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In September 11, 2001, America is hit by simultaneous terrorist attacks. Four passenger planes are hijacked by members of an Islamic terrorist organization and almost 3,000 people die in the unprecedented attacks. At the time, the official responsible for protecting America’s skies is Japanese-American Norman Mineta, secretary of Transportation. Mineta was appointed as the Secretary of Transportation, only 8 months prior to the terrorist attacks. However, Mineta believes much more is at stake.
This documentary chronicles Mineta’s challenges who confronted discrimination in two eras: After the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941 and 60 years later after 9/11 terrorist attacks.
In 1941, following the surprise attack by the Japanese army against the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, anti-Japanese sentiment reaches fever pitch. Japanese immigrants were forcibly evacuated to internment camps by the American government. Mineta was just 10 years old. What was the life in the internment like? What did Mineta do to right the wrongs that were committed by the US government? How did he seek justice for those who were denied their civil rights during WWII.
The documentary follows Mineta’s foot steps throughout the US; interviewing members of his family and the elected officials who know Mineta best.
Born in 1931 in San Jose, CA, Norman Mineta is a second generation Japanese-American. Mineta spent his boyhood in a Wyoming internment camp during World War II. After the war ended, Mineta moved back to San Jose and began to distinguish himself in the world of politics. In 1974, he became the first Japanese-American elected to Congress in the mainland U.S.
Over his 20 years in the House, Mineta was extremely active. In 1988, Mineta’s tremendous efforts helped in the passage of the “Civil Liberties Act of 1988” which included a formal apology to Japanese-Americans for the WWII internment and payments to surviving internees.
In 2000, Mineta became the first Japanese-American to be appointed to a cabinet-level position when President Clinton appointed him to be Secretary of Commerce. Mineta then served as Secretary of Transportation during the Bush administration. At the time of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mineta did everything in his power to ensure the safety of air traffic without discriminating against any specific nationality or race. He helped establish the TSA which is responsible for the safety of travel in the US.
