Babe Karasawa

[Anonymous]

That was a fascinating interview. I loved our docent, but wish I could have heard his story too. I guess I will have to go back to the museum another time to hear him personally tell his story. Thanks again for the links.

[clay dube]

Hi Scott,
I'm sure all the guides were terrific. Babe still volunteers every Friday, down from 2-3 days a week when he was younger.

[Rob_Hugo@PortNW]

Our visit today to the Japanese American Museum was so insightful. Our docent Babe Karasawa was so insightful on the matter as he lived it. Listening to him speak not only took him back, but our group members as well. Listening to someone tell us their life experiences was a great way to experience history. No textbook, no half stories, no need to imagine what people felt. He brought us in. I had a little difficulty enjoying all his stories, but the ones that I did were incredible. He told us about his ancestors. He had wealthy grandparents in Japan, but since his dad was the third child he was not going to get any of it so the father decided to come to San Diego. He told us of the day that his family received the letter that they had to leave their home. The day their home was search he wasn't home, but he retold us the story from his sister and dad's point of view.

Once he told us that he was sponsored by Orson Welles to leave the camp and attend school, I had to research him. I found links to the LA times and the smithsonian and the following links to video interviews:

1) Feb 17, 2010-This interview is by Marcus Medina-Gay, a New Mexican high school student.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fByV4WUx1Fs

2) Babe Karasawa discusses how his life changed forever once his family was ordered into an internement camp during WWII and how it was not until 1981 that he could truly grasp the gravity of the years he spent as a "rejected American."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtXmA06Ep84

edited by malvarenga on 8/8/2015

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the links! I was thinking find something related to this topic for my students to read, since we can't go from San Diego to LA to see him in person. I will definitely use those videos in my class.

[Author]

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