A Non-Japanese American Perspective

Growing up in Honolulu in the 1970s and 80s, I never heard much about [the internment camps], probably because it was mostly considered a Mainland phenomenon. The whole Pacific war was a complicated issue in Hawaii, because many families knew people on both sides of the war, and there was an enormous amount of pain, suffering, confusion, and shame.

When I moved to the Mainland, I encountered friends whose family members were interned, which upset me.

I feel that the U.S. government betrayed fellow U.S. citizens based on race. Of course, there are innumerable examples of other bad actions against fellow U.S. citizens going back hundreds of years...

I feel that the U.S. government betrayed fellow U.S. citizens based on race. Of course, there are innumerable examples of other bad actions against fellow U.S. citizens going back hundreds of years, [and] the way this [contemporary] betrayal played out seems almost unbelievable. Also, why it took so long for an official apology or reparations to occur totally confounds me.

There are so many "microaggressions" going on. One thing that has made it harder to identify precise "anti-Japanese American" racism is that many of the current living generations are of mixed heritage, like me. So perhaps there's anti-Asian racism more than more specifically anti-Japanese American racism. I cannot easily tell or distinguish precisely what is going on.

[Learning about the incarceration is important] because it teaches us a lot about human nature and what can happen without [putting] proper legal protections in place. It's also a key moment in U.S. history and should never be forgotten. The topic would teach people about anti-racist behavior and helps people look at situations with less bias.

I have noticed that the Japanese American internment topic is not easy for many people because it is a bad part of U.S. history, but it is important to teach so that people can learn the lessons for the future development of U.S. governmental and legal systems. I also see that some institutions are addressing this topic less these days, as older generations pass on...this is unfortunate and makes public education on this topic harder as time passes.

Sean O., Museum Director