Asian Americans Advancing Justice - LA

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George Takei: Leading Man

Whether through his role on Star Trek or his millions of followers on social media, many people recognize George Takei for both his humor and his deep voice. Not as known are the injustices from his past and the barriers he had to break through. Takei spent his youth in Japanese internment camps. In 1942, President Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066, an order that incarcerated 120,000 Japanese Americans across the western states in camps that confined them inside barbed wires just because of their race. When his family answered “no” to the Loyalty Questionnaire, they were sent to a harsher prison, the Tule Lake Segregation Center.

Years later, Takei pursued acting, a career often limited for Asian Americans because of their confined stereotypical roles as nerds or villains. His role in Star Trek as “the best driver in the galaxy” became a role that broke through these boundaries.

Using his acting fame and social media as a powerful outlet, Takei has been at the forefront of LGBT issues and speaking out against the injustices of Japanese American internment. His advocacy for same-sex marriage, his advocacy for positive roles for Asian Americans in acting, and his enlightening of fans on internment through his play Allegiance, have all shed light to these civil rights issues.

The "George Takei” story is one that not only celebrates Takei's accomplishes as an inspiring and leading man, but also one that encourages others to break traditional boundaries and accept their own identity. As Takei himself has said, “it’s Ok to be Takei.”

Unit Plan
 
Subject
English
Grade
7-12
Topic

LGBTQ Civil Rights: The Struggle for Marriage Equality

Stories

George Takei: Leading Man

 
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HELPLINES

Our helplines prioritize assistance to low-income persons in the following areas of law: discrimination, family, immigration, public benefits, employment, housing, and civil rights. 

English: 888.349.9695
中文: 800.520.2356
한글: 800.867.3640
Tagalog: 855.300.2552
ภาษาไทย: 800.914.9583
Tiếng Việt: 714.477.2958

 

Our mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education, and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and to create a more equitable and harmonious society.