Article

A Series of Lessons on Entangled Inequalities in World War II

Black and white school photo of elementary students in three rows
The second-grade class photograph of 17th Street School in 1946, which had previously been only for students categorized as white. From left to right, Albert V. Vela (3rd from left) and Gonzalo M., Jr. (4th from left), the children of two plaintiffs in the case to desegregate California Schools.

17th Street School, Westminster, Class Photograph. 1945-1946. Courtesy of Chapman University.

Introduction:

Entangled Inequalities is a project that tells the story of the two (extra) ordinary families. The Munemitsu and Mendez families lived on a farm in southern California. Their story connects two pieces of World War II history: the US incarceration of Japanese Americans and the segregation of Latino students in California schools.

The three lessons in this series allow students to learn more about the entangled inequalities faced by these two families. The first two lessons can be stand-alone lessons on each family's experiences with educational inequalities. The third lesson ties their experiences together. It challenges students to consider the multifaceted work towards educational equality.

These lessons support the article series Entangled Inequalities: Japanese Incarceration and Mendez, et al. v. Westminster School District of Orange County, et al. Students will engage with different parts of this series throughout the lessons. Teachers can also use the articles for more student-guided exploration and research.

Find more lessons at Teaching with Historic Places.

Lessons:

Lesson 1: Education Inequalities in Japanese Incarceration Camps in World War II

Students will learn about the Munemitsu family and other Japanese American children at Poston Relocation camp and other Japanese Incarceration camps. By thinking about the educational experiences of these students, we can think more broadly about the injustices of Japanese incarceration.

Lesson 2: Education Inequalities in California Schools during World War II

Students will learn about the Mendez family and other Mexican American children who were sent to separate schools in California before and during World War II. By thinking about the Mendez’s fight for civil rights, we will think about the history of school segregation and the fight against it.

Lesson 3: Entangled Education Inequalities in World War II

Putting Japanese Incarceration Schools and Mexican American School Segregation in Conversation. In this lesson, students will think about these two families and their struggles side by side. In doing so, students will think critically and make arguments about the importance and future of educational equality.

Curricular Standards

Time period: World War II
Topics: World War II, segregation, Latino history, AAPI history, civil rights


These lessons were created by Alison Russell, Educator and Consulting Historian with the Cultural Resource Office of Education and Interpretation. It was funded by the National Council on Public History's cooperative agreement wtih the NPS.

Entangled Inequalities: Japanese Incarceration and Mendez, et al. v. Westminster School District of Orange County, et al. is a collaborative project developed in 2022-2023 by interns and fellows with the Cultural Resource Office of Interpretation and Education: Marjorie Justine Antonio, NCPE Intern and ACE CRDIP Intern; Alyssa Eveland, Telling All Americans' Stories Fellow; Melissa Hurtado, Heritage Education Fellow; and Jade Ryerson, ACE Fellow and Consulting Historian with the National Council on Public History.

Part of a series of articles titled Education Inequalities in World War II.

Last updated: September 26, 2023