Internment Camps Essay

1. Internment Camps Essay
Internment Camps The move to the internment camps was a difficult journey for many
Japanese–Americans. Many of them were taken from their homes and were allowed only to bring a
few belongings. Okubo colorfully illustrates the dramatic adjustment of lifestyle that
Japanese–Americans had to make during the war. Authentic sketches accompany each description of
the conditions that were faced and hardships that were overcome. The illustrations were drawn at the
time each event described throughout the story took place. Each hand drawn picture seems to freeze
time, capturing the feelings and intense anxiety many felt during the war. The pictures assist the
author's first person narration and assist the reader in creating an accurate...show more content...
The camps represented a prison: no freedom, no privacy, no "America". Many families were
separated and they did not know when they would see each other again. Internment was not a
choice; it was a patriotic duty to prove Japanese–Americans' loyalty through submission to their new
country. They had to believe in the government's reasoning and trust their new country. The years
following the orders for the Japanese to be relocated would be frustrating and depressing for many.
The Japanese expression "shi kata ganai" was widely adopted for these troublesome times. Jeanne
Wakatsuki Houston and James D. Houston's Farewell to Manzanar illustrates the hardships and
frustrations of a Japanese family, separated by internment. Houston was interned herself, during the
war, which contributes to the vivid reality of the book. It describes the development of a civilization
behind the barbed wire, a society who was forced to stay together, under harsh conditions, in
Manzanar. Farewell to Manzanar Wakatsuki–Houston presents an insightful portrayal of the
Japanese–American internment camp in California known as Manzanar. She describes how her life
changed throughout the experience as she grew from child to young woman. She captivates the
reader's attention with intermittent interviews, describing the seemingly constant turmoil that each
prisoner faced. Wakatsuki–Houston highlights her father throughout the ordeal as a strong,
Get more content on HelpWriting.net