Response to Crisis: Personal Accounts of Nisei Japanese Americans
"When hysterical public opinion fueled by racism first attacked Japanese-Americans, Japanese responded courageously and bravely, trusting to the very last in the integrity of the U.S. Constitution. The [Japanese Americans] patiently accepted the consequences of their political powerlessness and watched and waited for their inevitable removal from the West Coast." Reverend Sumio Koga, A Decade of Faith: The Journey of Japanese Christians in the USA(1936-1946)
" The JACL leaders succumbed to the anti-Japanese pressure and took the accommodation stance to win the approval of those in power. Being young and taking on the impossible role of representing the Japanese community, he seemed to have been influenced by false reports fostered by the propaganda of anti-Japanese factions on the West Coast. That led him to cooperating prematurely with the idea that the mass incarceration was the best way to demonstrate our loyalty as Americans." Sab Masada, recollecting his imprisonment years during my interview February 11, 2014
"In those days of fears and tears, and , confronted with a phrase "enemy alien" as applied to her mother, who was born in Japan, the child said to her mother when she came home from school, "Mommie, you are my enemy." "Yes, darling, but Jesus said you should love your enemy," said the mother. The little girl replied, as she flew into her mother's arms, "I do Mommie, I do!
Reverend Sumio Koga, A Decade of Faith: The Journey of Japanese Christians in the USA(1936-1946)
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1) Can you describe your life before the attack of Pearl of Harbor?
SAB: Our family of nine, lived on a vineyard farm. In 1940, we were able to buy our first vineyard farm in the name of my sister who became 21 years of age. All immigrants from Japan were denied ownership of property due to discriminatory laws. We were relatively poor, but we lived a very happy life, and especially after being able to own our farm. We loved working on our farm and also doing “migrant type” work, to earn more income for our family. We had many good friends, relatives, neighbors, and school friends and their families. I enjoyed school up through six years of elementary grades. I was proud to be an American. We were a close-knit family doing everything together on the farm.
2) Did you experience anti-Japanese sentiments before the war? If so, could you elaborate? SAB: I personally did not as a child. I was conscious of the fact that neither of my parents was present for parents and teachers’ events at school, like my classmates’ parents were. I knew discrimination existed in our country, but it didn’t seem to affect me directly. 3) Did you agree with JACL’s stance of non-resistance, non-protest of Executive Order 9066?
SAB: Originally, thinking we had no other option, I assumed that our Government was totally responsible. With more information, I realized two things. The JACL leaders succumbed to the anti-Japanese pressure and took the accommodation stance to win the approval of those in power. Being young and taking on the impossible role of representing the Japanese community, he seemed to have been influenced by false reports fostered by the propaganda of anti-Japanese factions on the West Coast. That led him to cooperating prematurely with the idea that the mass incarceration was the best way to demonstrate our loyalty as Americans. He did try to object but again, the long used method of accommodation and kowtowing to the people in power to be accepted as good Americans by them, led him to recommend cooperating with DeWitt’s Order. This also stymied any change of protesting against the injustice being perpetrated against us. |
1) Can you describe your life before the attack of Pearl of Harbor? Marion: My family was truck farming in Salinas, Ca. My parents worked hard and were doing successfully. They raised all kinds of vegetables and went to the various markets to peddle their vegetables. They were at the height of their earning ability. There were lots of children in the neighborhood so we children had lots of fun playing together. Our landlady was a widow caring for 4 foster children, our age. We had lots of friends and for New Year’s we would go to each other’s homes to share in the various Japanese foods our mothers made. My grandparents lived nearby so I would stay with them because my Aunts were close in age to me. Life was good.
12) Can you describe your life the years following your release? MARION: Life was hard following our release. Housing was hard to find for our family of ten. Mother had a baby after camp. Our family lost everything so we had to start from scratch. We could only find work in the labor fields of fruit and vegetables. I worked as a maid after school in the 8th grade in Watsonville. The next year our family moved to San Jose. Life was still hard so I became a live-in maid for the next six years of school, 9th grade, 10th, 11th, 12th and two years of college. |