On a scorching summer day, Japanese Americans residing in the Gresham area were abruptly informed that they were being relocated to the Minidoka internment camp in Idaho. Many of these individuals had been detained in the Portland Assembly Center over the summer, unaware of the rapid development of the camp in Idaho’s high desert.
A new podcast titled “Voices of Gresham” sheds light on this historical event, amplifying the voices and oral histories of the Japanese American community in East Multnomah County. The first six episodes of the podcast focused on the Japanese American experience in Gresham, highlighting the struggles and challenges faced by this community during World War II.
The podcast creators, Melissa Bevency and Stephanie Vallance, conducted extensive research in curating these episodes, diving deep into the interviews and stories preserved by the Gresham Historical Society. The collection holds valuable tapes and interviews that were used as primary sources for the podcast series.
Through “Voices of Gresham,” listeners are able to gain insight into the experiences of Japanese Americans in the Gresham area during a tumultuous period in American history. The podcast aims to honor and preserve the stories of those who were affected by the internment camps, ensuring that their voices and experiences are not forgotten.
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Photo credit www.theoutlookonline.com
