The Glendora Public Library would like to bring the community together through the book Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston.
Farewell to Manzanar overview:
Jeanne Wakatsuki was seven years old in 1942 when her family was uprooted from their home and sent to live at Manzanar internment camp—with 10,000 other Japanese Americans. Along with searchlight towers and armed guards, Manzanar ludicrously featured cheerleaders, Boy Scouts, sock hops, baton twirling lessons and a dance band called the Jive Bombers who would play any popular song except the nation's #1 hit: "Don't Fence Me In."
Farewell to Manzanar is the true story of one spirited Japanese-American family's attempt to survive . . . and of a native-born American child who discovered what it was like to grow up behind barbed wire in the United States.
California Reads programs are made possible with support from Cal Humanities in partnership with California Center for the Book. The Glendora Public Library, Azusa Pacific University, Charter Oak Unified Schools, Foothill Christian Schools, Glendora Community Services, Glendora Historical Society and Glendora Unified Schools are partnering together to plan events which will help us learn about life as it was for the Japanese-American community during World War II. These events will are free to the community unless otherwise noted.
September 24th 6:30 pm / Bidwell Forum
“442nd Army Unit” Partnering with the Glendora Historical Society and APU, learn about the 442nd Army Unit comprised of Japanese Americans whose families were in the internment camps. They fought in Europe and the unit is the most highly-decorated regiment in history, including 22 Medal of Honor recipients. Their motto was “Go for Broke”. Survivors from the 442nd will be in attendance.
September 29th 2:00 pm / Bidwell Forum
The movie Farewell to Manzanar written by Jeanne Wakatsuki and James Houston and directed by John Korty. In 1976, the made-for-TV film was the first commercial film written, performed, photographed and scored by Japanese Americans about the World War II camp experience.
October 5th 4:00 – 6:30 pm / APU Darling Rotunda
“Teacher In-Service” All are welcome to learn strategies for teaching Farwell to Manzanar to students in grades 4th to 11th. APU’s Teacher Education Department will present this in-service and will have a display of artifacts and library materials relating to the Japanese-American internment.
October 6th 10:00 am to 3:00 pm
“Japanese American National Museum” A bus trip through Glendora Community Services to the Japanese American National Museum. The museum is located in the Little Tokyo area and contains over 130 years of Japanese American History, dating back to the first Issei generation. The trip cost is $10 or $5 for Glendora Residents. Lunch will be on your own in Little Tokyo. Contact Community Services at 626-914-8228 to register.
October 13th 2:00 pm / Bidwell Forum
“Citizenship and Democracy” Dr. Bryan Lamkin, Professor of History at APU, and Jim Nakano will lead a discussion about the issues of citizenship and democracy as they relate to the Japanese Americans in internment camps.
October 24th 5:30 pm / Friends Room
“Novel Idea” Book discussion group featuring Farewell to Manzanar by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston.
November 3rd 2:00 pm / Bidwell Forum
“A Tribute to Woody Guthrie” Jerry Burgan will perform songs written and performed by the late Woody Guthrie. Guthrie was a folk singer known for his songs of protest against social injustice.
November 5th 7 pm / Friends Room
Books Alive! book discussion featuring Lost City Radio by Daniel Alarcón. Through the stories of three characters whose lives have been turned upside down by civil strife, the novel invites us to question how we remember or do not remember history.
The Glendora Public Library is located at 140 S. Glendora Avenue, Glendora, CA 91741. For more information on these events, please contact the Glendora Library at 626-852-4891.
Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of Cal Humanities.