Janice Mirikitani was an American poet, activist, and educator who was born on February 4, 1941, in Stockton, California. She was a child of Japanese American parents who were interned during World War II. The experience of being forced into an internment camp had a profound impact on her life and would later shape her art and activism.
Mirikitani studied at San Francisco State University and earned her bachelor's degree in 1964. She went on to earn a master's degree in social work from the University of California, Berkeley in 1966. She began her career as a social worker in the Bay Area, working primarily with at-risk youth and victims of domestic violence.
In the 1970s, Mirikitani turned her attention to poetry and became an active member of the San Francisco literary scene. She founded the Glide Memorial Church's "Women's Writing Workshop" in 1980, which provided a space for women to write and share their work. She went on to become the co-founder and artistic director of the church's "Theater of the Streets" program, which produced plays addressing social justice issues such as poverty, homelessness, and discrimination.
Mirikitani's poetry often reflects her experiences as a Japanese American and a survivor of sexual abuse. She published several books of poetry, including "Awake in the River" (1978) and "Shedding Silence" (1997). Her work received critical acclaim and was widely anthologized. She was also a prominent advocate for Asian American rights and served as the Executive Director of the Glide Foundation from 1985 to 2010.
Mirikitani was awarded numerous honors for her activism and literary work. In 2000, she was appointed as the second Poet Laureate of San Francisco. She was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Asian American Journalists Association in 2007 and was inducted into the San Francisco Women's Hall of Fame in 2015.
Janice Mirikitani was a pioneering figure in the Bay Area literary and activist communities. Her work and legacy continue to inspire generations of artists and activists. She died on July 29, 2021, at the age of 80.