The Women Who Shaped Me and American History
Celebrating Women’s History Month
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.
First, one of the two matriarchs of the story, my grandmother, Masako Munemitsu, came by ship to America in 1921 when she was 17 as a young farmer’s wife. She never expected to sacrifice her dream for a better life through the Great Depression, the World War II racism that separated her from her unjustly accused, prisoner-of-war husband for 2.5 years, and put her family in a desert incarceration camp for over 3 years.
The other matriarch of the story, Felicitas Mendez came as a child from Puerto Rico, worked in the fields, and became a restaurant entrepreneur with her husband, only to fight racism that limited her childrens’ education and opportunity.
Both Masako and Felicitas persevered against the odds, proved their resilience, strength, integrity and character. They are true superheroes to me!
There are many, more women that played a significant role and sacrificed much in the midst of adversity. Enduring prejudice and incarceration during World War II took a lot of courage and resilience. They were loyal U.S. citizens no matter what the government accused them of. In my grandmothers, my mom, and my aunts, I learned what resilience and sacrifice really is.
My maternal grandmother, Moto Sasaki, died in the Poston Incarceration Camp hospital. I wonder if she had better medical care in an Orange County hospital if she would have lived. I’ll never know but I do know how much I wish I knew her.
My mom, Yone Sasaki Munemitsu, lost her own mother just months after losing her home, high school, friends by being sent to a desolate incarceration camp. Though her own wounds of trauma resided deep in her heart, she lovingly raised me to be resilient and strong knowing this is what brought her through it all.
My aunts, Rakumi Sasaki as a young college student, and Aki Nakauchi and Kazi Doi as young school girls, bravely endured the incarceration, attended school, and once released, returned to Orange County to re-start their lives despite all the obstacles they overcame.
West Coast Japanese-American women lost their freedom, incarcerated in remote desert camps, but still held their families together while working to cook, clean, and make these camp communities liveable despite an unknown future. They endured so much loss together but persevered to make a future for their families.
Kindness is…a community sharing difficult life experiences together.
Mitsuye Endo won her case when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in her favor unanimously. This meant the U.S. government could not detain or incarcerate citizens loyal to the U.S. Unfortunately, their decision came so late in December 1944, as the war was coming to an end.
Kindness is…sacrificing your freedom to fight for the freedom of the whole community.
Mrs. Babylon of Santa Ana, CA and other neighbors who helped store many West Coast Japanese American families’ belongings until their return from the incarceration camps.
Kindness is…neighbors helping neighbors.
Mrs. Coppedge of Cleveland, OH and other host families who hosted young adults, like my aunt and my mother, while they were on “indefinite leave” from the camps.
Kindness is… friendship and care from strangers in faraway cities.
Women of CRIT (Colorado River Indian Tribe) whose warm welcome and hospitality to the Japanese Americans meant so much to my mother when she returned to the Poston camp on a 1980s pilgrimage.
Kindness is…remembering what others have suffered with compassion and hospitably, even when you have suffered far worse.
Soledad “Aunt Sally” Vidaurri who wouldn’t enroll her own children if her niece Sylvia, and nephews Gonzalo, and Jerome Mendez weren’t not also enrolled at Seventeenth Street School.
Kindness is…courage to stand for what is fair and just for all.
Along with Felicitas, Mrs. Palomino, Mrs. Ramirez, Mrs. Estrada, and Mrs. Guzman joined the federal lawsuit because their children were also denied enrollment at the school district’s “white” schools. These five mothers and their families led the way for the class action case on behalf of thousands of Mexican American families.
Kindness is… sacrificing for the good of those you do not know, even the generations to come.
Sandra Robbie produced the award-winning 2003 documentary that brought the Mendez, et al. v. Westminster story to a national stage. This was a passion project for her as she fought hard to make the film happen with no budget and a volunteer crew.
Sylvia Mendez who overcame segregated school racism as a child. Though segregated from her playmates, Sylvia always had a love for school, and has persevered for decades to encourage students for decades to pursue their hard-fought public school education.
Kindness is… giving your own time to encourage and lift others up.
I’ve learned a lot from these women. In addition to sacrifice, resilience, and courage, I’ve learned a lot about what kindness truly is and I remember and honor these women this month with thanks and gratitude.
Kindness is…remembering those who helped you with gratitude.
In the Press
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