At the 40th anniversary of the release of "This Bridge Called My Back," this presentation reflects on the work of one of its contributors, Mitsuye Yamada. Yamada, a generation older than most, appears as an unlikely contributor to the book, yet penned two essays for the volume, including the influential “Invisibility is an Unnatural Disaster.” This talk examines Yamada’s turn from the concentration camps and pressures for assimilation towards feminist writings and the U.S. Third World women’s movement. Yamada’s writings offer reflective, self-critical, and revealing understandings of Japanese American women. Inspired by her older brother, the Rev. Michael Yasutake, Yamada moved towards more radical forms of struggle, including support for political prisoners.
Co-sponsors: Asian and Asian American Studies (AAAS); Women's, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS); Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI); University Library.