Quotes from Ronald Takaki

I believe our education system as a whole has not integrated the histories of all people into our education system, just the Eurocentric view of itself, and the White-centered view of African Americans, and even this is slim to nonexistent. What I find is that most people don't know the fact they don't know, because of the complete lack of information.

the study of diversity is essential for understanding how and why America became what Walt Whitman called a "teeming nation of nations.

Jefferson exploded with guilt: "The torment of mind, I will endure till the moment shall arrive when I shall not owe a shilling on earth is such really as to render life of little value.

War is our only recourse. There is no other remedy.

War exists notwithstanding all our efforts to avoid it."8

Chinese men were seen as sensuous creatures, especially interested in white women. A writer for the New York Times reported that he noticed "a handsome but squalidly dressed young white girl" in an opium den and inquired about her. The owner replied: "Oh, hard time in New York. Young girl hungry. Plenty come here. Chinaman always have something to eat, and he like young white girl. He! He!

In 1852, of the 11,794 Chinese in California, only seven were women.