In February and March 2021, the Las Cruces community will come together to explore When the Emperor was Divine, by Julie Otsuka, for the Big Read.
This award-winning title shares the experiences of a Japanese American family incarcerated by the U.S. government following the attack on Pearl Harbor that heralded the entry into World War II.
Thomas Branigan Memorial Library, the host for the Big Read, is looking for stories from members of the Las Cruces and Lordsburg areas. These stories can be personal or family memories of World War II, the Lordsburg and Santa Fe internment camps, related New Mexico history that engages with themes of historical trauma, healing from trauma, and creating community among differences.
Submissions, live and recorded, will become part of the Our Shared Stories series during The Big Read. Submissions are due by Feb. 2, 2021. Please send up as many as two pages of written memories to Nikki Louis, Story Curator, louisnikki9@gmail.com. For information, contact bsauer@las-cruces.org at 575/528-4085.
This document can be made available in alternative formats by calling 575/528-4102 (voice) or 575/528-4008 (TTY). If you require an accommodation for a disability to participate in this event, call the library at 575/528-4102 (voice) or 575/528.4008 (TTY) at least 48 hours in advance.