The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II: Public Awareness and Perception
The Internment of Japanese Americans During World War II: Public Awareness and Perception
The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was a dark chapter in American history, one that continues to provoke debate and reflection. This article explores the extent of public awareness and the prevailing attitudes towards the internment, focusing on how the events were perceived by the American populace during and after the war.
Public Awareness during World War II
It is often claimed that a significant portion of the American public was unaware of the internment camps, but this view requires careful examination. My mother, a Californian who worked in the wake of World War II, was introduced to the concept of internment camps by a Japanese American coworker. Such personal encounters were not common, but they suggest that for some, the internment was an open secret rather than a total unknown.
Letters and newspaper articles, radio broadcasts, and government documents provided extensive coverage of the policy of relocation. Despite this, it is evident that the policy was not universally embraced. In fact, it was widely reported in the media, with varying levels of support. While a majority of the American population, particularly in the western parts of the continental USA, supported the policy, their approval was often driven by nationalism and a general desire for retribution rather than a genuine belief in its fairness or legality.
Support and Misunderstandings
The support for the internment policy should not be conflated with approval of its fairness or legality. Following the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, many Americans were filled with anger and a thirst for revenge. This populist sentiment often led to the scapegoating of Japanese Americans, who were seen as both an internal threat and a convenient target. The internment of 120,000 Japanese Americans was not an act of preventative security, but a form of psychological warfare, aimed at instilling fear and demonstrating American resolve.
It is important to note that German Americans and Italian Americans, though also interned, were not subjected to the same scale of relocation. The disparity can be attributed to a combination of factors, including the surprise attack by Japan, perceived American vulnerability, and pervasive racism.
Post-War Reflection and Apology
As with many historical injustices, it took time for the American public to acknowledge and reflect on the interment of Japanese Americans. In 1988, nearly five decades after the end of the war, the US Congress acknowledged the internment as a violation of basic constitutional rights and adopted legislation offering compensation to the victims. President Ronald Reagan signed the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which not only provided financial compensation but also issued a formal apology to the survivors.
This act marked a significant turning point in how the American public views the internment. It addressed the lingering emotional impact on those who had been imprisoned and legitimized the need for reparations. However, the resounding silence and denial were not pervasive among the population; rather, they were more a result of widespread ignorance and the political and social climate of the time.
Conclusion
The internment of Japanese Americans during World War II was a complex issue, intertwined with national pride, fear, and racism. While it is true that many Americans were unaware of the full extent of the internment, this ignorance did not imply a wide-ranging denial of the events. Instead, it highlights the deep-seated racial tensions and the broader context of wartime hysteria. Recognition and apology have since provided a measure of healing, but the implications of the internment continue to resonate in discussions of civil liberties and historical accountability.
References:
Introduction to Internment of Japanese Americans - Wikipedia