mendez family moved to the Westminster farm, the Mendez children were denied entry to the “white” school and forced to go to the “Mexican” school with inferior academics. Racism by the government and school districts denied both families of their constitutional amendment freedoms and rights, but acts of kindness along the way created the path to justice.
In 2022 we celebrated the 75th anniversary of this landmark case!
“Kindness is…being included on the National Park Service website!"
The Munemitsu / Mendez story is now included on the U.S. National Park Service website under All American Stories! Check the below 6 comprehensive articles about our story!
Author Janice Munemitsu and Sylvia Mendez wearing her Presidential Medal of Freedom, 2011.
About the Author
Janice Munemitsu is a third-generation Japanese American Sansei. A native of Orange County, California, Janice worked on the family farm from age five through high school. She is a graduate of the University of Southern California and Biola University. Her family name, Munemitsu, 宗 光, means source of light in kanji. She hopes this book will be a source of light and hope, and will inspire us all to cultivate increasing kindness towards one another. The Kindness of Color is her first book.
& Foreword Author
Sylvia Mendez is the daughter of Gonzalo and Felicitas Mendez, and a native of Orange County, California. As a young child in 1943, Sylvia, along with her brothers Gonzalo and Jerome, were denied admission to the White public elementary school because of her Mexican heritage. She is a graduate of California State University, Los Angeles. In 2011, Sylvia was awarded a Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award of the US, for her service as she encouraged students nationwide to value and complete their education—a service she continues to this day.
The Art
Learn about the inspiration behind the cover illustration and Haiku.
Reviews
We are honored to have The Kindness of Color endorsed by many reputable people.
FAQs
Explore our most frequently asked questions about the story and more…
Featured Blog Post
About the Cover Art & Haiku
Cover art by May Angeles Brueckner. Follow her on Instagram @IllustratedByMay
The vision I had for the cover of this book was for a symbolic illustration of kindness cultivating hope despite adversity. My friend, May Angeles Brueckner is a very talented visual illustrator and musical artist. May beautifully brought this vision to life as the cover you see here!
The hands represent the acts of kindness of many people of different races throughout this true story. The struggling vine makes its way through the barbwire of racism that segregates and divides people. The vine grows with the help of these acts of kindness to bring help and hope in times of need and hardship. Despite the adversity of barbwire that kept the Japanese Americans in the incarceration camps during World War II and fences that kept the Mexican American children out of the regular public schools, kindness cultivated hope against the sting of racism.
Kindness in three languages is shown in English, Spanish—la amabilidad—and Japanese—yasashisa—to emphasize the multicultural collaboration at the heart of this true story.
I wrote a haiku on the opening page of the book to express the role of kindness of many people at the core of this story. Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry. The structure of haiku is 3 rather short lines, with five syllables in the first line, seven in the second line, and five in the last line for a total of seventeen syllables. I’ve taken the liberty of writing an English language haiku to bring a deeper meaning to the cover art.
—————
Barbwire imprisoned.
War of bombs and racism.
Hands offer kindness.
Fences keep you out.
Fight for school for all children.
Hands offer kindness.
No more high fences.
No barbwire to imprison.
Cultivate kindness.
—————
Let’s cultivate kindness together everyday in many ways!
- Janice Munemitsu,
Author of The Kindness of Color
What People Are Saying
“Janice is a friend of mine, and she has written a book full to the brim with passion, truth and insight. The lessons you will learn as you turn these pages will help you not only understand the past, but will influence your future.”
— Bob Goff
New York Times Bestselling Author of Love Does, Everybody Always, and Dream Big
“The Kindness of Color is a beautifully crafted true and inspiring story of how the cross-cultural cooperation between two oppressed families and communities of color in Orange County, California, during the World War II era, led to a landmark case of public-school desegregation at the state and national levels. At a time when transformational courses in ethnic studies are being mandated at both of these levels, Janice Munemitsu’s book is ideally suited to being a curricular staple.”
— Dr. Art Hansen
Emeritus Professor of History and Asian American Studies, California State University, Fullerton
“In Janice Munemitsu’s new book, The Kindness of Color, she shares with us the difficulties and redemption of one Japanese American family during the internment period of WWII. She skillfully weaves in the kindness of color of a Hispanic family, a White banker, and a Jewish lawyer who was the son of Russian immigrants, as well as her own family. She shares how the kindness of different people was a factor not only for her family but the other families as well. How through the difficulty of internment of the Japanese Americans, the legacy of her family includes being connected to descendants of other family players in this beautiful saga. A must-read for those who are genuinely interested in breaking past the color barriers of our society to authentically see the goodness and kindness in the people around us.”
— Greg Campbell
Management and Leadership Consultant
Author of The Surprising Power of The Coil
“Today we live in a world that is in deficit in the capacities for kindness and consideration. For many reasons, we don’t experience the basic “I am for you” stance with each other. Life without sufficient amounts of kindness is difficult to navigate. Janice’s book inspires us to be intentional about kindness, and to recognize it when we see it. Set in a true historical context of landmark situations involving discrimination, and how a Japanese American family and a Mexican American family stayed connected and loving with each other, this book is a valuable contribution.”
