Enemy Child: Norm Mineta’s American Story
Born in San Jose’s Japantown in 1931, Norm Mineta lived through some of America’s darkest and most transformative moments — and helped shape its brightest.
As a child, he and his family were forcibly relocated to the Heart Mountain internment camp during WWII, simply for being Japanese American. But Mineta didn’t let that define his future — he let it inform his purpose.
He returned to San Jose, became mayor in 1971 — the first Asian American mayor of a major U.S. city — and later served as a U.S. Congressman for over 20 years. His leadership crossed party lines, and in 2001, he became the first Asian American Cabinet member in U.S. history, serving as Secretary of Transportation under President George W. Bush.
On September 11, it was Mineta who ordered the grounding of every plane in U.S. airspace, making one of the most critical decisions in aviation history.
In honor of his extraordinary service, San Jose named its airport Norman Y. Mineta San José International Airport — a tribute not only to his national impact on transportation, but to his deep, lifelong connection to the city he called home.
His legacy is a reminder that leadership is about showing up for others — with courage, compassion, and conviction.