Although there’s been some attention taken to the experience of Japanese Americans during World War II when we of Japanese descent were unjustly incarcerated in American concentration camps, this is a story about which high of the public is not aware. These people suffered extreme racism and hatred. Surviving required desire to bring some light out of the darkness of their lives.

Most in the earliest immigrants from Japan who stumbled on the United States found its way to the early years in the 1900’s with some arriving inside late 1800’s. They were young single men who came as laborers to create a better life on their own. America was seen as the “land of opportunity” for many years where riches may be had. They had an answer to a chance to find success within this land where it seemed that anyone may make lots of money by working hard.

Although they faced racism and discrimination at just about any turn, they kept their hope alive. At that time, these were not allowed to become citizens from the United States but they had made this country their property for decades. Many could marry and also have families. Their children were American citizens. They stressed education, and lots of from the younger generation had earned college degrees. However, racism still affected them, plus it was hard for college graduates to locate meaningful work in their areas of study. Still, they held onto the hope that light will come and conditions would improve.

Then December 7, 1941, had the bombing of Pearl Harbor in Hawaii from the Imperial Navy of Japan. Immediately, immigrants from Japan who had previously been leaders inside their communities were accumulated from the FBI and set in prison. Those arrested included men who owned small businesses, leaders within community groups, Buddhist priests, and Japanese language teachers. Their families were advised little reely about where these folks were being taken.

It was a dark day for all Japanese Americans in addition to their immigrant parents. They were suspected for being the enemy. The immigrant parents thought their children can be safe because these folks were American citizens born in the United States. As rumors begun to circulate regarding the government doing their best to imprison all the people of Japanese heritage into camps, the oldsters expected it to merely occur to the immigrants. They had a belief and hope how the government may not do this to its own citizens.

Yet it did happen. Around 120,000 persons of Japanese heritage, men, women, and kids, were forcibly taken from their homes around the west coast and placed in American concentration camps. They were put in temporary detention centers at race tracks and fair grounds before the camps, that have been hastily constructed in remote and desolate areas in the country. were ready for occupancy. Hope was dim for a brighter day.

The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles is a book which takes care of much of that section of American history. Many with the untold stories of the population group are told through speeches and articles which are presented. The book contains most of the storyplot of Japanese Americans and of the Japanese American Citizens League (JACL), a civil rights organization established to assist gain civil rights and fight racism.

When darkness has life, it is necessary to battle light which could originate from keeping hope alive instead of letting go of. Adapting to whatever changes come is essential to finding light and success. It may be important to make adjustments and change plans on the way. It is just not easy to overcome darkness when it’s permeating so heavily in way of life since it was for many who were placed inside American concentration camps of World War II. Yet hope brings light and overcome the darkness.

The Japanese Americans eventually could become successful and acceptance as soon as the end of World War II, largely as a result of patriotism and sacrifices of young Japanese Americans who served in the United States military. Most were inside segregated unit with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion.

It took hope and perseverance to not quit and to find light when darkness did actually prevail. The story of Japanese Americans is one kind of hope, light, perseverance, and success