Advanced Search

Asian American and Pacific Islander studies resources for the classroom

All chapters of Foundations and Futures include lesson plans and curricular tools that are designed for high school students and grounded in ethnic studies pedagogy. Feel free to search our repository of primary sources and material that helps bring Asian American and Pacific Islander histories and experiences into the classroom.  

Multimedia

# of # results

Filters

Resource type
Copyrights
Chapters
  • The painting shows a man next to a child and a woman with a baby on her back. They stand in front of a sign that reads, "No Japs Wanted; California."

    Image

    “No Japs Wanted”

    Japanese Americans had to sell most of their possessions at rock-bottom prices. This painting titled “Junkshop Man Took Our Icebox Away,” by Henry Sugimoto, captures the emotions of a mother and daughter who must get rid of the family’s belongings.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu and his family visit a train station to see their dad being taken away to an internment camp.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu's dad speak to him about having to ask for help, leave school to help with the shop, and classification change.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu and his family speak with their dad behind bars. They talk about being snitched on and their financial struggle.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu and his family go to the immigration station to visit their dad. The cop destroys their bento and lets them through.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu's dad being interrogated for contraband. At the end the cop asks him who he wants to win, Japan or the U.S.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows a cop finding a knife and papers and marking it as contraband. Nisei Jim Akutsu attempts to convince the cop to release his dad.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • This page shows Nisei Jim Akutsu arrive home to see his dad being detained. Jim runs to get his mom only to find his house being inspected.

    Image

    We Hereby Refuse: The Akutsu Story

    Read in this excerpt from the graphic novel We Hereby Refuse, based on true stories, about how the lives of Jim Akutsu, a Nisei college student in Seattle; his younger brother, Gene; and his mother and father are ruptured after FBI agents arrest Jim’s father.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 3
    View multimedia
  • The cover of Toshio Mori's Yokohama, California shows a village in front of a long bridge on the waters against a yellow background.

    Text

    Yokohama, California by Toshi Mori

    In this excerpt from the short story, “Lil’ Yokohama,” Nisei author Toshio Mori describes an idealized version of a pre-World War II Japanese American community in California.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 2
    View multimedia
  • The painting shows a man next to a child and a woman with a baby on her back. They stand in front of a sign that reads, "No Japs Wanted; California."

    Image

    “No Japs Wanted”

    This painting by Henry Sugimoto depicts a Japanese American family forced to leave their rural community.

    Featured in:

    Incarceration of Japanese Americans During World War II, Module 2
    View multimedia

Chapters

# of # results

Filters

  • Individuals marching in a single file line on the side of the road holding signs and pickets.

    Chapter

    Chapter Overview: Labor & Activism of Filipino Farmworkers

    Lauren Daus, Catherine De Guzman, Rudy Guevarra Jr., Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, Mark Pulliodo, Robyn Rodriguez, Gayle Romasanta, Stacey Salinas, and Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales

    View chapter

  • Module

    Module 1: Overview: Labor and Activism of Filipino Farmworkers

    Rudy Guevarra Jr., Allyson Tintiangco-Cubales, Dawn Bohulano Mabalon, and Lauren Daus

    Chapter:

    Labor and Activism of Filipino Farmworkers
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • Larry Itliong, United Farm Workers Organizing Committee Assistant Director speaking at unknown event.

    Module

    Module 2: Larry Itliong

    Gayle Romasanta

    Chapter:

    Labor and Activism of Filipino Farmworkers
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • Four picketers with their arms raised, wavie red flags. They stand just off a dirt road on a farm.

    Module

    Module 3: Filipinas in the Filipino Farmworker Movement

    Stacy Salinas

    Chapter:

    Labor & Activism of Filipino Farmworkers
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • 1973 edition and 2014 edition of Carlos Bulosan's book 'America Is in the Heart.'

    Module

    Module 4: The Life and Legacy of Carlos Bulosan

    Catherine De Guzman and Robyn Rodriguez

    Chapter:

    Labor and Activism of Filipino Farmworkers
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • Filipino farmworkers pose for a group photo.

    Module

    Module 5: Philip Vera Cruz

    Mark Pullido

    Chapter:

    Labor and Activism of Filipino Farmworkers
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • Political cartoon with the metaphorical leg of California kicking a Chinese man out into the Pacific Ocean. Text above reads "The Chinese Must Go!"

    Chapter

    Asian Exclusion: “Aliens Ineligible to Citizenship”

    Russell Jeung

    View chapter
  • An identification photo of Wong Kim Ark, a Chinese man, from an Immigration Service affidavit, dressed in traditional Chinese clothing.

    Module

    Module 1: Overview

    Russell Jeung

    Chapter:

    Asian Exclusion: “Aliens Ineligible to Citizenship”
    View module
    Lesson Plan
  • Political cartoon with the metaphorical leg of California kicking a Chinese man out into the Pacific Ocean. Text above reads "The Chinese Must Go!"

    Module

    Module 2: Restriction and Exclusion from Migration

    Russell Jeung

    Chapter:

    Asian Exclusion: “Aliens Ineligible to Citizenship”
    View module
Foundations and Futures Logo

The Asian American Studies Center acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (Los Angeles basin, So. Channel Islands) and pay our respects to the honuukvetam (ancestors), ‘ahiihirom (elders), and ‘eyoohiinkem (relatives/relations) past, present, and emerging.

© 2025 UCLA Asian American Studies Center

UCLA Institute of American Cultures Asian American Studies Center logo
Accessibility Tools
Reset All Accessibility Tools Reset All
Font Options
Text Resize
Line Height
Color Focus ButtonColor Overlay
Reading Focus ButtonReading Mask

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Accessibility
Translate