Trekking to Delta” is a five-part serialization of an historical essay by acclaimed novelist Karen Tei Yamashita. This extraordinary piece of writing places the internment of Japanese Americans at Topaz within the larger contexts of geology, Indigenous history, the Cold War, and recent examinations of responsible storytelling.
PART ONE: COSMIC RAYS
Yamashita describes how the first issue of a mimeographed magazine, published by a group of Japanese American writers and artists incarcerated at Topaz, reveals a connection to the area’s prehistoric origins.
PART TWO: PEOPLE AND LAND
The rich (and overlooked) history of people who lived in the Delta area prior to World War II.
PART THREE: THE TEACHERS
Instructors who influenced the lives of Japanese American students at Topaz during World War II and one who inspired her rebellious charges during the 1980s.
PART FOUR: A PROVING GROUND FOR PEACE
The impact of war and the military’s presence on Delta.
PART FIVE: CODA
For the final installment of this serial, Yamashita discusses her responsibility as a storyteller.
Karen Tei Yamashita is the author of eight books, including I Hotel, a finalist for the National Book Award. She is a professor emerita of literature and creative writing at UC Santa Cruz.
