Feb. 19, 1942: Executive Order 9066
Executive Order 9066 issued by President Roosevelt authorized the incarceration (internment) of U.S. citizens of Japanese descent.
Continue reading
Theme: Asian American
Asian American
March 31, 1944: Frank S. Emi Interrogated
Frank S. Emi protested the draft during Japanese American incarceration and was interrogated.
Continue reading
Aug. 5, 2012: The Sikh Temple of Wisconsin Massacre
A white supremacist shot and killed seven members of the Sikh Temple in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.
Continue reading
May 30, 1942: Fred Korematsu Arrested
Fred Korematsu was arrested on a street corner in San Leandro, California for resisting Executive Order 9066, in which all people of Japanese descent were incarcerated in U.S. concentration camps.
Continue reading
Journey for Justice: The Life of Larry Itliong
Picture book. By Dawn Bohulano Mabalon and Gayle Romasanta. Illustrated by Andre Sibayan. 2018.
The first nonfiction illustrated Filipino-American history book for children tells the story of labor activist Larry Itliong, who organized farmworkers on the West Coast in the mid-20th century.
Continue reading
The first nonfiction illustrated Filipino-American history book for children tells the story of labor activist Larry Itliong, who organized farmworkers on the West Coast in the mid-20th century.
May 23, 1914: Indian Migrants on the Komagata Maru Denied Entry Into Canada
Nearly 400 South Asian immigrants — many of whom were Sikh — steamed into Vancouver’s harbor on the Japanese ship Komagata Maru in search of a new home, but were blocked from docking and disembarking due to racist immigration policies.
Continue reading
We Hereby Refuse: Japanese American Resistance to Wartime Incarceration
Book — Non-fiction. By Frank Abe and Tamiko Nimura; illustrated by Ross Ishikawa. 2021. 160 pages.
This graphic novel tells the story of Japanese American imprisonment during World War II, and the resistance and defiance that existed in these incarceration camps.
Continue reading
This graphic novel tells the story of Japanese American imprisonment during World War II, and the resistance and defiance that existed in these incarceration camps.
May 27, 1887: Massacre at Hells Canyon
In eastern Oregon, in an area now known as Chinese Massacre Cove, a group of white men murdered 34 Chinese laborers in a brutal act of white supremacist violence in the Hells Canyon Massacre.
Continue reading
April 26, 1968: Kiyoshi Kuromiya Led Protest of Vietnam War Napalm
Lifelong gay rights and anti-war activist Kiyoshi Kuromiya held a demonstration while in college against the use of napalm in Vietnam by announcing that a dog would be burned alive with napalm in front of the university library.
Continue reading
May 10, 1886: Lee Yick Wins Equal Protection Under the Law Case
Lee Yick won a Supreme Court case that said that all people — citizens and non-citizens alike — had equal protection under the law.
Continue reading
May 19, 1975: Peter Yew/Police Brutality Protests
Virtually every shop and factory in Chinatown was closed, with signs posted windows and on doors reading “Closed to Protest Police Brutality” to protest the beating of Peter Yew.
Continue reading
Fred Korematsu Speaks Up
Book — Non-fiction. By Laura Atkins and Stan Yogi. Illustrated by Yutaka Houlette. 2017. 112 pages.
Story of Fred Koretmatsu, jailed for resisting incarceration by the U.S. government during WWII. He took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court twice.
Continue reading
Story of Fred Koretmatsu, jailed for resisting incarceration by the U.S. government during WWII. He took his case to the U.S. Supreme Court twice.
Sept. 8, 1965: Delano Grape Strike Began
The Delano grape strike began in California.
Continue reading
Remembering 1882: Fighting for Civil Rights in the Shadow of the Chinese Exclusion Act
Digital collection. Primary documents, historical background, and more on the Chinese Exclusion Act and the history of Chinese American struggles for civil rights.
Continue reading
Teaching the Hidden Story of Japanese Latin Americans During WWII
Teaching Activity. By Moé Yonamine. Rethinking Schools. 18 pages.
Poetry, photography, and text are used in this role play to teach about the seldom told history of Japanese Latin American incarceration during WWII.
Continue reading
Poetry, photography, and text are used in this role play to teach about the seldom told history of Japanese Latin American incarceration during WWII.
Learning About the Unfairgrounds: A 4th-Grade Teacher Introduces Her Students to Executive Order 9066
Teaching Activity. By Katie Baydo-Reed. Rethinking Schools. 10 pages.
Students hold a mixer and a mock trial in preparation for reading literature about Japanese American incarceration.
Continue reading
Students hold a mixer and a mock trial in preparation for reading literature about Japanese American incarceration.
Americans Who Tell the Truth
Posters.
Portraits by Robert Shetterly and biographies of individuals who have taken a stand for justice.
Continue reading
A Young People’s History of the United States: Revised and Updated
Book — Non-fiction. By Howard Zinn, adapted by Rebecca Stefoff with additions by Ed Morales. 2022. 544 pages.
A young adult version of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States, ideal for 6th through 9th grade students.
Continue reading
A young adult version of the best-selling A People’s History of the United States, ideal for 6th through 9th grade students.
Asian Americans in the People’s History of the United States
Profile.
Brief profiles of people and events from Asian American and Pacific Islander people's history.
Continue reading
March 28, 1898: Wong Kim Ark Wins Citizenship Case
The U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark decision in United States v. Wong Kim Ark.
Continue reading
How to Make Amends: A Lesson on Reparations
Teaching Activity. By Ursula Wolfe-Rocca, Alex Stegner, Chris Buehler, Angela DiPasquale, and Tom McKenna.
Students meet dozens of advocates and recipients of reparations from a variety of historical eras to grapple with the possibility of reparations now and in the future.
Continue reading
Students meet dozens of advocates and recipients of reparations from a variety of historical eras to grapple with the possibility of reparations now and in the future.
A Lesson on the Japanese American Incarceration
Teaching Activity. By Mark Sweeting. Rethinking Schools. 4 pages.
How one teacher engaged his students in a critical examination of the language used in textbooks to describe the Japanese American incarceration.
Continue reading
How one teacher engaged his students in a critical examination of the language used in textbooks to describe the Japanese American incarceration.
Sylvia & Aki
Book — Historical fiction. By Winifred Conkling. 2011. 160 pages.
Based on the true story of two girls who meet in 1940s California and a landmark lawsuit on education.
Continue reading
Based on the true story of two girls who meet in 1940s California and a landmark lawsuit on education.
Ronald Takaki
Profile.
Ronald Takaki (April 12, 1939 - May 26, 2009) was an academic, historian, ethnographer, author, and activist who is credited with founding ethnic studies.
Continue reading
Dreams to Ashes: The 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre
Picture book. By Livia Blackburne, with illustrations by Nicole Xu. 2025. 40 pages.
Tells the story of the 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre in which nearly 20 Chinese men were killed, their dreams turned to ashes.
Continue reading
Tells the story of the 1871 Los Angeles Chinatown Massacre in which nearly 20 Chinese men were killed, their dreams turned to ashes.