Japanese Internment Camps and Pacific Imperialism

Fair Play Committee and the Draft

  • The Fair Play Committee protested injustices related to the draft of Nisei (second-generation Japanese Americans) during WWII.

  • The U.S. needed soldiers and considered drafting Japanese Americans, despite their internment.

  • The committee resisted until rights were restored.

  • 63 draft resistors and 7 leaders were charged; convictions were later overturned, and a presidential pardon was granted.

  • Agency involves weighing benefits and costs.

Resistance Before Internment

  • Some Japanese Americans resisted Executive Order 9066 before internment.

  • Mary Asaba Ventura and others challenged curfew orders in court.

  • Gordon Hirabayashi, Minoru Yasui, and Fred Korematsu deliberately violated orders to test their constitutionality.

  • The Supreme Court ruled against the detained Japanese, forming the legal basis for mass removal and detention.

The Korematsu Case and Its Relevance Today

  • Fred Korematsu defied evacuation orders and was arrested.

  • The Supreme Court ruled the evacuation order constitutional, citing military necessity.

  • Justices dissented, with Murphy criticizing the decision as racist.

  • The decision is seen as a precedent for potential abuses of power.

The Civil Liberties Act of 1988 and Reparations

  • The act issued a formal apology and financial redress to Japanese Americans.

  • It resolved that racism should never justify government infringement of civil liberties.

The Korematsu Case's Lingering Precedent

  • The Korematsu case set a negative precedent by allowing the imprisonment of citizens during an emergency.

  • It has been cited to justify racial profiling and discriminatory policies.

The Resettlement Period: Life After Internment

  • The resettlement period involved significant challenges for Japanese Americans, including where to live and economic hardship.

  • Limited economic opportunities and pervasive racism confined many to menial labor.

The Resettlement Period: Housing and Social Challenges

  • Many families lived in trailer parks due to a lack of housing.

  • Japanese Americans faced police harassment and social discrimination.

Pivotal Role of Hawaii and Pacific Islands

  • The U.S. viewed Hawaii as a stepping stone for trade and military purposes.

  • Military bases expanded, impacting local cultures and economies.

U.S. Military Bases in the Philippines

  • The U.S. maintained bases in the Philippines after its independence.

  • Camp towns led to the sexual exploitation of women and men.

U.S. Military Bases in Guam

  • The U.S. established a coaling station in Guam and sought to assimilate the Chamorro people.

  • The Guam Congress was advisory to the U.S. Navy.

Okinawa's History & Unequal Relationships in Imperialism

  • Most U.S. bases in Japan were located in Okinawa.

  • Camp towns created dependency and prostitution.

Unequal & Dependent Relationships of Chamorros, Okinawans & Asian Identity

  • The Japanese invaded Guam in 1941.

  • Asian Pacific Islanders is not a real identity due to intra-ethnic conflict.

  • Racial categories are artificial.

The Talia Massey Incident and Racial Tensions in Hawaii

  • The Talai Massey incident can be viewed through the lens of race relations in Hawaii.

  • Joseph Kaha Hawaii was killed as a result of allegations.

The Talia Massey Incident: Justice, Racism, and Identity

  • Grace Fortescue and others murdered Joseph Kahawaii.

  • The jury found the defendants guilty of manslaughter.

  • Resettlement white woman saw Grandfather being harassed by cops, complained to LAPD and police stopped harassing.

White Manhood, Control, & Perogative

  • Talai Massey incident can showcase construct of White Manhood

  • White men had prerogative over a White female’s sexuality

  • Whites wanna keep the Whites under control