The power of pride: George Takei at TEDxKyoto

This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. George Takei draws his inspiration and strength from one of the darkest chapters of American history: the World War II uprooting and incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese-American citizens.

Recalling his childhood spent behind the barbed wire of America's concentration camps, Mr. Takei reveals his life-long journey from bitter confusion to an impassioned admiration and pride in his fellow Japanese-Americans and his country that encompasses and celebrates us all.

For actors projected onto a movie screen, or performing upon stage, the audience sees only the barest sliver of the real person inside the performer. By the time George Takei stepped in front of a television camera for the first time at the age of 22, he had already endured challenges that his audiences would never have been able to guess, much less truly comprehend. After a childhood spent behind the barbed wire of United States internment camps, placed there simply for the face he wore, George Takei nurtured—and fulfilled many, many times over—the dream of becoming an actor on television, in movies and on stage in a career that spans five decades. And with this dream arose so many others, including his vital work as a political activist, social commentator, author and powerful internet presence. Each dream is individually inspiring, collectively leading George boldly to go where few, if any, have gone before.

About TEDx, x = independently organized event In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)