For Americans who believe in democracy and social justice for all, this time of renewed racial reckoning, political divisiveness, and increased violence against Asian Americans elevates the need for inclusive civil rights education and civic engagement.
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The Fred T. Korematsu Institute (KI) is addressing this need with a new nationwide touring exhibit and community forums.
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The exhibit centers on the story of the the WWII mass incarceration of over 125,000 Japanese Americans.
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More importantly, it connects this history to the present, highlights stories of intersectionality, and encourages civic participation to protect civil rights for everyone.
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KI also plans to launch online resources and other relevant programming in each of the exhibit locations in partnership with local organizations, educators, scholars and elected officials.
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The National Parks Service has awarded KI a matching reimbursable grant to support the initial phase of this project. KI is seeking additional partners to advance this urgently important initiative.
Exhibit Themes
Immigration & Citizenship
What does it mean to be American?
Belonging
How do you treat others you see as different?
Bearing Witness
What would you do?
Loyalty & Resistance
What is loyalty? What is resistance?
Solidarity
How do you identify? Who is your community?
Resilience
How would you endure injustice?
This is about all of us.
The WWII incarceration is not just about Japanese Americans. Woven together with the unique stories of each person in the camps are countless other stories of Americans impacted by and connected to this shameful period in our country’s history. Our goal with this exhibit is to include more of these stories, to show how we are connected across groups and throughout time.
Some of the related stories we hope to tell through our exhibit include:
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Indigenous Sovereignty
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Civil Rights Movement
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Model Minority Myth
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Muslim American Rights
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Immigrant Detention