— John Townsend, Ph.D.
New York Times bestselling author of the Boundaries book series
Founder, Townsend Institute and Townsend Leadership Program.
California
“In The Kindness of Color, Janice Munemitsu captures the story of two families, both confronting racism in America in the 1940’s. Its' lessons of perseverance, fortitude, and the fight for justice are relevant even today. The main message is that everyone, no matter how seemingly powerless, can change the course of American history when truth and justice are on your side.”
— Joseph Jimenez
Former Chief Executive Officer, Novartis, Switzerland
California
“What I love about The Kindness of Color are all of the many ways to show Kindness. One of my favorite quotes is "Kindness is...a community sharing difficult life experiences together.". Our country would be a much better place if we adopted just this one practice. This should be taught in all the schools.”
— Lacie Stevens
Co-editor of “God Calling”
Florida
“Beautifully written, an American story of the courage, patriotism and resilience of two Orange County families.”
— Honorable Frederick Aguirre
Judge, Superior Court of Orange County (retired)
“In The Kindness of Color, Janice Munemitsu provides the true story of two families behind the Mendez v. Westminster case that led to the desegregation of California public schools in 1947. By divine intervention, the Mendez and Munemitsu families met while confronting many forms of racism during World War II. Through it all, the unconditional kindness they received from others and returned to others ultimately proved to be a force for healing and change.
The Kindness of Color is a compelling work that shows how individual acts of kindness by many in the midst of gross injustice provided healing and encouragement, not just to these two families, but also brought meaningful change to the community, state, and eventually the nation. As the former superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District during the naming and construction of the first school named after the Mendez family, Gonzalo & Felicitas Mendez Fundamental Intermediate School in 1997, I believe this book should serve as a primer of imperative justice and be required reading in civics and history classes across America.”
— Al Mijares, PhD
Orange County Superintendent of Schools
“As an Orange County native and daughter of first-generation Indian immigrants, the intertwined stories of the Munemitsu and Mendez families hold a special place in my heart. I am extremely passionate about Mendez v. Westminster, and I take every opportunity to learn about the case and remind myself how grateful I am for the education I receive today. The Kindness of Color gave me this opportunity and much more by not only relating the story of Mendez v. Westminster to the incarceration of the Munemitsu family, but also expertly integrating family and community anecdotes to create a fascinating narrative. I loved this book, and I know you will too!”
— Jasmine Chhabria
National History Day Finalist, 2018
Keynote Speaker on Mendez v. Westminster
Class of 2022, Northwood High School, Irvine, CA
"I love history in general and this story is powerful. Beyond that, I really appreciated the “nuggets” of wisdom around kindness in each chapter. For me, that made the book more practical and relevant to everyday life right now.”
— Jayson and Amy Bales
Texas
“The book not only describes the kindness these families exhibited to each other. What stood out to me was that the adversity experienced created an opportunity for kindness and generosity to flourish rather than retreat. What I saw at the root of this was an attitude of gratitude which resulted in kindness and generosity. What a rich family heritage! This book was a highlight of my week and will impact me for the rest of my life.
If ever there was a need to hear a story of human kindness it is now. A true story of not only perseverance and fortitude when subject to injustice, but a response of kindness and generosity. I will forever be changed from the lessons learned here and I can only hope to have a fraction of the impact these families did for so many.”
— Bruce Bartolomeo
Veteran & Entrepreneur
California
“The Kindness of Color offers an engaging and unique true account of 1940s history. The book follows two immigrant families—one Japanese American and one Mexican American—as they confront racism in California during and after World War II. Munemitsu relies on family stories, personal interviews, and extensive research to document her narrative, but she doesn’t stop there. She shows how kindness and respect provide an antidote to bigotry and how one act of kindness can lead to another, until the whole world is changed.”
— Winifred Conkling
Author of Sylvia & Aki
“Kindness is being given a box of vegetables and fruit from a friend’s farm, and finding it filled with everlasting treasure.
This captivating story twists and turns like fiction but all is real, factual, and historical. This will be required reading for all students to grasp the impact and importance of our interwoven history, and serendipitous connections all the while, changing hearts towards kindness.”
— Tommy Dyo
Asian American Pacific Islander Community Advocate
National Director, Epic Movement
“Janice Munemitsu carries on the legacy of generosity and kindness passed down to her by her grandparents, parents, uncles, and aunts. In The Kindness of Color, Janice tells the story of her family and the Mendez family, and how their lives intersected in a series of historical events that changed California and the United States. The book shares stories of how people courageously crossed barriers and found common ground, even during times of intense division in our nation. By doing so they built better communities and better lives. Janice shows how ordinary people faced with profound hardship, like racism, segregation, and even unjust incarceration, can work together to assure that America puts its principles into practice in pursuit of liberty and justice for all. I highly recommend this book as a resource for hope and wholeness during our present times full of fear and foreboding.”
