When our first child, Bryan, was born in 1947, we found it necessary to move to California, where my mother and younger sister had resettled after Topaz.
Two more children—another son, Spencer, and a daughter, Donna—were born in the years to follow. We were beginning another life, and we knew that our children had to be raised with strong individual characters, whatever would confront them in their future.
My children have been very fortunate to grow up with various ethnic groups in school and in the neighborhood. As a result, they see people as individuals and not clusters. All three went to college and are concerned about what is happening in the United States today, and each is trying to do his/her share in creating understanding and compassion among individuals. We are proud of our young people, and we listen and try to communicate our feelings for a better and peaceful environment for us all.
Read Part 1 of Iso’s memoir: The Life Interrupted
Read Part 2 of Iso’s memoir: “Voluntary Relocation“
For more information about Codornices Village: “Federal government tackled WWII housing crisis by creating Codornices Village on Berkeley-Albany border,” Sept. 13, 2023, Berkeleyside. By Kimberly Pack and Roalla Toy. If you’re really interested, check out the extended version of the article (link in article) that lists additional sources.
About the contributor: Iso Minamoto Umeki was born in Oakland, CA in May 1919, the third of five children. Her parents operated a laundry business, but later moved to San Leandro to open a general store. The family was incarcerated at Tanforan Race Track and then transferred to Topaz Concentration Camp in 1942. Iso married Kaoru Umeki in the dining hall at the Topaz Camp in 1942. After being released, she and Kaoru briefly lived in Salt Lake City, UT, where their first son Bryan was born, and then returned to California and raised their three children in Berkeley. Iso worked as a secretary for the Berkeley School District for 32 years until she retired at age 70. Her husband Kaoru worked for his uncle’s nursery in Union City until he died at age 59. Iso passed away in 1996 in Berkeley, CA.
Excerpted with edits from Iso Umeki’s memoir, written in 1968 and 1970. © 1970, Iso Umeki. All rights reserved.