Ep 53: Dr. Linda Tamura on Asian American Racism from World War II until Now

Clear Choices Podcast

When you hear the word racism do you ever think of Asian Americans and how they are treated? Since the pandemic, the rise in hate crimes and violence to Asian Americans has increased by 164%. That is a staggering number but this is not the first experience with racism that the Asian American community has endured in our country.

Today’s guest, Linda Tamura, who is a Sansei (third generation Japanese American) and daughter of a World War II veteran, is talking to us about the racism that Asian Americans experienced in the 1940’s when Japanese Americans were incarcerated in camps because of the war. She is the author of two books on the subject Nisei Soldiers Break their Silence and Hood River Issei. We also discuss the recent rise in hate crimes to the Asian American community and her ideas on what we can do to make things better.

A Professor Emerita of Education, Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, she is very involved in projects, exhibits, and organizations educating and celebrating the history of Japanese Americans and inclusion in Oregon. As a former elementary school teacher and university professor, Dr. Linda Tamura is a teacher of teachers and an educational leader.

Notable Quotes:

“I think that would be what I try to do as a teacher and what I try to continue to do now and that is simply to be a positive role model and a positive ally to others.”

“What can we do to make life better for ourselves but mostly for other people too?”

In this episode, you will hear:

- Linda’s history and how she became an advocate for educating and helping Asian Americans

- Why she made the choice to write her books

- What we can do to make things better for Asian Americans and all people

Resources and links mentioned in this episode:

https://lindatamura.weebly.com/linda.html

https://www.voanews.com/usa/anti-asian-hate-us-predates-pandemic

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2019/12/countering-stereotypes

http://niseistamp.org/

Thank you so much for listening! Please subscribe to the show, leave a review, and share it with a friend.

Find me on Instagram @clearchoicespodcast and on Facebook .

If you have a guest idea or want to connect with me, please visit my website www.clearchoices.live. I am also available for speaking engagements.

Are you ready to start a podcast? Use Libsyn, the podcast hosting, distribution, and monetization platform since 2004 and you can start for just $5 a month. Go to https://libsyn.com/ and enter the code “choices” for more than a month for FREE.

Coaching Information:

If you would like more information on the Clear Choices business and life coaching program, please e-mail me at [e-mail] or go to our website at https://clearchoices.live/.

**This post may contain affiliate links, which means if you click one and decide to make a purchase, we receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. We only share products and services we have tested and used ourselves!**