Celebrate Women’s History Month and join author and great-granddaughter of Yuri Kochiyama, Kai Naima Williams, for a reading of “The Bridges Yuri Built: How Yuri Kochiyama Marched Across Movements,” followed by a conversation about Kochiyama’s life and legacy with Williams and journalist Lisa Ling.
The JANM Book Club event will be held on Saturday, March 22, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at the Japanese American National Museum, 100 N. Central Ave. in Little Tokyo.
“The Bridges Yuri Built” introduces one of the 20th century’s most notable freedom fighters to the next generation of young readers. From her concentration camp experiences on the West Coast to organizing for better schools in Harlem, to her friendship with Malcolm X, Kochiyama never wavered in her belief in the power of people — especially young people — to bring about social change.
Featuring vibrant illustrations by Anastasia Magloire Williams, this book will inspire young readers to embrace Kochiyama’s unswerving belief that together we can build a bridge to a better world.
This program is presented in partnership with the Yuri Kochiyama Solidarity Project.
Admission is $5 general, free for youth (under 18) and JANM members. RSVP: https://www.janm.org/events/2025-03-22/janm-book-club-bridges-yuri-built-kai-naima-williams
Kai Naima Williams will also discuss her book on Sunday, March 23, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute, 1964 W. 162nd St., Gardena. Admission is free but donations are appreciated. Registration: https://gvjci.wufoo.com/forms/q63b93d05805lq/