Racism and hatred are nothing new in this world. They have created horrendous problems over the years for black people and all minorities.

Japanese Americans were not exempt from the racism, hatred, prejudice, and discrimination that have been exhibited against minorities for decades. These Americans who had been born of immigrants from Japan were used to hardship because of racism, but it came to a head when the United States entered World War II.

Although Japanese immigrants at that time were fearful of what would happen to them with the nation of their birth at war with the nation which had become their home, they thought their children were safe. Being born in the United States, their children and grandchildren were American citizens. They should have been protected by the Constitution because they were innocent of any wrong doing.

Then President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Executive Order 9066 on February 19, 1942, which allowed the military to remove any people from certain areas. Although it could have been used against others, the order was only applied to people of Japanese heritage. Almost everyone was in favor of the order against the Japanese people because of the racism that existed. The Quakers and a few others tried to help them to no avail. A few people protested, but the order was enacted against the people of Japanese descent who were living on the west coast of the continental United States.

Some of the American citizens with Japanese parents had graduated from college by that time. There were doctors, lawyers, and teachers who had trouble finding meaningful work in their fields of study because of racism. Their lives were brought to a virtual stand still when they were forcibly removed from their homes and placed in American concentration camps. Most of these American citizens and their parents lost everything for which they had worked hard.

Life was extremely difficult in the camps. Yet they kept hope alive for the most part. They persevered against less than ideal living conditions. They tried to endure the best they could. Racism and hatred had taken a big toll on their lives and livelihood.

Although they were originally called non-citizens or enemy aliens at the beginning of the war, the United States decided that these American young men could be helpful in the military. A segregated unit called the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion was organized of young men of Japanese heritage from the camps, from Hawaii, and some others in the mainland United States who had not lived on the west coast. Others served in the U.S. Army Military Intelligence Service. Their patriotism, valor, sacrifice, and dedication helped bring light to the darkness which Japanese Americans experienced.

The Japanese American Story As Told Through A Collection of Speeches and Articles is a book which covers much of this part of American history. Told through speeches and articles which were presented over a ten year period, the book tells about Japanese Americans and their fight to gain civil rights and fight racism.

Conditions eventually improved for the Japanese Americans after the war’s end. It took hope and perseverance to not give up when darkness seemed to prevail. Their story is one of hope and light in the midst of racism and hatred.