Planning is picking up speed for the March 19 revival of the “Long Beach Reads One Book program, which will feature George Takei (of “Star Trek” fame) and his graphic novel, “They Called Us Enemy.”
Excitement is high for the event, as is interest by school teachers in several fields, said organizing committee chairwoman Susan Redfield.
The program is meant to get everyone in the community, particularly students and teachers, to read the same book at the same time.
“They Called Us Enemy,” the first book for the program after a years-long hiatus, details Takei and his family’s journey of being taken to an internment camp during World War II; and the first part of the book talks about that experience — making it a perfect text to start conversations about the affects of prejudice.
Takei, in an interview Friday afternoon, Feb. 7, said he used the graphic novel approach in telling his story because he thought it would reach more young people that way.
“Young people will be the voters of tomorrow,” he said. “They need to know about the history of what happened back then.”
The book also talks about Takei’s experience on the fabled television show and movie series “Star Trek,” and the barrier-breaking decision to cast a Japanese American actor in a leading role. It then talks about Takei’s travails and stories as a gay man, adding yet another layer of life lessons in the field of social justice.
They are important lessons, to be sure — but an obstacle remains.
“The issue is,” Redfield said, “we have all of these opportunities to discuss these important themes and values, but we don’t have the money to purchase the books needed to take advantage.
“This is coming up quickly,” she added, “and we need sponsors and donors to help us with a quick book drive.”
The Long Beach City College Foundation, the host of the Long Beach Reads One Book revival, is coordinating the book drive. All sponsorships and donations are tax-deductible.
Redfield said that a classroom set of books for a teacher, including a learning guide, costs $600. Ten books will run $200.
There are a number of ways to provide books for classes, students or libraries.
The foundation has set up a website dedicated to the Long Beach Reads One Book event, which includes a donation button: LBCC.edu/LBReadsOneBook. Checks also can be sent to Long Beach City College Foundation, 4901 E. Carson St., B12, Long Beach, CA, 90808; put “Long Beach Reads One Book” in the memo line.
Redfield’s organizing committee will buy the books and get them to classrooms and libraries.
If you would like to sponsor the program, or have specific questions, call the LBCC Foundation’s executive director, Paul Kaminski, at 562-537-8334.
In the meantime, Gatsby Books, 5535 E. Spring St., is stocking “They Called Us Enemy,” and the book is available online at Amazon.
If you go
What: Takei’s presentation on his graphic novel, “They Called Us Enemy”
When: 7-9 p.m. March 19
Where: LBCC Hall of Champions, 3932 Faculty Ave.
Cost: $10; free to students.
Information: LBCC.edu/LBReadsOneBook.
Public editor Rich Archbold contributed to this report.
"graphic" - Google News
February 07, 2020 at 06:43PM
https://ift.tt/3blHyvO
Long Beach’s Read One Book needs more of George Takei’s graphic novel for students - Long Beach Press Telegram
"graphic" - Google News
https://ift.tt/32EYpEQ
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
No comments:
Post a Comment