From One Generation to Another…with Kindness!
“There is nothing new in the world except for the history we do not know.”
President Harry S. Truman
When Michelle Shinto was a student and learned about WWII and FDR’s Executive Order #9066, she asked her grandfather about his experiences in the Poston, AZ incarceration camp. E.O. #9066 unjustly accused and incarcerated 125,000 Japanese Americans as “spies for Japan” and marked these citizens as “enemies of America” due to their Japanese heritage. Jimmy Shinto was an American-born citizen and 16 years old when he entered the Poston, AZ incarceration camp. He told Michelle, “I don’t ever want this to happen again to anyone.”
Fast forward to October 2022, the Shintos drove me to the Poston Pilgrimage where I was the keynote banquet speaker and Michelle and her family got to see the place where grandpa Jimmy spent his teenage years behind barbed wire. Remembering her grandfather’s words and experiencing the pilgrimage, she heard more stories of survivors and decided to get involved in the Poston Preservation Alliance as a board member to help plan future pilgrimages and keep this important history alive for future generations. Not only that, but now Michelle works for Lockheed Martin in Washington and is an active leader in the Professional Asian American Network (PAAN). She’ll be giving a presentation this month open to the whole company on the Japanese American history of Bainbridge Island, WA - the first community of Japanese Americans to be forced to leave their homes for the incarceration camps in March 1942. Michelle and other Yonsei (fourth generation Japanese Americans) like her will be sharing this legacy for future generations!
Michelle Shinto and her dad Bruce with me at Bainbridge Island Memorial.
March 2024: Bainbridge Island Memorial Commemorating the 82nd Anniversary of the Forced Incarceration
It is said, “History repeats itself.” As humans, we are likely to repeat history that we don’t know. Instead, let’s learn about our shared history, what we did well and what was unjust and should never happen again. Whether it’s Black History Month in February, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander) Heritage Month in May, National Hispanic Heritage Month in Sept/Oct, or other months honoring our different races, this is our chance to become more aware of our many people groups and the stories of our past that contributed to American history. Let’s build on the successes for the future and never repeat the injustices and inequities of the past.
“The Shortest Distance Between Two People is a Story.”
- Patti Digh
I just heard someone quote this and it's true. I’m so amazed when people tell me, “you get me!” The first time this happened was with a group of young Latina teacher credential students in their 20s. After a group hug, I asked them, “What made you think that I get you?” They replied, “When you said, you liked to go to school, because you didn’t have to work in the fields as a kid.” While our lives today are nothing alike, our history shared a common desire for education!
This week, I spoke to a group of law enforcement Sergeants from all over the state of California. I heard a few had been farm workers in their youth - picking strawberries, peaches, or planting potatoes. Though our stories though the rest of our lives were nothing alike, I had some really good connections with these Sergeants because of a common experience in our youth as young farm workers. Stories connect.
And stories inspire! In April, I shared The Kindness of Color by zoom to Kady Kloster’s class at Del Mar High School, a California Model Continuation School in San Gabriel, CA. Del Mar’s student motto is “Where Second Chances Happen.” Kady is an exceptional teacher and with her leadership, her students are integrating character building in their curriculum. Kady has made a whole classroom project about Kindness and my book! See photos and Haiku-like poems the students wrote about kindness!
“KIndness is…giving everyone a second chance!”
Kady Kloster’s Classroom Bulletin Board @ Del Mar High School, San Gabriel USD.
Student Artwork of Kindness - Hands Reaching Out to Each Other by Cristian, one of her students.
The Class’ “Caught-In-Kindness” Box where students put notes where they have seen kindness given and caught!
Student Poem #1:
Yellow is Joyful.
Valentine’s Candy from Mom
Loved, Generous.
Yellow is Joyful.
Happiness spreads all through me.
Patience, Tenderness.
Yellow is Joyful.
Must have Kindness without Gain.
Compassion, Empathy.
Student Poem #2:
Blue is bright and happy.
Telling me how proud they are.
Happy, Grateful, Good.
Blue is bright and happy.
Telling people ‘good morning.’
Gentleness, Loving.
Blue is bright and happy.
Must have kindness to smile.
Words make an impact.
Student Poem #3
Enthusiastic
Must have Kindness to Others
Compassion to Me
Enthusiastic
I Feel Great When Kind to Others
Enthusiastic
Unselfishness
People Nice to Me, Happy.
Student Poem #4:
My Grandma
Always Shows Love.
I Show
Kindness by Sharing,
Words and deeds
Must have Kindness.
Stories Connect. Stories Inspire. How can you share your story this month to others to connect and encourage each other? Share your stories with me! Connect Here.
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