Interviewer
Lucky Lorbier
Files
Download Full Story (88 KB)
Ethnic Group
Japanese American
Generation
Middle
Description
Henry and his sisters think of themselves as part of the Nisei generation, although their mother was also born in America. Typically, Nisei are challenged to live a mixture of Japanese and American culture. Having the opportunity to participate in school events gave him confidence socially. Still, on occasion, Henry felt he was different or separate from his classmates. For example, he knew instinctively that he could not openly date a Caucasian girl. Realizing the existence of such limits, he was torn between wanting to be accepted and having pride in his heritage…
Keywords
Oral History, Stockton - CA, California, Japanese American, History
Comments
This oral history is part of the STOCKTONSpeaks! Project that ran from 2002-2005 in Stockton, CA. You can read more about STOCKTONSpeaks! on the homepage and the About page.
Recommended Citation
Runnels, Tara. "Hirata Family: Henry Hirata (Middle)". (2005). STOCKTONSpeaks! Japanese American Stories. Oral History 2.
https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/ss-ja/2
Included in
Asian American Studies Commons, Community-Based Research Commons, Demography, Population, and Ecology Commons, Ethnic Studies Commons, Family, Life Course, and Society Commons, Gender, Race, Sexuality, and Ethnicity in Communication Commons, Oral History Commons, Other American Studies Commons, Place and Environment Commons, Quantitative, Qualitative, Comparative, and Historical Methodologies Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons, Regional Sociology Commons
Relatives
Toshiye Hirata (Elder)
Karen Cairel (Youth)