by Jordan Clark

I first learned how to sew when I was pretty young--a combination of my own interest in arts-and-crafts, and family members who were willing to teach me the basics. I didn't stick with it much over the years, though I always wanted to come back to it eventually and have sewing (specifically on a machine) be a skill of mine. With this project, I finally decided to follow through on that particular aspiration. And I did! Over the last 6-months or so, I learned how to sew my own clothes, using a combination of actual patterns and DIY project instructions I found online. Beyond that, I was able to apply my new skill to other things--for example, it gave me the idea to incorporate fabric into artwork I made this year. I learned a lot from just learning one new skill; I found a new hobby, got some artistic inspiration, and learned a lot about patience and sticking to a goal.

The project I completed is not remotely similar to what I proposed back in September.

Originally, I proposed creating a series of lessons about Japanese-American history that could be used to supplement US History courses, as I have never been in any classroom that even begins to adequately cover topics that aren't included in the whitewashed version of American history that seems to be favored. Both Japanese-American history and having an accurate understanding of this country's history are things I am still very passionate about, but I did ultimately decide to change my project pretty drastically.

There is, objectively, so much improvement that needs to be brought to the way we learn about history; and unfortunately, most textbooks don't cover everything that they should. While I didn't create a whole series of lessons, I did find a lot of resources that I think are a good place to start if you are looking to broaden your American history education. Most of them are specific to Japanese-American history, but some are a bit broader as well.

Books:

Farewell to Manzanar, by Jeanne Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston (the author's memoir reflecting on her experience growing up in the Japanese Internment Camps, and the impact that time had on her family and community)

Final Bow For Yellowface, by Phil Chan (a piece of the history of the way Asian people and culture have been stereotyped in western art, specifically ballet, and how those practices are still around and need to be dismantled)

Obasan, by Joy Kogawa (a novel about Japanese Internment in Canada during World War II. I haven't read this one yet, but it's definitely on my list. An added bonus, I believe that this has been referenced in AP English Lit essays in the past)

They Called Us Enemy, by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, and Steve Scott (George Takei's graphic memoir about his childhood and growing up in a Japanese Internment Camp)

Website:

janm.org : The Japanese American National Museum (while they have an incredible physical museum, they also have tons of resources available for free on their website, as well as information on virtual visits, events, etc.)

Documentary Series:

Asian Americans, PBS (a three-part series about Asian-American history, available here)

Podcast:

Order 9066 (covers the story of Japanese American Internment during World War II; I know for sure it's available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify)