To commemorate the 82ndanniversary of Executive Order 9066,アフリカのポルノ映画 which led to the mass incarceration of Japanese Americans in 1942, a community reading of the children’s illustrated book “The Pink Dress” (2008) will take place on Saturday, Feb. 17, at 3 p.m. at Centenary United Methodist Church, 300 S. Central Ave. (at Third Street) in Little Tokyo.
Written by Leslie Kitashima-Gray, “The Pink Dress” is based on the author’s mother’s expereiences during World War II. With her junior high graduation approaching, Tsuki is enchanted by her older sister’s pink dress, especially as she wrestles with her anger at their barbed-wire surroundings. The school administrators, however, have decided that green will be the official color of the graduation.
But everyone is not the same, and Tsuki decides to wear the pink dress to prove that she is not an ant, but a human being. This poignant story about individuality in the face of racism has powerful lessons for all age groups and brings to life an important event in American history.
Moonza Kitashima, the inspiration for the book, was a long-time member of Centenary. She passed away in April 2020.
There will be a Q&A with the author and Rev. Mark Nakagawa, West District superintendent of the California Pacific Conference, United Methodist Church, and former pastor at Centenary.
An exhibition of selected paintings by renowned artist Masato “Eddy” Kurushima will be available for viewing after the reading.
Suggested donation for the event is $10. For more information, call (213) 617-9097 or visit www.centenarydtla.org.