— Jeff Hittenberger, PhD
Chief Academic Officer, Orange County Department of Education
‘Love this book full of kindness, compassion, love, friendship, commitment, and perseverance! Reading this encounter gives me hope for a better future for our children and our children's children. Thank you Janice for blessing us with this story. A great gift to share with friends and family.”
— Lisa Madden
Florida
“Janice has an undeniable gift of sharing what happened to her family and others in “The Kindness of Color.” I read this book and cried at the injustices and the struggles her family faced. This book will help the reader look at the past with new eyes that says, “I will not let the past define me, but I will use the past as a tool that helps me treat people better than they treat me”. The Kindness of Color is a must read for all. An incredible work!”
— Catherine Muthey
Kansas
“Only in California would one immigrant family, forced into an internment camp during World War II, inadvertently impact history by leasing their farm to another immigrant family, ultimately leading to the 1947 desegregation of California public schools seven years ahead of the Brown vs. Board of Education decision of the U.S. Supreme Court. And that lease, instead of a sale at pennies on the dollar, occurred at the strong recommendation of the local neighborhood banker, Mr. Frank Monroe. Thank you Janice for bringing this story to life after all these years.”
— Jerry Papazian
Attorney & Business Consultant
California
FAQs
Is The Kindness of Color a true story?
Yes, it is a true story - nonfiction.
Where can I find out more about the Mendez v. Westminster legal case?
Westminster School Dist. of Orange County, et al. v. Mendez, et al. No. 11310, Circuit Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, April 14, 1947, Document 161 F.2d 774 (1947). Visit http://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov and search “Westminster School Dist. Mendez”
Also Philippa Strum’s book Mendez v. Westminster: School Desegregation and Mexican-American Rights is an excellent resource to the details of the case. (University Press of Kansas, 2010.)
Does the Munemitsu farm in Westminster still exist?
The Westminster farm property is now two schools: Johnson Intermediate and Finley Elementary, both in the Westminster School District. The land was appropriated for schools in the late 1940s/early 1950s via eminent domain which forced the Munemitsu family to move to other nearby areas to farm.
Does the Munemitsu family still farm?
After moving from the original Westminster farm, Munemitsu Farms continued to raise various crops like asparagus, strawberries, green beans, squash in Westminster and Garden Grove until 1974. They also farmed orchards of oranges, lemons and avocados in North San Diego County in the mid 1960s through the late 1990s.
Is there any monument or tribute to the Mendez v. Westminster case? Can I visit it?
Opening in 2022, the City of Westminster and the Orange County Department of Education have collaborated to create the Mendez historic Freedom Trail and Monument in Westminster, CA. The Freedom Trail will be a 2 mile long walking path and bike lane, with large illustrated educational panels outlining the history of equal rights in America. The trail culminates in a corner gathering place featuring panels about Mendez v. Westminster. This will be a great site for visitors, students, classroom and family field trips.
What is the difference between the book Sylvia & Aki and The Kindness of Color? Are they the same story?
They are based on the story of the Mendez and Munemitsu families, but Sylvia & Aki by Winifred Conkling is a short fictional book for young children, typically 4th grade readers. It is a delightful story for young readers but it is fiction, based loosely on fact. The Kindness of Color is the true, non-fiction story and is written at an adult reading level appropriate for 11th-12th grades and older.
What can I do to cultivate kindness?
Share this story with family, friends, neighbors and get together and talk about it. We have discussion questions for a one night book club on the Resource page.
Ask your local library to carry The Kindness of Color to make it available to more people in your community.
Give The Kindness of Color as a gift to someone and add a few acts of kindness with it!
Pick one of the “Kindness is…” statements in the book and see how many times in a week you can do something similar for other people you know and even for strangers. And whatever you do, do it with a smile! Can you do that for a month, a year? Keep kindness going!
Be Aware! Pick one of the themes of the book and read more on that subject. For example: school desegregation, Executive Order 9066, Japanese American internment, 1940s California history, Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT), US court system. Share what you are learning with others.
Ask your family, friends, and neighbors when they have been a recipient of kindness by someone of the same color and also by someone of another color. Share the story with us on the Connect page!
When did you receive kindness from someone of another color or culture? How and when can you do that same thing for someone else?
Check out www.letsbekind.org - a school campus movement to create student-led movements and cultures on school campuses nationwide. Follow Let’s Be Kind Day on social media and bring Let’s Be Kind Day to your local school. @letsbekindday #letsbekind
Do you have more questions?
Send in your questions to info@thekindnessofcolor.com and we will reply within 3-7 days.
Additional Resources for You
Cultivate Kindness by sharing the story! Check out our Resources page for helpful materials and links to more information for readers, teachers and students.
125 years ago, my grandpa, Seima Munemitsu, was born in Japan and later immigrated to America, where he became a farmer and was unjustly interned during WWII. Despite everything, he never became bitter. He was kind, hardworking, and loved by his community.
Today, he'd be amazed by how far Japanese Americans have come—seeing sushi everywhere, Japanese faces on TV and in sports, and players like Shohei Ohtani in the World Series. Grandpa never talked about the wrongs he faced, but he would be proud to see his story still inspiring others. Happy 125, Grandpa—thank you for everything.