“One Book, One Coast” w/ SF Public Library: They Called Us Enemy (April – May 2026)
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San Francisco Main Public Library | 100 Larkin St, San Francisco, CA 94102
Event Details
Submitted by the Event Organizer
Stretching from California’s southern border to northmost tip of Washington state, One Book, One Coast (OBOC) is a brand-new, multi-state community reading initiative that brings readers together around a shared book, sparking conversation, programs and reflection across the West Coast.
Our inaugural selection is They Called Us Enemy, a graphic memoir by George Takei that recounts his childhood experience of incarceration alongside more than 120,000 people of Japanese descent, most of whom were U.S. citizens, following Executive Order 9066 in 1942.
Read along March-May 2026 and join the programs and discussions it inspires.
What happens when fear and prejudice become government policy? In They Called Us Enemy, George Takei shares his childhood experience of being incarcerated with his family in U.S. camps during World War II. Told through the graphic memoir format, the book follows Takei from early childhood to his later understanding of what it meant to lose his home, freedom, and civil rights. Clear, powerful, and deeply human, They Called Us Enemy connects personal memory to American history, showing how injustice leaves lasting marks on individuals, families, and communities.
Showcase Event: George Takei, They Called Us Enemy
Discover the story behind They Called Us Enemy with actor, author, and activist George Takei. Takei reflects on his childhood experience in U.S. incarceration camps during World War II and discusses the lasting impact of this history today.
May 31, 2-4 p.m., Virtual Event streamed from LA County Library
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Author: George Takei, They Called Us Enemy — Community Livestream Viewing
Watch the livestreamed conversation with actor, author, and activist George Takei about his graphic memoir They Called Us Enemy.
May 31, 2 p.m., Main Library, Chinese Center
Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.
Cost: FREE
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