This fully asynchronous course is a book study of Mary Matsuda Gruenewald’s 2005 memoir Looking Like the Enemy:  My Story of Imprisonment in Japanese-American Internment Camps. Gruenewald chronicles her family’s experience living on Bainbridge Island during World War II and being incarcerated in California, Wyoming, and Idaho. The course offers an opportunity to read and reflect on Gruenewald’s memoir and on the legacies of Japanese American incarceration. Participants will submit pre-reading assignments, guided reading questions and a final reflection. 

The book is available for purchase as a paperback, hardcopy, or audiobook through the book sellers below. Libraries may also have the book available to check out.

• New Sage Press
• Amazon

*Note:  Please make sure you have the right copy of the book. There is also a young reader's version of the book. For the correct version the ISBN numbers may be helpful:

• Paperback Original ISBN 978-0939165-53-7
• E-book ISBN 978-0939165-65-0

Completion of this course offers an opportunity to purchase 15 clock hours in Equity. Participants may also consider enrolling in the NWESD online course "Japanese American Incarceration During WWII,” which examines Japanese American incarceration and efforts to remember and address this history in the present day. See the Online Learning Program webpageLinks to an external site. at NWESD to find the course and other online opportunities. 

Deadline:  Participants must complete this session in Canvas by February 15, 2026. Course attendance is taken on an on-going basis after participants finish, often within 3-5 days, though during rush periods and holiday breaks please be aware it may take up to 2 weeks. Please Note: Due to holiday breaks, no grading or recording of attendance will take place during the time periods of November 24 – December 1, 2025 and December 20, 2025 - January 1, 2026. Attendance for courses completed during these time periods will be completed as soon as possible after the break. Thank you in advance for your patience.