Don Miyada, who grew up on land overlooking the Pacific Ocean, passed away just before his 98th birthday in April 2023; his legacy encompasses enduring WWII internment, heroic service with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and an unwavering spirit of patriotism.

Learn about how Gaman got the Japanese Americans through their wrongful incarceration in the Internment Camps.

This was my second trip to South Africa. Both trips I visited the Apartheid Museum in Johannesburg. Apartheid is such a complex and horrific part of their history, but very important for us to all understand. With all the societal racial issues we face, I went back to gain further perspective given my recent experiences speaking to diverse audiences about The Kindness of Color.

March is Women’s History Month. In addition to the notable and widely known women who impact our world, I want to celebrate our everyday female heroes. Maybe their names are not known “yet,” but their importance in our lives and their roles in our families, homes, neighborhoods, and communities is immense.

The Landmark Case finally has a landmark! To commemorate the 75th anniversary of Mendez, et al. v Westminster, et al. that led to the desegregation of California public schools in 1947, the City of Westminster dedicated the Mendez Tribute Monument Park on December 1, 2022. I’ve been on a committee for this park for about 5 years and the long awaited day finally came! Along with City of Westminster leaders, county representatives, students performing from the local school, and hundreds of community members, they opened this landmark and educational park for all!

I never much thought about whether the US government had a list of all the Japanese Americans they forced to leave their homes, workplaces, schools, etc. during WWII. They certainly must have compiled a master list of all those forcibly removed from the West Coast. But it wasn’t until Dr. Duncan Ryuken Williams, chair of the USC School of Religion, asked the question in 2020 that he found out there is no master list.

Oh, the amazing people I have met this year! For me, Christmastime is always a time to gather with family and friends, some I only get to see once a year. But imagine my surprise when The Kindness of Color has taken me back to connections made decades ago!

There was so much to unpack from the Poston Pilgrimage that I recount my experience over three blog posts! Be sure to see part 2 and part 3 to learn about my whole experience.

There was so much to unpack that I recount my experience over three blog posts! Be sure to go read part 1, enjoy part 2 here, and then part 3 to learn about my whole experience.

There was so much to unpack that I recount my experience over three blog posts! Be sure to go read part 1 and 2 to learn about my whole experience before reading part 3!

So much good has happened. And there’s still more to come! Here’s what’s coming up!

Well, maybe it was actually to get it written and published so Sylvia Mendez and I could have the long-told verbal story, written and in our hands! Now that it's been a year since it was available on Amazon, my unofficial book launch date, it’s a good time for me to reflect on The Kindness of Color - Year 1! Here are a few things I have learned.

This year, I got to meet two men who lived on those farms back in the 1920s. What amazing stories they had to tell about growing up in what they called “chosen area, sort of a gold coast” as children on the farms. Both remember coming to the area in 1927-28, just as the road, now known as PCH, was taking shape. 

Through sharing to many different audiences about “The Kindness of Color” this year, I’ve learned about some great resources re: the Japanese American incarceration and combating racism for educators, as well as all of us, life-long learners of all ages! There’s always more to learn! Here are some resources that I hope might help you this school year!

I was invited to Fountain Valley High School's Day of Dialogue, a day focussed on conversations about diversity and inclusion on the campus. I was invited to speak to 6 classes on The Kindness of Color and how collaboration can bring positive change for all. I expected that I would be talking to US history classes, but the day turned out even better than I would have hoped!

March is Women’s History Month! It started out as a week-long celebration in 1982 and grew to a whole week of honoring women in 1987, authorized by the U.S. Congress. Better late than never, in this month-long recognition of the significant impact women have made throughout U.S. history certainly, I want to recognize the many women who made history in the true story of The Kindness of Color.

Eighty years ago this month, on February 20, 1942, President F.D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066. History would prove that there was never any spy activity by these US citizens and residents of Japanese heritage, but on that day, February 20, 1942, Executive Order raised suspicion and falsely accused my grandparents and dad because of their name and the color of their skin.

Published…what? I don’t know any publishers, agents, and would they even be interested in this story by a new author? Do I even qualify as a new author? Self publishing sounded way too complex to me. I was looking at a huge project, strategically with thousands of details and feeling very overwhelmed.