Kent State University History Professor Brian Hayashi will present “Who Do You Believe?: The Office of Strategic Services and Asian Americans, 1945” at the Massillon Museum’s Brown Bag Lunch program on Tuesday, April 25, beginning at 12:10 p.m. It will conclude about 12:50 p.m. to accommodate those who attend on their lunch hours.

Hayashi, who teaches History of Japan and History of Espionage at Kent’s main campus, says, “I am interested in race and ethnicity, as it applies to Asian Americans, from their initial arrival in the late 19th century to the present, with most of my focus centering around World War II. Religion, diasporic politics, intelligence/espionage, and racial ideology are the subjects of my research.”

The presentation complements the Museum’s 2023 NEA Big Read book selection, Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu. The NEA Big Read is a program of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with Arts Midwest. Complimentary copies of the book will be offered as long as the supply lasts. Learn more at MassMu.org/BigRead.

Before or after the program, guests can view all Museum galleries, but may be particularly interested in two that are part of the Big Read: Accessible Expressions Ohio exhibition in the Aultman Health Foundation Gallery and the Finding Identity: Heritage as Inspiration exhibition in the Fred F. Silk Community Room Gallery and Flex Gallery.

The Brown Bag Lunch series is free and open to everyone.  Guests may bring lunch or purchase sandwiches, salad, and smoothies at Greatness Cafe in the Museum lobby.  MassMu provides complimentary cookies and coffee to all attendees.

The Massillon Museum is grateful for operating support from the Ohio Arts Council, ArtsinStark, and the citizens of Massillon, as well as marketing support from Visit Canton. The Brown Bag Lunch series is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Arts.

MassMu is located at 121 Lincoln Way East in downtown Massillon. A visit is always free and everyone is welcome. Free parking is available on adjacent streets and in nearby city lots. For more information, call 330-833-4061 or visit massillonmuseum.org.