AUTHOR OF CHILDREN’S BOOK ‘MEI LING IN CHINA CITY’ TO SPEAK FEB. 7

The author of a new children’s book, Mel Ling in China City, based on the true story of a Chinese American girl, who loses contact with her Japanese American friend when her family is taken away to Manzanar during World War II, will discuss the circumstances that led her to write the book at a public program set for the Japanese American National Museum on Saturday, Feb. 7, beginning at 2 p.m.

Sui Bing Tang, who writes under the name Icy Smith, will describe how she came to write her book based on the story of 12-year-old Mei Ling, whose friend Yayeko Akiyama is suddenly taken away by the U.S. government and forced to live in a domestic concentration camp in California. The two girls are able to carry on a correspondence, despite their separation. Artist Gayle Garner Roski illustrates the vastly different environments for the two friends through her watercolors.

Tang’s book provides a clear view of the challenges faced by both girls and their families during World War II. Yayeko’s family and thousands of Japanese Americans are unfairly forced to leave their homes by their own government because of unfounded suspicions about their loyalty during World War II. Mei Ling’s situation also is heavily influenced by racial stereotypes. China City is really a place for tourists to visit, to take pictures of individuals dressed in traditional Chinese clothing, and to eat at restaurants that serve supposedly authentic Chinese food. To accommodate visitors, the Chinese American community is forced to present a more Hollywood-style image of Chinese culture, filled with rickshaws, fortune cookies and fortune tellers.

The book also contains an extensive author’s note and historic photographs of China City, which form the basis for Roski’s paintings. Tang also includes important information about the Manzanar War Relocation Authority camp.

This program is free to National Museum members or with general admission. For more information or to make reservations, call the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414.