George Takei

As well as being a multi-hyphenate (see below the photo), George Takei is the honorary chairman of ALA's Banned Books Week this year.

"Mr. Takei is recognized as an award-winning actor, outspoken civil rights activist, social media icon, and New York Times–bestselling author. He has leveraged his popularity as a star of the Star Trek franchise and a social media influencer to advocate for several causes, including the rights of Japanese Americans and LGBTQIA+ individuals." *

They Called Us Enemy by George Takei, Justin Eisinge, and Steven Scott.  Illustrated by Harmony Becker.

In 1942, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt, in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor,  ordered the "relocation" of every single person of Japanese descent in the country.  

This powerful graphic novel is George Takei's firsthand account of living for years in ramshackle dwellings under the watch of armed guards.  

This book has been banned repeatedly around the US, including Pennsylvania (in 2021, as part of a campaign against teaching about the racial history of America) and most recently in Tennessee. 

*Banned Books Week