Dr. Curtis Takada Rooks /// Common Reflection /// Season4:E090

Today we are with Dr. Curtis Takada Rooks. Born in Japan but grew up in many places spending his early childhood in Kansas, N.C. and Texas.  Then moving and spending his formative years in Okinawa before returning to Manhattan, Kansas where he graduated high school.  After attending college in N.H., as an adult he has lived in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Alaska and settled down in California. He is a husband of 21 years and has an amazing daughter who is studying at Yale. Dr. Rooks earned his B.A. in 1979 with a double major in Economics and Asian Studies (honors) from Dartmouth College. He received his M.A. in Public Policy from Trinity College in 1982 and his Ph.D. in Comparative Culture from the University of California, Irvine. Prior to his appointment at Loyola Marymount Univ., Dr. Rooks was a tenured assistant professor in Asian American Studies at San Jose State University and he previously served as Associate of Students and Dean of Residential Life at Pomona College. His research interests follow two overlapping trajectories.  The first employs engaged community-based research focusing on the intersections of culture and community health and wellness.. The second focuses on mixed-race and transnational identity.  These are reflected in two current projects one which examines civic engagement in Asian American communities and the second explores notions of transnational identity of people of Japanese ancestry worldwide – Global Nikkei Identity, along with continuing work with multiracial identity, particularly on the experiences of “double minority”.   "When you truly engage that makes someone else matter.  It's a transformative act." - Dr. Curtiss Takada Rooks   Topics we discuss: What it means to: be Of mixed Race be Alive Be oneself Navigating your multiple "identities" The importance of Engagement Growing up in Okinawa Military family during Vietnam Racism How Race matters The nature of Zero-Sum mentality Single Payer Healthcare Union Negotiation Social Capitalism Healthcare as a public good Social Distribution What he means by "Being a 'Lefty'"   References: Dr. Takada Rook in 2007 Dr. Takada Rooks - TedX  Kakehashi Project Eyes on the Prize   Credits: Lead editor + Producer: Ruf Holmes   Music: Main Theme: "Eaze Does It" by Shye Eaze and DJ Rufbeats, a More In Common Podcast Exclusive. Guest theme:  "Gold Cracks" by DJ Rufbeats created as a More In Common Podcast Exclusive.