Guests: Dr. Mitchell Maki at Go For Broke National Education Center and Carolyn Sugiyama Classen atSouthern AZ Japanese Cultural Coalition

An Arizona native, Cat often feels pressure to be a picture-perfect Asian despite her unfamiliarity with her heritage. She meets Dr. Mitchell T. Maki, President and CEO of the Go For Broke National Education Center in Los Angeles, an organization that promotes equality by preserving the legacy of World War II American veterans of Japanese ancestry. Dr. Maki discusses how many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated by the U.S. government during WWII experienced shame that drove them to reject their Japanese heritage.

Their discussion leads to Tucson, Arizona where Cat participates in a presentation by Carolyn Sugiyama Classen, former legislative aide for U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye. Carolyn details  her contribution to the 1980s redress movement, for which she drafted a bill that led to an unprecedented apology and monetary redress from the government. She also shares  the story of her father, who was expelled from USC due to his ancestry during WWII.

Produced by Catherine Jie Baxter

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