On December 7, 1941, 16 year-old Aki Kurose shared in the horror of millions of Americans when Japanese planes attacked Pearl Harbor. Unbeknownst to her, this shared experience would soon leave her family and over 120,000 Japanese Americans alienated from their country, both socially and physically. Densho explores the racism and paranoia that led to the unjust internment of Japanese Americans.
Comment on:
When did the US government officially acknowledge that the wartime incarceration was the result of racism, hysteria, and failed political leadership and issue a formal apology to Japanese Americans?
During World War II, nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, were incarcerated by the US government without due process. Can you think of any other times in American history when constitutional rights have been denied to citizens because of their race or religion?
The day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Aki Kurose went to school and her teacher accusingly said, "You people bombed Pearl Harbor." Aki was an American citizen, and had never been to Japan, but she suddenly realized that because of her ancestry, many assumed that she was the enemy. What can you do when you see someone making a false accusation? How can you avoid making a false accusation?
When did the US government officially acknowledge that the wartime incarceration was the result of racism, hysteria, and failed political leadership and issue a formal apology to Japanese Americans?
During World War II, nearly 120,000 Japanese Americans, two-thirds of whom were American citizens, were incarcerated by the US government without due process. Can you think of any other times in American history when constitutional rights have been denied to citizens because of their race or religion?
The day after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Aki Kurose went to school and her teacher accusingly said, "You people bombed Pearl Harbor." Aki was an American citizen, and had never been to Japan, but she suddenly realized that because of her ancestry, many assumed that she was the enemy. What can you do when you see someone making a false accusation? How can you avoid making a false accusation?
