When he was a child, George Takei and his family were forced into an internment camp for Japanese-Americans, as a “security” measure during World War II. 70 years later, Takei looks back at how the camp shaped his surprising, personal definition of patriotism and democracy. Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=17&v=LeBKBFAPwNc&feature=emb_logo
“Asian Americans is a five-hour film series that delivers a bold, fresh perspective on a history that matters today, more than ever. As America becomes more diverse, and more divided, while facing unimaginable challenges, how do we move forward together? Told through intimate and personal lives, the series will cast a new lens on U.S….
The Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund, a New York-based national organization founded in 1974, protects and promotes the civil rights of Asian Americans. AALDEF focuses on critical issues affecting Asian Americans, including immigrant rights, voting rights and democracy, economic justice for workers, educational equity, housing and environmental justice, and the elimination of anti-Asian…
Short film about an undocumented student at UCLA and the DREAM Act. Originally done through the Armed with a Camera fellowship through Visual Communications in Little Tokyo, LA. May 2007. Online: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jI7J2b3t4WU&fbclid=IwAR1SafOoQtpDnjFv5wODPj2PxEzXV4xVQnlaDbmrXRFqgO3oqc7rA_A6yBU
Provides a brief overview of the history of LA Chinatown, including profiles of some of its citizens done through interviews (including some done by local youth). Online: https://lachinatown.chssc.org/
Digital collection of photos on Asian American experience available online. Other primary and secondary sources on Asian American experience must be accessed in person but are catalogued. Educators may reach out to museum staff for assistance as well. Online: http://db.wingluke.org/
The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center is working on building out resources to support education in the classroom around Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. There are currently only a few entries but some of them are very rich, for example the collection of photographs around the transcontinental railroad. Online: https://smithsonianapa.org/learn/learn-archives/
A zine produced with support from the Chinese American Museum in Los Angeles. Online: http://camla.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/CAM-Roots-Zine-2017.pdf
Most of the lesson plans are ethnic studies focused, however there are some that may be useful for educators. For example, there are materials written for grade levels across K-12 on immigration and America using “A Different Mirror” Online: http://www.nea.org/tools/BrowseAllLessons.html