8
FEBRUARY 19, 2017 |
SponsoredNewspapers InEducationContent
Media coverage shapedhow JapaneseAmericanswere viewedbefore, during, and after
WorldWar II incarceration.What connections do you seebetween thesehistoric news
reports and coverageof contemporary issues likepolicebrutality, immigrant detention
and Islamophobia?Are similar patterns playingout today?
Whetherwe realize it or not, themedia shapes howwe look at theworld aroundus.
Our beliefs about history and current events arebasedon information
weget from thenews, pop culture, socialmedia, andpublicfigures.
Howwe choose to act on thosebeliefs has apowerful influence
on the actions politicians take inour name. In 1942, Americans
allowed a vulnerableminority tobe scapegoated inpart
because themedia failed toquestiongovernment claims
of “national security.” Ifwehope to learn fromour history,
we can—and should—seekout answers fromdiverse
perspectives to ensurewedon’tmiss out on facts that
could changeour opinion and shapeour civic engagement.
ADayof Remembrance
Since the 1970s, JapaneseAmericans have recognized
February 19, the anniversaryof ExecutiveOrder 9066, as
aday to reflect on the legacyofWorldWar II incarceration
andwhat it can teachus about issueswe face today.
Seventy-five years after EO9066—amidunprecedented
levels of immigrant detention andheightened restrictions
onMuslim andArabAmericans—this historyof racial
profiling anddiscrimination is an important lesson in
what happenswhen fear trumps civil liberties.
InspiringFutureGenerations
Densho (a Japanese termmeaning ‘topass stories to the
next generation’) is aSeattle-basednonprofit that shares
stories of JapaneseAmericanWorldWar II incarceration to
promote equity, address racism andbigotry, and encourage
thepreservationof our democraticprinciples in times of fear.
Founded in 1996, Denshohosts a freedigital archiveof over
1,000 video interviews and50,000photos, documents and
newspapers, aswell as anonline encyclopediaon Japanese
Americanhistory.
In addition to thesehistoricmaterials, Denshoprovides
lessonplans andonline teacher trainingworkshops for
educators. Free curriculum connecting the Japanese
American experience toother stories of discrimination,
bothpast andpresent, will be available inFall 2017.
Formore informationonDensho and JapaneseAmerican
incarceration, including links tooral histories and teacher
resources, please visit
or findus on
Facebookor Twitter@DenshoProject.
PartneringOrganizations
LEARNINGFROMPASTMISTAKES
Left, a soldier smiles at a younggirl being removed fromBainbridge Island inMarch 1942. On the right, a childplayswith a
National Guardsmandeployed toBaltimore after protests over thedeathof FreddieGray inpolice custody. On the surface,
the images seem topaint apositivepictureof dark chapters inAmericanhistory.
MOHAI
Libraryof Congress
PhotobyMandaMoore
Funding for this projectwas
provided, inpart, by4Culture
andSeattleOfficeof Arts &
Culture
