The Room Where It Happened

Mixing history and poetry. Also what I read this week.

Yuri Kochiyama

Yuri Kochiyama.
Say her name.
Yuri Kochiyama.
World War II. 
Father detained- POW
Died in the hospital
Family uprooted 
Flung from California (too coastal)
To Arkansas (land-locked and secure)
Relocation center, Internment camp, Concentration camp
Where her eyes were opened and her voice bloomed.

Fast-forward to 1960s 
Harlem, New York
Fighting for civil rights
Human rights
For all humans
All citizens
(Not just the white citizens)
Joined the Young Lords 
and Harlem Community for Self Defense.
Founder of Asian Americans for Action
Then aligned to Malcolm X
Fought side by side
And was by his side
As he lay on his side
When he said goodbye.

Time moved forward and so did she.
With Puerto Ricans at the Statue of Liberty
	Fighting for independence in 1977
And for reparations for Japanese Americans in the 1980s.

A woman who fought for rights for all
A bridge for humanity
Say her name.
Yuri Kochiyama.

This poem was used in Ethical ELA's Verse Love last April and can be found here.

Sorry for the delay in my newsletter…back to school and my brain is all school mode!

I chose to share the poem above because it is one that I want to be part of a series that recognizes people behind the scenes of great leaders-especially women who often aren’t given the credit they deserve or are forgotten to history.

Now time for some book talk! Like I said, last week I was back to work and even though I didn’t have students, I was exhausted! But…I still got some reading in! 4 books finished.

Books I Finished and My Option Pile

You can click on the image below to visit my blog for my review of each.

Out of the four books I finished, I think House of Marionne was the one I enjoyed the most because I am in my fantasy era right now. But, the others were really great too!

I am excited to read Warrior Girl Unearthed for my book club-we meet Sunday so I have to finish it. The other books in my option pile I might get to, but I am not in a hurry.

Back to School Routines

So, I am officially in back to school mode, so I am figuring out my new routines. Also, my daughter has been wanting to hang out more (no complaint) so I don’t have as much “me” time as usual.

Writing…hasn’t happened.

Reading…struggling. Mostly reading on my kindle at night.

Reading Vlog

If you want to hear more about my thoughts of the books I read, check out my latest Bookdragon Diary.

Short and Sweet

And that’s all I got for ya. Sorry it’s so short and sweet! I’ll get back into the groove of things soon.

Take care and happy reading! Hope you enjoyed the random would you rather…they always make me giggle and love seeing everyone’s responses.