National Japanese American Memorial to Patriotism in

World War II

Interpreting the Japanese American Experience in WWII

• “relocation centers,” “internment camps,” or “concentration camps”?

• Volunteers or conscripts?

• “draft dodgers” or “contentious objectors”?

The Movement for Redress

• Japanese American Citizens League (JACL)• The National Council for Japanese American

Redress (NCJAR)• National Coalition for Redress/Reparations

(NCRR)

The American Civil Liberties Act of 1988

“The National Japanese American Memorial stands in our nation's capitol as a Memorial to Patriotism.  Our vision is to remember forever the Japanese American history of patriotism and perseverance for posterity.”

-National Japanese American Memorial Foundation

“an apology set in stone.”-Benjamin Forgey, Washington Post

QuickTime™ and aTIFF (Uncompressed) decompressorare needed to see this picture.

“You fought not only the enemy but you fought

prejudice--and you won. Keep up that fight and we will

continue to win to make this great republic stand for what

the Constitution says it stands for the welfare of all of the

people all of the time.”

-President Harry Truman1945 White House Ceremony for the 100th Infantry Battalion

and 442nd Regimental Combat Team

“The lessons learned must remain as a grave reminder of what we must not allow to happen again to any group.”

-Daniel K. InouyeUS CongressmanUS SenatorCaptain, 442nd Regimental Combat Team

“I am proud that I am an American of Japanese ancestry. I believe in this nation's institutions, ideals and traditions; I glory in her heritage; I boast of her history; I trust in her future.”

Mike M. Masaoka

Staff Sergeant

442nd Regimental Combat Team

Civil Rights Advocate

• Mike Masuoka– The Japanese American

Creed– a “civil rights” advocate?

• The decision process• Historical inaccuracies

Alternate stories