Nobuko Miyamoto, a Japanese American singer and dancer from Los Angeles, presented her stage performance called "A Grain of Sand."

The album for the program is part of the Smithsonian Institute Collection. The production was sponsored by the Asian American Student Union, Ebony Theatre, and Diversity and Dual Career Development.

Nobuko used speech, music, dance and video to show the difficulties of being Japanese American and realizing dreams as a minority in the white majority American society.

She showed the struggles a minority member faces by presenting an autobiography of herself and telling stories about her family.

Nobuko is a storyteller, and her stories were easy to understand. Her narrative was brought to life with video images on the circular screen and her easy, graceful dancing and body movements.

She told stories about her early days in show business and how she played the parts of many different minorities: Chinese, Japanese, Arabic and Latino. Her voice was strong and clear, whether she was singing Salsa or Asian music.

The audience watched as history passed on the screen, and she responded to it. World War II and Japanese concentration camps, the Vietnam War and the battles that absorbed America as minorities fought for desegregation and equality.

She told how she had joined the struggles, attending meetings and using music to help bring minorities together.

"We had to make the kind of music we could relate to," Nobuko said. "We have to sing our own songs. Who cares who else is listening?"

She pulled clothes out of the suitcase to reflect the change in the times and explain their significance. The styles reflected the changes that were going on in the Asian community and the unity between the different Asian cultures.

"We didn’t want to be Japanese or Chinese. We wanted to be Asian. There was more power in that," Nobuko said. "We were multicultural before they invented the word."

Nobuko showed the similarities between what the Asians and African Americans and other minorities have gone through in their quest for equality. It was a powerful walk in another person’s shoes.

She shared her personal experiences with other minorities to show that although people are different, the similarities in experience are enough to promote unity.

While she was sharing her experiences as an Asian, it became clear that everyone has the same thoughts, feelings, and fears.

"Hey-are you just going to sit there and be a silent minority?" she asked the audience. "I think it’s up to us to make a difference."

After a standing ovation, she sat down for a question and answer period to allow the audience members a chance to speak their minds. She also made suggestions for more open communication about minority issues at K-State.

"I must be an optimist, because I always think we’re elevating somehow," Nobuko said.

"Speaking out is a threat, especially when there are Euro-Americans who are on shaky ground economically, people who feel they are going to lose something by having other voices being heard," Miyamoto says.

"People have a hard time just relaxing and saying it’s OK. Let it change. It’s not going to hurt me, it will enrich me.

"I believe if we share our stories, open people’s hearts and understand each other better, then these anxieties become relieved and we can start working together for the common good."

A Grain of Sand revolves around the idea of making a difference in the world, and Miyamoto is up front about her hope that others will join her in working things out.

"My way happens to be through music and theater. But the voice takes many different forms," she says.

"I’m hoping that, through this show, people find their own voice, whatever it may be, and discover that it can be used to make a change in this world."