Historian, artist, poet and author Donald Hata will talk about the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II on Saturday, May 17, from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the Redondo Beach Main Library (2nd Floor Conference Room), 303 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach.
A native of Los Angeles, Hata was imprisoned with his family at a camp in Gila River, Ariz., when he was three years old. He is a retired professor of history at CSU Dominguez Hills, where he taught classes on U.S., history, Asian history and Asian American history.
Hata will discuss the issues that led to the mass incarceration and his own personal experiences. His poems and watercolor paintings reflect the harsh realities of camp life.
This event is being held in observance of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, which provides an opportunity to learn about the history and contributions of Asian American communities.
Free and open to the public. Copies of Hata’s book, “Japanese Americans and World War II: Mass Removal, Imprisonment, and Redress,” will be for sale.
Info: (310) 318-0675, www.redondo.org/library