Genocide, sadly, is still a part of our history today. There is a book by a UCLA professor/historian--Benjamin Madley, I believe is his name--who wrote a book titled, American Genocide, about the treatment of the Native Americans by the Europeans/Americans. He had a book talk at Huntington Library a few years back and there were some push back against his usage of the word "genocide" from the audience. By UN definition he cited in introduction of his book, that was simply what it was--a genocide of Native Americans. It is hard to come to terms with the ugliness of our own history.
I found it interesting when professor Hirano said that there are Japanese celebrities who are coming out and publicly and proudly claiming their native heritage when traditionally it has been something they kept to themselves due to societal prejudice. What can we do as educators to encourage people who have been oppressed to feel proud of their culture and heritage? Also, how does a society/country deal with its not-so-proud past? For Americans, the treatment of the Native Amerians, African Americans, etc. For Japan, the treatment of its conquered indegenous people, and much later in their history, treatment of its conquering nations such as China and Korea? My students are young--4th and 5th-- and I have to be careful about what/how I present when teaching Columbus, Westward Movement and its impact on Native Americans, slavery, etc. It's a struggle for me because I don't want to give my students too-watered down version of history. It would be interesting to discuss with Japanese educators about presenting such topics to the students.
