“Interconnected”
“Interconnected.”
Definition: mutually joined or related, where individuals are mutually joined or interrelated, forming a network or system. Another word I saw used was kindred, as in kindred spirits, persons whose interests or attitudes are similar to each other.
Friday, May 9th brought educators from all over Orange County, with different backgrounds and stories together. I felt like I was among kindred spirits, all of us interconnected, even though my career wasn’t in education. And if they didn’t walk in feeling that way, they left encouraged and interconnected as kindred spirits.
Coast Community College District Chancellor, Dr. Whitney Yamamura and Director Julia Clevenger hosted a panel discussion and UCI History Project curriculum preview for Mendez et al. v. Westminster et al. We celebrated the passing of AB#1805 putting this case as mandatory curriculum in California public schools K-12.
Over 22 years ago, when I first met Sylvia Mendez through Sandra Robbie, we were unearthing local history that led to the desegregation of California public schools in 1947. Sandra was filming her documentary on Mendez et al, and invited me to come and meet Sylvia. I remember feeling like we were family, right from the start. Sylvia’s brother, Gonzalo, teased me, calling me his Japanese sister. “Interconnected.”
Almost 4 years ago, I self-published “The Kindness of Color.” I never anticipated how relevant the truth and themes of our story would be today - standing together amidst adversity, against the wave of divisiveness and disrespect toward fellow human beings that flood the news daily.
Our families are connected because of 2 kinds of prejudice - adversities overcome by kindness, perseverance, and collaboration. The WWII incarceration of Japanese Americans led my dad to lease the family farm to Sylvia’s parents, Gonzalo and Felicitas. Gonzalo was born in Mexico and Felicitas in Puerto Rico. My dad met Gonzalo via his white mentor, Mr. Frank Monroe who served both families as the local banker. Frank was an elder at the Methodist Church and served on nearly every community organization in Garden Grove. “Interconnected.”
When the Mendez children couldn’t go to the “white” school because they were Mexican, Gonzalo found 4 other Mexican-American families with the same problem of segregated Mexican schools in 4 school districts. He hired attorney David Marcus, a man of Jewish heritage who was married to the daughter of a Mexico City physician, spoke fluent Spanish, and worked for the Mexican Consulate. “Interconnected.”
At the federal court trial, white Judge Paul McCormick, a dedicated Catholic and active in the L.A.’s philanthropic community, heard the case and after 7 months of study, ruled in favor of the families! Black American attorney Robert Carter, on behalf of Thurgood Marshall at the NAACP, wrote an amicus brief in support of Mendez et al. “Interconnected.”
You can’t make this up! The interconnections of Japanese, Japanese American, Mexicans, Mexico, Puerto Rico, White, Methodist, Mexican American, Jewish, Catholic, Black American…this history connects us all. It’s a beautiful tapestry of Americans coming together for the common good. If this could happen in the midst of a world war, then we can unite and do better! We are interconnected by our history, in our neighborhoods, schools, communities, counties and state!
The panel and question/reply was thought-provoking, relevant, and heart-felt. Here’s a summary of some of the key themes discussed :
Our panel of 4 represents about 300 years of life, lived experiences of joy and hard fought challenges in adversity. We have all experienced prejudice, bullying, bias, injustice, and threats, and we all put in the hard work and perseverance to overcome adversity. Education was key to where we are today.
Perception is not reality. “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” Just because someone looks very different from you, you can’t tell their hearts until you get to know them. Your best ally can be very different from you.
Experiences unite us. “You get me” crosses age, race, lifestyle, beliefs.
In my family, “Gambatte” in Japanese is a perseverance rally cry. “Issho-ni Gambatte” is more than “let’s work hard together.” It’s more like “Together, we persevere” for what is right, good, and just.
Everyone can make a difference in their own sphere of influence, their neighborhood, city, school, county and state! Together, we can!
The word “interconnected” was used dozens of times in the dialog. This history shows the interconnected network of all kinds of people who collaborated and changed history for the good.
“Smile” to family, friends, and strangers. Simple and impactful as it shows your good intent. You won’t always get a smile back, but when a sullen face changes and responds with a smile, it's worth it.
Smile, we are interconnected. Together, let’s “gambatte” for the common good.
Program Notes:
The program and panel discussion was recorded by Coast Community College District and I’ll publish the link under PRESS when it's available for those who want to listen to the whole program.
The UCI History Project’s “Solidarity et al” curriculum on Mendez et al will be available later this summer for educators. I’ll publish the link under Resources when it’s available.
In the Press
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