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Neza Duran
English 101
Sussan Hock
December 11, 2024

Japanese internment camps

On the website Rohwer Japanese American Relocation

Center tell us the history of Japanese internment camps during

World War II highlights the injustices that arise from fear and

prejudice, as over 1200,000 Japanese Americans, including

many U.S. citizens, were unjustly relocated and imprisoned due

to their ethnicity. Recognizing this period is crucial for

preventing future civil right violations, acknowledging the

threats of racism, and honoring the resilience of those affected.

American culture was significantly impacted by the

incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II,

especially in terms of psychological suffering, racial

discrimination, and civil freedoms. After the attack on Pearl

Harbor, the U.S. government forcibly moved more than 100,000

Japanese Americans the majority of whom were citizens of the

United States to internment camps. Despite the lack of proof to

back up these claims, racial prejudice and a fear of espionage

drove this action. "No Japanese Americans were ever charged

with espionage or sabotage" during the war, according to

History.com Editors, demonstrating that the act of internment

was motivated more by racial prejudice than by genuine security

concerns. As an example, the article states that "many Japanese

Americans were forced to sell their homes and businesses at a

loss," which illustrates how they forced removal significantly

and disrupted the economy. In addition to monetary losses, this

resulted in the psychological anguish of losing a livelihood and a

society. As a result, the affected individuals' civil freedoms were

gravely abused during the imprisonment. Additionally, during

and after the war, racial discrimination was exacerbated by the

internment. Despite their allegiance to the United States, many

Japanese Americans encountered prejudice and mistrust from

the general population. "Japanese Americans were frequently

treated with mistrust and hostility after the war," and many of

them had trouble reintegrating into society. Social divisions

were exacerbated by this persistent prejudice, which

strengthened preconceptions. People who were interned also

experienced lasting psychological effects from the

imprisonment, especially children who were raised in the camps.

According to History.com Editors, a lot of survivors talked of

chronic trauma, and some of them felt that their country had

betrayed them. "The mental health impacts of internment were

profound, especially for children who were separated from their

families" . This shows how the experience left people with

severe mental scars that lingered long after the camps were shut

down in addition to physically uprooting them. The injustice of

the internment was eventually recognized by the U.S.

government in the decades after the war. But the proposed

apologies and restitution but were not enough to undo the harm.

According to History.com Editors, "In 1988, the U.S.

government formally apologized and provided reparations to

surviving Japanese Americans who had been interned" .

Nevertheless, Japanese American communities are still impacted

by the internment's legacy, which serves as a sobering reminder

of the perils of racial discrimination and the significance of

defending civil rights, particularly in times of national

emergency.
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The Hispanic community were impacted for a long

time by the forcible relocation of Japanese Americans during

World War II, especially those of Hispanic heritage who also

experienced racism at that time. Japanese Americans suffered

greatly because of the internment, which was justified by

wartime panic but also represented larger trends of prejudice

against Hispanic groups, in addition to Japanese Americans.

Racial profiling is a glaring illustration of how racism has

impacted Hispanic community. During the war, the U.S.

government profiled other immigrant groups using similar fear-

based strategies. Because of their heritage, Japanese Americans

were viewed as possible spies, and opinions of Hispanics

groups, particularly those from Mexico were frequently

influenced by this viewpoint. National Archives and Records

Administration last reviewed in March 2024 exclaims that

"executive orders authorized the exclusion of civilians from

military areas," which resulted in widespread mistrust and

surveillance of other groups that might be viewed as "foreign"

such as Latinos, in addition to Japanese Americans. The

militarization of local communities had an additional effect.

Under the pretense of national security, the local community was

militarized in places like California, where Japanese Americans

were evicted from their houses by force. Internment had a direct

effect on Japanese Americans, but Latino communities

especially those close to the U.S. Mexico border were also

touched by this military mistrust. Due to their unfair targeting as

possible "enemies," several Mexican Americans experienced

heightened mistrust in their daily lives during the conflict. Also,

other oppressed communities, in addition to Japanese

Americans, were disproportionately impacted by the

psychological effects of incarceration. Many who were

compelled to live in camps endured years of dirt and captivity.

Latinos frequently experienced the psychological effects of

being perceived as outsiders in a society that was influenced by

the same racism that caused the incarcerations of these

communities. According to the National Archives and Records

Administration, "Families lived in overcrowded, harsh

conditions" during internment, leaving psychological scars that

persisted for decades. Hispanic families frequently experienced

this suffering and loneliness as well, living in racially separated

communities where they were perceived as "alien" or

"undesirable."

There are several ways to protect civil rights and

advance equality to stop Hispanic groups from experiencing

injustices like the Japanese internment. First it is crucial to

fortify legislative safeguards against racial profiling and

prejudice. Laws that prohibit discrimination against people

based on their ethnicity ought to be implemented, particularly in

times of national emergency. This happened when the United

States government apologized and made amends with the Civil

Liberties Act of 1988 following the imprisonment of Japanese

people. Latinos would be shielded from unjust surveillance or

detention because of racial or ethnic biases if such rules were

expanded. Second, public awareness and education are

necessary in the fight against racism. By implementing thorough

education programs about the history of racial discrimination,

such as the internment of Japanese Americans, society can learn

from the past and become more conscious of unfavorable

perceptions. Lastly, the prevention of such abuses depends on

oversight and responsibility. In justive.gov they explained that it

is important to keep an eye on government organizations like the

FBI and Department of Justice to make sure that they are not
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acting out of bigotry or racial fear. When it is discovered that

policies or actions disproportionately affect Hispanics

communities, oversight committees may be able to hold

authorities responsible. The United States can strive toward a

more equitable and just society by implementing these

measures, which will guarantee that everyone is shielded from

unfair laws, regardless of their ethnic background.

In conclusion, this relates to what I learned this

semester about the internment camps for Japanese people. I

learned from Professor Hock how disadvantaged communities

like African Americans and Hispanics are impacted by

discrimination. The Japanese Internment Camps is related to the

novel Unknown Americans by Cristina Henriquez because, after

relocating from Mexico to Delaware to better opportunities for

their daughter Maribel, the family encounters discrimination and

isolation because of their immigrant status and poor lack of

knowledge of English, just as Japanese Americans were forcibly

removed and interned during World War II due to racial fear and

suspicion. Learning about all these struggles I learned in class

and my research has taught me the importance of resistance and

survivance. They fight for the ability to keep going and stand up

for themselves in the face of discrimination, proving that

communities can find a way to live and overcome inequality

even under the most terrible conditions.