Sue Kunitomi Embrey

Sue Kunitomi Embrey was a Japanese American activist and community leader, best known for her work in preserving the history and memory of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II.

Embrey was born on September 21, 1923, in Los Angeles, California. Her parents were immigrants from Japan who had settled in the United States, and she grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. During World War II, Embrey and her family were forcibly removed from their home and sent to the Manzanar internment camp in California. This experience had a profound impact on Embrey, and she would spend the rest of her life working to ensure that the history of Japanese American internment was never forgotten.

After the war, Embrey attended Los Angeles City College and UCLA, where she earned a degree in education. She went on to become a teacher, but also remained active in the Japanese American community. In 1969, she helped found the Manzanar Committee, an organization dedicated to preserving the history of Japanese American internment and advocating for reparations for those who had been interned.

Embrey also played a key role in the creation of the Manzanar National Historic Site, which was established in 1992 to preserve the history of the Manzanar internment camp. She served on the advisory commission that helped plan the site and was instrumental in ensuring that the voices of former internees were heard in the process.

Throughout her life, Embrey was also active in various other organizations dedicated to preserving Japanese American history and culture. She served on the board of the Japanese American National Museum and was a founding member of the Little Tokyo Historical Society. In addition to her work on behalf of Japanese Americans, she was also a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice more broadly.

Embrey received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette, which was awarded to her by the Japanese government in recognition of her efforts to promote understanding and friendship between the United States and Japan. She passed away on October 6, 2006, at the age of 83.

In summary, Sue Kunitomi Embrey was a tireless advocate for the preservation of Japanese American history and the memory of the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II. Her work in creating the Manzanar National Historic Site and other organizations has ensured that the experiences of those who were interned are never forgotten. Her dedication to social justice and civil rights serves as an inspiration to all who work to make the world a more just and equitable place.