A TED Talk by George Takei About How Living in an Internment Camp Affected His Outlook on Social Justice

“Why I Love a Country That Once Betrayed Me” is a TED Talk by George Takei featuring the Star Trek actor turned social activist discussing how spending time in a Japanese-American internment camp during World War II impacted his views on American democracy and social justice.

I am dedicated to make my country an even better America. I’m dedicated to making our government an even truer democracy. And because of the heroes I have and the struggles I’ve gone through, I can stand before you as a gay Japanese-American. But even more than that, I am a proud American.

Takei is the subject of the upcoming documentary To Be Takei, which addresses those early years as well as his path to Star Trek and beyond.

Brian Heater
Brian Heater