| DEAR MISS BREED (2000) |
DEAR MISS BREED tells the story of Clara Breed, a librarian who became a hero to Japanese American youth incarcerated during WWII. While others turned their backs on Japanese Americans during the wartime hysteria, Ms. Breed actively spoke out against the injustice of removing and locking up American citizens without due process. Later as she corresponded with youths who were sent away to "camp," Miss Breed became a sounding board for their hopes and frustrations. Set against visuals of actual camp life with excerpts from some of the 250 letters saved by Miss Breed, DEAR MISS BREED gives us a unique look into the chronology of the young inmates' upheaval, incarceration and eventual resettlement in their own words.
|
|
| REALPLAYER MEDIA CLIPS: |
|
Introduction: During World War II, 120,000 Japanese Americans were unjustly incarcerated by executive order of the President of the United States. Given only a few days notice to pack, the future was uncertain, especially for Japanese American youths.
56K / 256K |
 |
|
|
|
|
An unlikely hero : Miss Breed was one of the few who publicly spoke out against the injustice of the racist relocation policy. She also asked children to write to her while in camp. In this way Miss Breed became a vital lifeline for Japanese American youths whose world had beeen turned upside down.
56K / 256K |
 |
|
|
|
|
Camp Letters: Nothing can relate the camp experience better than the testimony of those who lived through it. DEAR MISS BREED incorporates scores of actual letters sent to Miss Breed during the war which vividly recount the uncertainty and turmoil that young inmates had to endure.
56K / 256K |
 |
|
|
|
|
Miss Breed: While the government eventually acknowledged that the wartime incarceration was wrong and contrary to basic American values, at the time only a few brave souls like Clara Breed stood up for what was right. For some she was a hero, to others a savior, but for the youngsters that knew here best, she was simply known as "Dear Miss Breed."
56K / 256K |
 |
|
|
|
|
| PRODUCTION
CREDITS |
|
Directed and edited by Veronica Ko
|
| Produced by Jennifer Kim |
| Written by Karen Ishizuka |
| Executive Producers: Karen Ishizuka and Robert A. Nakamura |
| Original score by: David Iwataki |
| 13 min. Color |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Call toll free (888) 769-5559
|
|