A new national exhibit is the centerpiece for a collaborative project between Black River Technical College (BRTC) and the Eddie Mae Herron Center. The exhibit “Am I An American Or Am I Not?” focuses on the history of the Japanese American incarceration during World War II, and is named after a quote from Fred Korematsu, who famously challenged the mass imprisonments.
The exhibit is currently on display in the BRTC Library on the Pocahontas campus and is open to the public free of charge. It includes 13 free-standing towers with photos and text telling the story of Korematsu and some 125,000 Japanese Americans, most of whom were American citizens, in the wake of Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941.
“This exhibit will educate and open eyes and minds to a part of our history that has in many areas had less exposure than other historical aspects of World War II,” said project co-organizer Dr. Jan Ziegler. “We believe this exhibit holds great potential to impact audiences of all ages, from students to adults.”
BRTC Vice President of Academic Affairs Brad Baine said the college is excited to be a partner in this venture, and is pleased to invite community and well as student audiences to view the exhibit in the BRTC Library. The exhibit will remain open for the remainder of August and through the month of September. The library is open from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday. Group visits can be arranged by contacting Mark Warnick, BRTC Library Director, at (870) 248-4061. Individual or family visits to view the exhibit do not require prior notification.
Eddie Mae Herron Center Director Pat Johnson expressed appreciation to BRTC for its willingness to partner in making possible this unique experience: “We understand the importance of examining our country’s history and the importance of shining a light on how civil rights have evolved for Americans—and how the lessons of the past can help us shape a more just future.”
“Am I An American Or Am I Not?” was developed by the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, in partnership with Exhibit Envoy and AGH Arts Strategies. The Fred T. Korematsu Institute promotes civic participation and education to advance racial equality, social justice, and human rights for all. This project was funded, in part, by a grant from the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, Japanese American Confinement Sites Grant Program.
For more information about the Fred T. Korematsu Institute, or educational resources, visit https://amianamerican.org/s/aiaa/page/home.