Manzanar Committee

In their February 13, 2010 edition, the Rafu Shimpo published a story about Pasadena City College’s plans to honor their former Japanese American students who were forced to interrupt their studies at PCC and leave the college due to their imprisonment in American concentration camps during World War II.

In “PCC Graduation, 68 Years Late,” Susie Ling, Associate Professor of History and Asian American Studies at PCC, detailed PCC’s plans to award honorary degrees to their former Japanese American students per California Assembly Bill 37 (AB37), which was signed into law in October 2009.

She also spoke with Professor Dennis Lee, who teaches Asian American Studies and U.S. History at PCC, who said that awarding honorary degrees to PCC’s Japanese American students who were forced to leave the campus during World War II is an educational opportunity for current PCC students.

“AB 37, or the [California] Nisei College Diploma Project, not only allows us to correct a past mistake but it is a teaching moment," said Lee. "We hope to encourage our younger students to learn compassion as well as history. As part of this continuing education, we will be sending two buses of students on the Manzanar Pilgrimage.”

To read the full story, click on: PCC Graduation, 68 Years Late.

Community colleges throughout California will award honorary degrees to their former Japanese American students who were forced to leave their respective campuses during World War II, per AB37. If you, or someone you know might be eligible, click on: California Community Colleges To Honor Former Students Imprisoned During World War II.