Japanese-American Citizenship and Internment During World War II
“I suppose from now on, we’ll hear nothing but the humiliating defeats of Japan in the papers here,” Mother said, resignedly.
Henry and I glared indignantly at Mother, then Henry shrugged his shoulders and decided to say nothing. Discussion of politics, especially Japan versus America, had become taboo in our family for it sent tempers skyrocketing. Henry and I used to criticize Japan’s aggressions in China and Manchuria while Father and Mother condemned Great Britain and America’s superior attitude toward Asiatics and their interference with Japan’s economic growth. During these arguments, we had eyed each other like strangers, parents against children. They left us with a hollow feeling at the pit of the stomach. . . .
In February, Executive Order No. 9066 came out, authorizing the War Department to remove the Japanese from such military areas as they saw fit, aliens and citizens alike. Even if a person had a fraction of Japanese blood in him, he must leave on demand. . .
In anger, Henry and I read and reread the Executive Order. Henry crumpled the newspaper in his hand and threw it against the wall. “Doesn’t my citizenship mean a single blessed thing to anyone?”
Questions to Think About and Discuss
- What words would you use to describe the reactions of the various members of the Sone family to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and to Executive Order ?
- What are the differences between the way Monica and Henry saw the conflict between the United States and Japan and the way their parents understood it?
- How does Henry define his citizenship? Why is it important to him?
- In what ways do you think reparations for Japanese Americans interned during World War II are or are not valuable?