[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 85 (Tuesday, June 9, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S6362]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                        REMEBERING RONALD TAKAKI

 Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I take this opportunity to honor 
the life of Professor Ronald Takaki, a pioneer and leader in the field 
of ethnic studies. Professor Takaki passed away on May 26, 2009, at the 
age of 70.
  Ronald Takaki, the grandson of Japanese immigrants, was born and 
raised in Hawaii. In his youth he was an avid surfer, earning the 
nickname ``Ten Toes Takaki'' because of his ability to perform one of 
the most impressive and iconic stunts a surfer can do on a surfboard. 
Though uninterested in school when he was younger, Takaki applied to 
and was accepted at the College of Wooster in Ohio; he was the first in 
his family to attend college. After earning a bachelor's degree in 
history, he attended UC Berkeley, where he received a master's and 
doctorate in history. It was at UC Berkeley, doing a dissertation on 
the history of American slavery, that Takaki found his passion.
  In 1967, Takaki was hired by UCLA, where he taught the University of 
California's first Black history course following the tumultuous Watts 
riots. Though an unlikely candidate to teach the course, students 
quickly came to respect and admire him, and he and his class became one 
of the most popular on campus. In 1971, Professor Takaki returned to UC 
Berkeley, where he served as the first full-time teacher in the 
Department of Ethnic Studies.
  In addition to teaching Black history, Professor Takaki also 
established UC Berkeley's PhD program in ethnic studies, the first of 
its kind in the Nation. During the 30 years he taught at UC Berkeley, 
Professor Takaki succeeded in his desire to make the school's 
curriculum more multicultural and diverse. He inspired and engaged 
thousands of students with his thought-provoking and insightful 
perspectives on race and ethnicity in the United States.
  Professor Takaki was also a distinguished and prolific writer. Among 
his most well-known books were Iron Cages: Race and Culture in 19th-
Century America; A Different Mirror: A History of Multicultural 
America, which won the American Book Award, and Strangers from a 
Different Shore: A History of Asian Americans, which was nominated for 
a Pulitzer Prize.
  Professor Takaki is survived by his wife Carol; his children Troy, 
Todd, and Dana; his brother Michael; his sister Janet; and his seven 
grandchildren. I extend my deepest sympathies to his entire family.
  Professor Takaki was widely considered to be the father of 
multiculturalism. His trailblazing spirit and love of life was evident 
in everything that he did, and his many years of service as an 
educator, writer, and activist will not be forgotten. We take comfort 
in knowing that future generations will benefit from his tireless 
efforts to make America a better place to live.

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