We the People: A Story of Internment in America by Mary Tsukamoto and Elizabeth Pinkerton
Many of us haven't even heard of the Japanese Internment in the United States during the second world war. It is a very important part of history if we are to learn from our mistakes.
I grew up in Elk Grove, California, and the Japanese Internment during World War II hit hard in that area. Is is a suburb just south of Sacramento. The area was full of Japanese farmers with strawberry fields, most were American Citizens, and a good number were 2nd and 3rd generation. Upon the bombing of Pearl harbor they were systematically rounded up and sent to live in camps around the country. Their lands and possessions were lost unless they had a neighbor (non-Asian of course) who would handle their affairs during their internment. Although the condition of these camps was better than what the Jews were forced to endure during the same time frame, it was still a tragedy.
The author of this novel recants the hardships her family and friends faced during this time, and the out come of our government's actions. She speaks from first hand knowledge, and does a remarkable job of retelling a portion of history that many would have liked to have seen swept under the rug. I was amazed not only by the way the author presented the story, but that I didn't feel any resentment presenting itself in the re-telling. This attests to her skills as a writer as there are not many who can write a novel on a part of history that was not only sad, but that we were also personally involved in without showing a great deal of resentment towards the wrongs we endured.
I grew up in Elk Grove, California, and the Japanese Internment during World War II hit hard in that area. Is is a suburb just south of Sacramento. The area was full of Japanese farmers with strawberry fields, most were American Citizens, and a good number were 2nd and 3rd generation. Upon the bombing of Pearl harbor they were systematically rounded up and sent to live in camps around the country. Their lands and possessions were lost unless they had a neighbor (non-Asian of course) who would handle their affairs during their internment. Although the condition of these camps was better than what the Jews were forced to endure during the same time frame, it was still a tragedy.
The author of this novel recants the hardships her family and friends faced during this time, and the out come of our government's actions. She speaks from first hand knowledge, and does a remarkable job of retelling a portion of history that many would have liked to have seen swept under the rug. I was amazed not only by the way the author presented the story, but that I didn't feel any resentment presenting itself in the re-telling. This attests to her skills as a writer as there are not many who can write a novel on a part of history that was not only sad, but that we were also personally involved in without showing a great deal of resentment towards the wrongs we endured.
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