Emily L. Hamamoto Interview

Meda Okelo

Oral History Work

Emily L. Hamamoto Interview

Public Deposited

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Interview of Emily Hamamoto by Meda Okelo. Topics include: arrival in Palo Alto at age five; raised in Palo Alto; became first Asian-American teacher in RCSD in 1958; experiences at different schools with changing demographics of the students over thirty years; art from Ravenswood students displayed in county and state; experienced housing discrimination (she is Chinese, married to a Japanese); immigration of African Americans in the 60s; notable people; uniqueness of EPA; local businesses; and her vision for future of EPA centering around education. Other information obtained in an email: Recalling my experiences in East Palo Alto since I was 5 years old. We worked in the aster fields near the avacation school from sunrise to sunset, 7 days a week, rolls and rolls of flowers to be budded. This was our summer vacation until I reached junior high age. About that time, 1947, I remember Wrigley chewing gum was there and the beginning of the helicopter (Hiller Helicopter Company). I spent my 30 years in East Palo Alto teaching: special ed, reading specialist and 2nd grade teacher, junior high and almost everything. I traveled from school to school to have my classes either in the boiler rooms or where ever I could find space. I taught at Flood, Costano, Belle Haven, Kavanaugh and Willow. The rest of my remaining life was taking care of my grandkids and trying to stay alive at 88.

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