Yuri Kochiyama’s Life Story
When the Diversity and Inclusion office in Michigan Housing began the renovation process for the Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge, we wanted to share her story more prominently and delve deeper into Yuri Kochiyama’s life and legacy. Yuri Kochiyama’s early experiences in the Japanese Internment Camps shaped her career in advocacy. After establishing her and her family’s life in Harlem, Yuri Kochiyama attended a speech by Malcolm X which transformed her life.
Yuri Kochiyama was deeply impacted by the teachings of Malcolm X, and shared his belief that the liberation of one oppressed group was tied to the liberation of everyone. In this same spirit, in the Yuri Kochiyama Multicultural Lounge, we bring together Kochiyama’s story, the importance of coalition building which defines her philosophy, and the stories of other Asian American organizers, activists, artists, and influential individuals.
