Actor, author and activist George Takei will be visiting Long Beach City College to discuss and answer questions about his book “They Called Us Enemy,” Thursday, March 19, as part of the school’s “Long Beach Reads One Book” program.

Most will recognize Takei as Commander Hikaru Sulu, the lively and eccentric staff physicist from the original Star Trek series. Following his career with the Emmy-winning sci-fi show, Takei continued to act, appearing in dozens of Hollywood films and television shows, but also took up writing and published his first science-fiction novel “Mirror Friend, Mirror Foe” with Robert Asprin in 1979.

Recently, Takei published “They Called Us Enemy,” a New York Times Bestselling memoir that recounts Takei’s childhood imprisoned in three Japanese internment camps during World War II.

Cover art to George Takei’s New York Times Bestselling graphic memoir “They Called Us Enemy.” Image courtesy Amazon.

The graphic memoir is his account of spending some of his childhood behind barbed wire as well as the daily struggle faced by his parents—his mother’s hard choices, his father’s faith in democracy.

In December the college restarted the “Long Beach Reads One Book” campaign, a city-wide book club of sorts that invites anyone from the community to collectively read one book over the course of a few months and then meet to discuss the book in a public setting. After a six-year hiatus, LBCC thought Takei’s book would be an excellent, engaging and accessible read to kick-off the revamped literacy project.

Takei’s appearance at Long Beach City College will close the community book event, so that means you still have more than a week to read the book and join in on the discussion. You can purchase the book online, or find it at Gatsby Books near the Long Beach Airport.

Tickets for the event are a $10 donation for the community but will be free for students with an ID. Each community ticket will include a raffle opportunity to win an autographed copy of Takei’s book.

Long Beach Reads One Book event with George Takei is Thursday, March 19 in the Hall of Champions Gymnasium at Long Beach City College. Tickets for the event are a $10 suggested donation for community members and free for students with a student ID. To RSVP, click here. Early arrival is encouraged at the Liberal Arts Campus, located at 4901 E. Carson St. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. Parking is free in Parking Lot M at Veteran’s Memorial Stadium.