Densho Digital Repository - Sarah Baker Interview (Densho ID: ddr-sjacl-2-31-10)

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BS: And something that you mentioned was intergenerational trauma. Do you think you could explain that term a little bit more? It's just, I'm not really sure.

SB: Yeah, totally. So thinking about, like, what's the best way to explain this? So you know, my family didn't experience the incarceration, to be totally clear. So as I mentioned, my grandmother moved here after that, but thinking about folks, as an example, who did go through the incarceration, like their grandparents, and how the trauma of that experience carries forward into future generations and what that might look like. And I think a great example is that historically, a lot of Nisei and Sansei, and even Yonsei, don't talk about the camps that much, because it's a really hard thing to talk about, because it was an awful experience, and people don't want to, but that's still, the emotion and the impact of that carries forward. And people experience in different ways, what that looks like, whether it be emotional distress, right amongst your family, or that kind of thing. Does that make sense? Again, I'm not always great at explaining things. [Laughs]

BS: No, thank you. Yeah, that definitely, that definitely helped a little bit. And I could see, as someone who has grandparents that did go through it, they definitely did not like to talk about it as much so I could see, apply what you're saying to my situation as well.

SB: Yeah, right. For sure, right. And like even though my grandmother moved here after the war, I think that at that point in time, especially where they were living in the north end, like she was a Japanese woman, and I think it was really important to assimilate. And so as an example, like my mom, and my uncles, they don't speak Japanese at all, because it was, I think, more important to be American than it was to honor your culture and your heritage. And so that's, like, another good example of intergenerational trauma, where it's like, you're missing these really critical and important pieces of your history and your culture because of something that happened in the past.

BS: Yeah, I never thought about it like that. And I know this interview isn't about me, but it's definitely impacted me.

SB: No, go for it.

BS: Because my grandparents made that decision as well not to teach their kids Japanese and as a result, I don't know Japanese. But it definitely, it's kind of painful, in a way, because I'll go to like the JSA, the Japanese Student Association on campus, and that's been my only real way to connect with my identity, because, and it's even hard to do that, because I can't speak Japanese, sometimes in there to have conversations. So it is tough...

SB: Yeah, totally.

BS: ...to connect. And that's, again, a thing that I love about the JACL is that it's really given me that space and the platform to explore my identity, because my experience is very unique, as everyone's is. But to have other folks who have at least some commonalities within that framework has just been really awesome to be able to, like, have these conversations and be like, oh, my god, this is so eye opening. Like, this is why I feel certain ways about a certain thing, or, you know, why my grandparents didn't talk about this thing, or why my parents have an American name and don't speak Japanese. Yeah, really, really interesting conversations have come about because of it.

BS: No, definitely. And are there any other events or associations -- sorry, with the Seattle JACL that you think are worth mentioning? Any mentors that helped you guide, guide you into a leadership role, or if so, who should we contact for more information?

SB: Bill. [Laughs] But I think you guys, you guys are gonna interview Bill, yeah? Yeah, okay, good. I would say definitely Bill, I hope that you'll be interviewing Stan Shikuma, our current president. Because he's been on the board as long as I have or longer than I have even. I think by like a year maybe, something like that. I would definitely recommend interviewing my friend Gabrielle. She hates being put in the spotlight, but I really can't say enough for like, what she's done for me, even unintentionally. So she would be a great resource as well. Also, Sheldon Arakaki who was on the board. Yeah, Bill, I just saw Bill go, oh. [Laughs] Sheldon's one of our board members who has been with Seattle JACL and the JACL organization for a long time, and he's done a lot on the national side. But Sheldon has just been so great. And, like, helping me learn about the organization and, I don't know, I've learned a lot from him over the years.