How do stories help us better understand ourselves, our communities, and our shared history?
California Humanities recently partnered with Jason Chu, an Asian American rapper, poet, and activist educator based in Los Angeles, to highlight an overlooked chapter of California history through the story of Yutaro Uyeda, the Japanese American “Strawberry King of Monrovia.”
At a time when Japanese farmers produced 80 to 95 percent of Los Angeles County’s strawberry crop, Uyeda and his wife built a thriving fruit business alongside the rise of Route 66, operating from their Monrovia home and fruit stand. Their story offers a glimpse into the entrepreneurial spirit, resilience, and cultural contributions that helped shape California.
The video features research supported by California Humanities and draws from the work of filmmaker Katrina Parks, a past California Documentary Project grantee. Parks’ documentary project, Route 66: The Untold Story of Women on the Mother Road, explores overlooked stories along California’s stretch of the historic highway, including interviews with Keiko Sakatani and other community voices whose experiences help illuminate this shared history.
By supporting documentary filmmakers, storytellers, and public humanities projects across the state, California Humanities helps preserve stories that might otherwise be forgotten and ensures they remain accessible to future generations.
Take a moment to watch the video and share it with your network.
