About Masako Hirata
Masako Hirata was an outstanding student, graduating from San Bernardino Valley College, and when she enrolled at the University of Redlands, she wanted to major in Education and become a teacher. However, she was unable to pursue her educational dreams because of the racism towards Japanese and Japanese Americans in the late 1930’s. In a video interview, Ms. Hirata said:
“And I went to Valley College then the University of Redlands where I got a scholarship. But I did have to change my major: they insisted that I wouldn't have an opportunity in the teaching field being oriental. And at that time the prejudice was quite strong. I changed to sociology.”
In 1942, she and her family were evacuated and detained at the Poston internment camp in Arizona (block 4-13-C)* for three years. Under harsh and challenging circumstances, she began her teaching career at the camp, teaching fourth graders. I can only imagine how inventive, resourceful, and capable Ms. Hirata had to be while she learned to teach at Poston with limited support and resources.
As a teacher and artist, I wanted to focus on a San Bernardino resident who demonstrated resilience in the face of hardship and who maintained a public commitment to San Bernardino and its students. I am grateful to Sue Payne and Paul Garrity who work at the San Bernardino Public Library’s California Room for steering me to Masako Hirata’s story and for assisting me with my research. I am also thankful for the hard work of people like Linda Puetz who maintain valuable material online for public access. It is essential that we have access to stories like Ms. Hirata’s and learn from them. I hope my artwork acts as a springboard for viewers to learn more about Hirata’s unique story, and for them to listen to her interviews, read the articles, visit the California Room, and let her tell her own story. For additional information about this period of our history, I suggest viewers visit the Japanese American National Museum.
In closing,“Bookmarks” is a tribute to Masako Hirata, to her long teaching career at Davidson, Marshall, and North Park Elementary Schools, and to her students. I should note that my three children attended Marshall Elementary, and we lived a block away from that school for 16 years. My children are adults now, and they are grateful to their elementary teachers. I, too, think back at the key teachers in my life—they are like bookmarks, unforgettable as the knowledge and wisdom they embody. Who are the bookmarks in your life?
*Poston Camp Updates: Preservation Project
Acknowledgement
I would like to thank my family for their continued support: Jean D. Delgado, Anna L. Delgado, Clara J. Delgado, and Marco D. Delgado. Special thanks go to my CSUSB colleagues for helping me with “Bookmarks”: Thomas McGovern (artistic brother), Esmirna Nolasco (web goddess), Manuel Veron (design guru), and Tracy Medrano (design guide). Lastly, I want to thank the following librarians who played a key role in the creation of this unfolding poem: Sue Payne, Paul Garrity, Linda Puetz, and Jill Vassilakos-Long. I should note that I used old books for my artwork and poetry that were no longer in circulation.