Blog 2: Japanese Internment – KTran

The Collection of Material about Japanese American Internment, 1929-1956 bulk 1942-1946 consists of four boxes and one folder pertaining to the different narratives of those who were affected by the Japanese American internment. When the day of Pearl Harbor in 1941 happened, many Americans feared that the Japanese Americans would overthrow the government. Regardless of their citizenship, the government incarcerated many Japanese Americans during World War II. With that said, it justifies the main reason of the bulk collection around 1942-1946. Each box within the collection contains different types of documents ranging from speeches, transcribed broadcasts, to posters from those affected from the internment to portray the many different types of perspectives.

In the first series of the collection, it contains many text-heavy articles provided by the War Relocation Authority like publications and speeches. These documents support the decision to forced Japanese Americans out of their homes and into deserted, unsanitary, and prison-like institutions. From their point of view, many Japanese Americans were seen as a threat because of what the Japanese were capable of at Pearl Harbor. Assuming that they would be loyal to their own home country, the American government immediately took action and did what was right for the country, regardless of the status of the individual’s citizenship. The second series of the collection tells the narrative from the internees’ perspective through publications and newsletters. Those who had to endure the abuse and mistreatment of the camp. Given that majority of the victims were locked away essentially due to their ethnicity, these Japanese Americans were oppressed because they racialized to cause harm to society. The living conditions in the camp was beyond intolerable. It has such a negative impact on so many individuals that there are many people suffering with post traumatic stress disorder from it til this day. The last series labeled miscellaneous is compiled of different types of media, such as articles, posters, radio broadcast which serves as evidence of the repercussions of Pearl Harbor. Although these primary sources do not take a side on the internment issue like the previous two boxes, it provides a more neutral narrative to give more context of the time period.

I feel like one huge thing that this collection is missing especially is sources from those who were affected from the internment indirectly. For example, neighbors or employers who had any personal connection with Japanese Americans should talk about how the internment had any positive or negative effect on them. These sources can clarify whether or not some people felt safer that their Japanese American friends were taken away to a prison camp or if they critiqued the idea of internment. One can find articles or sources of how the overall population felt from the internment and how they reacted to such context. Their input helps expands the narratives of those who were indirectly affected and will raise more awareness about the collection and the issue.